Miguel Fernandez
Staff Writer
Students chanted in the crowd along with headliner Lil Wayne as he performed with nothing but high energy for the eighth annual Lavernapalooza concert May 4 at the Fox Theater in Pomona.
More than 500 students filled the pit and terrace areas waving their hands and jumping with the beat of the music.
Students voiced their excitement about rapper and CEO of Young Money Entertainment as this year’s main act.
“Lil Wayne is one of those artist who has been really big so the fact that La Verne was able to bring him is really exciting,” said Dominique Moreto, junior biology major.
Cozz, a rapper from South Los Angeles, was the opener and connected with the crowd on an emotional level when he asked the audience, “Put your hands in the air if you’ve ever had a dream.”
He then performed his song “Dreams,” about overcoming obstacles and how amazing his life is going to be once his dreams come true.
The song resonated with the crowd and amped up the crowd long before the headliner appeared.
Cozz introduced Omen, a Chicago-based rapper ,during his set.
Before beginning his performance, Lil Wayne introduced himself as “Tunechi” which is considered his second stage name.
He then progressed by pumping up the crowd telling him that he would not be anywhere without the man above and his loyal fans, as he pointed out towards the crowd of excited students.
One after another, Lil Wayne performed some of his top hits from over the years, the students sang along and threw their hands in the air as he performed “The Motto” and “Lollipop.”
Members from ASULV and CAB had the opportunity for a photo-op with Lil Wayne as they thanked him for performing for the University.
Each year, students look forward to Lavernapalooza to be able to take a night off from school and studying as finals week quickly approaches.
Junior biology major Nahiely Torres enjoyed her time attending her third Lavernapalooza.
“An event like this is important just because students are rewarded, were getting close to finals so everyone needs to kind of de-stress a little,” Torres said.
Every fall, the Office of Student Life sends out two surveys to the entire student body. The first survey asks students about the genre of music they would prefer at the annual show.
After the surveys are accounted for, a second survey is sent out giving a list of potential performers for students to rank based on their liking.
Associate Director of Student Life Angie Anderson overlooks the committee in charge of putting on the event. Anderson said that for the past seven years, the genre has always been hip-hop.
“Our first Lavernapalooza was The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, they are not hip-hop, but after that it’s been nothing but hip-hop,” Anderson said.
Anderson said she heard some students do not complete the survey because they think hip-hop will be chosen. She encourages all students to vote, because they could be the difference.
“I think there will be a shift in the future, but it will stay whatever is popular at the time, so maybe like EDM,” Moreto said.
Miguel Fernandez can be reached at miguel.fernandez@laverne.edu.
