SMU students, TCU students and Dallas residents flocked to see B.o.B., also known as Bobby Ray Simmons, perform in McFarlin Auditorium on Thursday night. B.o.B. is the first hip-hop/rap artist Program Council has brought to SMU.
Program Council president, Geenah Krisht said, “I am definitely most excited to finally have a hip-hop/rap artist at SMU. We try to change up the genre each year, and I am so pumped to have him. “
Program Council gave away all 600 printed tickets at the “Mane Desk” in Hughes Trigg before the concert, which rarely happens.
SMU student, Uché opened the concert at 8 p.m. with SMU Hip-Hop Crew, clad in leather and denim, setting the tone for the night.
Student Anna Orta arrived with high hopes.
“I’m hoping that he jumps in the crowd because that’s what he normally does, so I’m excited for that.”
SMU student and rap enthusiast, Kira Parsons said, “I’m so excited we’re having a rapper come to campus for the concert! I can’t wait to see him perform and become his best friend.”
B.o.B. opened the show with “Ready”, got the crowd dancing, and transitioned into his hit, “Magic”. Next he performed “Strange Clouds”, which is Krisht’s favorite B.o.B. song.
The audience filled the auditorium to the back rows. Strobe and neon lights filled McFarlin.
SMU senior, Brittany Claypool said, “Honestly, seeing B.o.B. live might be the best moment of my whole life.”
He performed “Nothin’ On You”, in lieu of his birthday the next day, to the ladies in the audience.
Next, B.o.B. rapped to “Whistle While You Twurk” by the Ying Yang Twins and brought girls from the audience up on stage to “twerk”.
SMU freshman, Ashlee Queathem, said, “I’m pretty excited to see B.o.B. because he’s a pretty big performer and it’s cool that SMU is having him here.”
Program Council has a buying agent that finds performers for its concerts and the opportunity arose that B.o.B. was free so they booked him, according to Bailee Petty, the Program Council concert chair.
Program Council puts in a lot of work each semester to put on these free concerts. Krisht said, “It is quite a long process to get the artist, lighting and audio vendors, opening act, and rider all in sync.”
The members of Program Council worked in McFarlin all day and late after the concert to make sure the event was a success.
SMU student Dylan Dickman was also excited that Program Council brought a hip-hop artist. “Good music. Good genre. Good singer. It’s a new movement.”
B.o.B. will release his new album, “Underground Luxury”, in December, which he calls a “career-shifting project.”
