By | Renee Ellis
College Homecoming has become a staple of the college experience. We look forward to this time all year to free break from the stresses of life and to find some enjoyment in these long, expensive years. Pinterest boards come to life, hair appointments are scheduled, and student organizations scramble in panic mode with last-minute details to pull off a packed schedule of pre-Homecoming hype events.
Here at Kent State, like many other schools, we love a good headliner to properly kick off the Homecoming weekend, get everyone in the spirit of tailgating, and set the stage for a party marathon. (And truthfully, many only go to Homecoming for the tailgate). This year, the Undergraduate Student Government did something a little different and selected Druski, aka the CEO of Coulda Been Records, as our headliner.
The announcement was initially met with mixed reactions. There were many students who were excited to have a comedian, more specially Druski, as our entertainment of the year. After all - he is hilarious! Other students said to themselves, What is a comedian going to do for nearly 3 hours, and is he bringing somebody? Where’s the party at?
Traditionally, Kent welcomes singers, rappers, DJs, etc. to headline Homecoming, so students were feeling confused (and slightly in disbelief). Some were looking for one of their favorite artists to make a special appearance, however, I truly believe that the unexpectedness of having a comedian as a Homecoming headline promoted a sense of intrigue. People couldn’t help but wonder: what was Druski going to do for his set?
USG then announced that actual Kent State students would be the ones to perform for Druski and would get a chance to get signed to his record label, Coulda Been Records. This further added to the excitement. Not everyone was convinced that the show was worth the ticket price, but as auditions concluded, the FOMO kicked in and student’s curiosity in seeing Druski and potentially their friends on stage solidified the event as a must-see on campus. Everyone was asking: are you going to see Druski?
On the day of the event, and hours before the show even began, the line to enter the Student Center Ballroom was beginning to form. By the time students were allowed to enter the Ballroom, we were told the line stretched down to even to Bowman Hall. When speaking to the contestants who were preparing to perform, one mentioned that they weren’t particularly nervous and they were just there to have a good time. Others seemed to be a little on edge, practicing in the line, and preparing themselves to perform in front of hundreds of their friends and the CEO.
As students entered the Ballroom, the DJ was playing all the party music to get the students into the right mood to enjoy the forthcoming performances. Truth be told, the DJ was one of the best parts of the event. He played a mix of old club classics, new fresh hits, and everything else in between. The atmosphere was indescribable. Personally, I sat front and center and could feel the energy surging from the room behind me.
The first person to hit the stage was a comedian from Druski’s team that warmed the crowd up and we even got to witness a sweet moment between Ariane Robinson and her boyfriend Yasir Pope. After that touching moment, and many laughs later, the show began.
It was as if Instagram came to life featuring our friends and peers. Druski came out with the usual infectious laugh and energy that he carries online. His charisma lit up the room and drew everyone into the show. The first contestants, Haley Santos, and Brooklyn Seavers, really set the stage for the night. The audience was on their side for their entire dance routine as they crushed their dance routine. Even Druski was impressed with the girls’ flair and style, though he didn’t hold back with his jokes. Druski was not afraid to be honest and he asked Haley and Brooklyn if they had an OnlyFans had everyone rolling (and previewed the tone of his raw, unfiltered comedy during the rest of the show).
Later in the show we got to see rappers, singers, and other performers like Black United Student President, Julian Grimes take the stage. There was a sudden, wild rap battle between two contestants followed by a jaw-dropping death drop by one of the rappers. Overall the performances of the night were surely entertaining. Even in moments when the energy was starting to drop in the room, Druski and his MC kept the crowd entertained by bringing the microphone into the audience and allowing the viewers to be a part of the action. One of the big highlights of the show was watching the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. stroll on stage. Druski had ruffled the feathers of many men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. online, so seeing Druski face-to-face with Kent State’s Que Dawgs was nothing short of hilarious and priceless.
The show concluded with a performance from one of Druski’s artists and one of the previous contestants throwing $1 bills in the air turning the Kent State Ballroom into a proper party.
Overall, the show was received really well, with even faculty members saying that they enjoyed that night’s show despite not fully understanding the premise of Coulda Been Records. There were a few criticisms, which were to be expected. Some of the performers mentioned that they felt as though they were just thrown on stage and the information given about how the show was to run did not play out. Others commented that the show felt thrown together, at times all over the place, and less professional than they had hoped. Students also commented that they were slightly upset with the fact that the show ended earlier than expected. An interesting opinion was raised by a Black sophomore student. He felt as though the show and the attraction of the show were making fun of Black culture. He raised an important point - was this show another instance of People of Color and our culture being a joke for the sake of entertainment?
Despite differing opinions, I believe it is safe to say that the event as a whole was a success. It was definitely a memorable night. This was something fresh for USG and a fun break from the monotony of class and college life. For a little over an hour, we go to escape from Kent, Ohio, and enter into the world of Coulda Been Records. I can agree that at times the show felt chaotic, but honestly, that added to the fun, carefree atmosphere of the show. The unpredictability made it what it was - a high-energy night and a reminder that college is more than books and tests. In my opinion, it was the perfect start to Kent State Homecoming weekend. The vibe of the show put everyone in the mood to be young, and free, and to just enjoy our time here without the pressures of expectations and traditions. It is good to break away from what has been done before and have a chance to try and experience something new. Furthermore, it was good that this show heavily included the student body and we students were the focus of the night. I believe this event was great for Kent State and it left an impression on campus. Students were left feeling as though they could make this Homecoming one of the best yet, and I can assure you it was!
Photography by Milan McMichael
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