Award-winning rapper Flo Rida performed a free pre-game concert on WKU’s South Lawn on Wednesday before the Hilltoppers’ home football game against Kennesaw State.

Tramar Lacel Dillard, known professionally as Flo Rida, is an American rapper, singer and songwriter who created chart-topping hits such as “Low,” “Right Round” and “Good Feeling.” He has made over 100 million record sales with his global popularity, and he is one of the “best-selling artists of all time,” according to WKU events.

By 4:00 p.m., South Lawn was covered in a sea of people waiting for Flo Rida to emerge from the stage. The crowd chanted out, “We want Flo,” to the announcers.

Once he took the stage, Flo Rida and his team interacted with the large audience during the performance. He gave out autographed merchandise, danced with students and took several videos and pictures with crowd members and Big Red. He also got off stage near the end of the concert to sing amidst the crowd.

Flo Rida began the concert by telling the crowd to put their hands in the air as he sang “In the Ayer” where students were showered in champagne by the artist and his crew. He then played “Where Them Girls At” as he threw roses out to girls in the crowd.

Flo Rida had the crowd repeat various phrases back to him throughout the concert, including, “Ain’t no party like a Hilltopper party ‘cause a Hilltopper party don’t stop.” He also reminded the crowd multiple times to remember, “What happens at WKU, stays at WKU.”

He transitioned between songs by speaking to the audience and asking questions and sang his song “Cake” to a birthday girl in the crowd.

Flo Rida’s crew invited students throughout the performance on stage to dance and sing to songs such as “Low” and “Wild Ones.”

Big Red made his debut on stage with Flo Rida, the Hilltopper basketball team and some other students during the song “Going Down for Real (GDFR).” 

Flo Rida played several other songs such as “Club Can’t Handle Me,” “Whistle,” “Good Feeling” and “My House.” He ended the performance with an exclusive song and had everyone sway back and forth to it with their phone flashlights on.

Flo Rida said “education is power,” and commended students in the crowd for taking the time to further their education in college. He also thanked WKU for partying with him and told the crowd to get ready to win the game against Kennesaw State.

Photos: ‘It’s going down for real’: Flo Rida performs on South Lawn

Carlee Workman, a WKU 2022 alumna, and Leah Johnson, a WKU 2021 alumna and graduate student, attended the concert together dressed in sparkly red outfits. The two friends created a sign they could hold up during the performance.

 The front of the sign said, “Flo Rida, welcome to our house,” and the back of it said, “Big Red makes my head spin right ‘round.”

“We love to go big for Flo Rida and go big for Big Red,” Johnson said.

Nathan Brady and Hayden Melvin, freshman film majors and concert attendees, went to the performance together dressed as Batman and Buc-ee the beaver. Both friends dressed in costume to get the attention of Flo Rida, but both said they mainly came out to enjoy the concert.

Ayden Robinson, sophomore forensic psychology major, joined Flo Rida and his crew on stage alongside Big Red.

“It was one of my favorite experiences here,” Robinson said. “I got a picture with them. They dapped me up. It was awesome.”

Robinson said three of his friends also went on stage with him. He said his favorite song was “GDFR,” the one he was on stage for.

“He’s awesome,” Robinson said. “He’s made 20 great songs that everybody knows. It was a great experience.”

Erionna Coleman, senior elementary education major, also got to join Flo Rida during the song “Wild Ones,” and she got a rose from him when he threw some into the crowd. 

“I was on stage, and I had a really great time,” Coleman said. “Flo Rida, I love you. The other dude up there that told me to jump on the stage, I also love you.”

Grace Lay, freshman criminology and psychology double major, got to the event about two and a half hours early to secure a spot near the stage. Lay left the concert with a rose from Flo Rida, fake Big Red money from the cash cannons, a mini football and some new friends.

“I think my favorite part of the show, for me, was being able to jump,” Lay said. “I thought that was really fun. I also liked being right in the front. I would just yell the whole time, and he would look at me and wave at me and everything, and that was really cool.”

Lay said she would recommend future concerts at WKU for future Hilltoppers and the WKU community.

News Reporter Abigail Vickers can be reached at [email protected].