The energy in Goldstein Auditorium was palpable from the moment the doors opened on Saturday night. After listening to rapper Joey Bada$$’s thoughts and opinions at the Cuse for Good: Social Justice panel earlier that day, fans were ready to hear him perform.

Bada$$’s performance was loud — in sound, energy, enthusiasm and in spirit. Following the afternoon’s panel on social justice featuring Bada$$ and “Black-ish” and “Grown-ish” star Yara Shahidi, University Union, the Student Association and the National Pan-Hellenic Council hosted a concert at the Schine Student Center last night.

Bada$$ was the show’s main act, with student performer Phil The Artist and dance troupe The Outlaws opening. DJ Zel played popular songs to keep the crowd entertained until the opening acts came onstage and also acted as an emcee between acts, hyping up the crowd for Bada$$’s performance.

Both Phil The Artist and The Outlaws were positively received onstage, with many of their friends coming out to show support. But the loudest cries, hoots and whistles were saved for Bada$$.

The musician’s sound was complemented by the visual setup of the stage, with a large American flag hanging in the backdrop. His performance reflected his thoughts and opinions at the panel that he’d spoken at on that same stage earlier that day.

For Vitalis Kanyuru, a computer science student at Onondaga Community College, the event’s panel and concert worked in tandem to celebrate black excellence.

“(The panel) was a gorgeous example of how black excellence could be portrayed during the concert,” he said. “Joey Bada$$ did a great job of defending his points and portraying his perspectives.”

“During the concert I felt his vibe completely,” Kanyuru continued. “The concert was extraordinary.”

Bada$$ performed some of his most popular songs, including “Temptation,” “Devastated” and “For My People.” The audience sang and danced along to every song he performed.

Some members of the audience who weren’t familiar with Bada$$’s music had positive reviews of his performance.

“I wasn’t a fan until I got to the concert, but after his performance, I’m gonna look into his music more,” said Noeli Vasquez, a freshman on the pre-med track at Syracuse University.

Bada$$, whose latest album “All-Amerikkkan Bada$$” was released last year, recently announced an accompanying tour along with rap artists Boogie and Buddy. At the end of the performance, the rapper thanked the audience and stated that he’d be back performing in Syracuse “in about five years’ time.”

Published on February 18, 2018 at 7:29 pm

Contact Malavika: mnrandiv@syr.edu