New York-based hip-hop superstar A Boogie wit da Hoodie concluded “Me vs. Myself: The College Tour” at Matthews Arena Nov. 9 where he performed as the Homecoming Week’s headliner, sponsored by the Northeastern Council for University Programs, or CUP.
Following previous Homecoming events, which included a talk with former Patriots player Rob Gronkowski and an appearance from the ever-iconic drag queen Monet X Change, A Boogie’s performance energized the Northeastern community. Tickets sold out in just three hours, said fifth-year business administration and communication studies combined major and CUP president Mahong Bloom, and resold at higher prices on Northeastern’s Reddit page. First-year biology major Caralena Genova said that it was “a scramble to get tickets” and wound up securing hers through a friend.
The event garnered a huge turnout, with the entrance line extending from the front of Matthews to around the block. CUP staff guided attendees into the venue and provided students with bottled water to prevent dehydration, which has become a major concern in recent years. CUP staff handed out water bottles to attendees before and during the performances, illustrating the organization’s commitment to ensuring that the audience was sufficiently hydrated.
CUP staff were also uniquely excited about the event. Erin Vetter, a fourth-year communication studies and sociology combined major and director of community events for CUP, said, “The Homecoming headliner seamlessly aligns with Homecoming Week … and heightens the spirit among students on campus.” And that it did.
Matthews was tightly packed, with an enormous crowd in the front section and a completely filled balcony. CUP organizers began the event by thanking the volunteers who helped set up the venue in just one day — for similar events, such as Springfest, Bloom said they usually have a two-day build period. Organizers then introduced DJ Guru Sanaal, who serenaded the crowd with popular hip-hop tunes and afro beats in preparation for A Boogie’s set.
A Boogie was well-received by concertgoers, with attendees erupting in excitement from the moment the rapper took the stage. Both dedicated fans and casual attendees enjoyed the event, rapping along to his most popular, TikTok-trending tunes, like “My Shit” and “Look Back at It.”
The artist was later joined on stage by DJ Ominaya, who boosted the audience’s engagement and matched the energy of the event. During his set, A Boogie paid homage to his deceased friend and fellow rapper Juice WRLD, displaying visuals of the late musician against the clouds in the backdrop. Concertgoers continued to dance and crowd the stage for the entirety of the set. The night concluded with A Boogie splashing water on attendees while playing one of his famous hits, “Drowning,” much to the crowd’s elation.
Bloom reflected on the success of the event saying that she knew the Northeastern community was starved for a giant hip-hop show.
She went on to say that it was the first time CUP had “sold out a Matthew show since before the pandemic,” making it a surreal experience for the organization.
CUP’s headliner was a success for both the organization and Homecoming Week. The hype around the event and the execution was a great conclusion to the week’s excitement.
