Two popular hip-hop acts are set to perform at the University of Memphis’ Spring Fling. Artist Tory Lanez and duo Rae Sremmurd will take stage April 23 at the Alumni Mall Lawn.
Lanez is one of the brightest stars in mainstream rap today. Coming off the success of his last project entitled “The New Toronto,” the rapper and singer has become one of the main faces of Canada’s hip-hop scene. His song “Say It” has peaked at No. 23 on the Billboard charts.
Rae Sremmurd has also received national fame. The two rappers have three songs that cracked the top 50 of the Billboard charts (“No Flex Zone,” “No Type,” “Throw Some Mo”) in the past two years.
U of M’s Student Activity Council broke the news with a tweet during the Light Up Night event.
SAC president Tonika Ingram said the concert was booked through a “deliberation and voting process.”
“Event coordinators propose artists and events and the board votes based on those proposals,” she said. “From there we contact agencies to book shows.”
According to Ingram, the concert is being funded by Student Activity Fees.
She said there would be more diversity at this year’s Spring Fling.
“This year we brought Symphony Crack, an a capella cover group, Chase Bryant, a country artist, and B.o.B, a pop artist,” she said.
The news has left many students waiting in anticipation.
Eric Jones, junior geology Earth science major, said he “can’t wait” for the day to arrive.
The 21-year-old Chattanooga native is “geeked” about the concert.
“I got excited as hell when I first heard the news,” he said. “Especially for Rae Sremmurd. ‘No Flex Zone’ is my shit.”
Nick Dickens, sophomore mechanical engineering major, shares Jones’ feelings.
The Memphis native said he couldn’t wait to “get turnt.”
“I listen to Rae Sremmurd heavy,” he said. “Those two always get me hyped up when they perform. ‘My Type’ is my favorite song by them.”
Criminal justice major Larry Morris is an aspiring rap artist known by his stage name of “Clover.”
This Memphis native, however, did not seem as excited about the news.
“I guess they would be cool for a college atmosphere,” he said. “The only songs I really liked by any of them was ‘No Flex Zone,’ ‘No Type’ and ‘Say It.’ I’m not really looking forward to it to be honest with you.”
Marcus Swearengen, junior art major, said although he has been a fan of Lanez since 2011, he will “probably not” go to see him perform.
“I’ll probably skip out on this one,” he said. “I used to be a huge fan of his, but he changed up his style recently. I don’t like that he sings more on his music. I miss the days where he was just straight up rapping.”
The concert will begin at 7 p.m. It will also be free of charge to the public.
