The Ryan Center and the University of Rhode Island Student Entertainment Committee hosted rapper Flo Rida on campus on March 26.
Planning for the concert began after winter break, according to Ella Pires, the concert president for SEC.
“Our advisor will send us a list of concert names that could come that are within our budget, and their agents said that they would be willing to do college shows,” Pires said. “From that list, we pulled some ones that we thought would be the most popular, and then we made a poll of the top four names.”
Doors to the Ryan Center opened at 7 p.m., with entertainment starting at 8 p.m. from BREK.ONE, the official DJ of the Boston Celtics. Many students filed from their seated sections onto the floor to get closer to the stage.
Miami-based trio, IMG All Stars, opened for Flo Rida. Oya Baby, International Nephew and Varie appeared onstage with Flo Rida for the remainder of his headlining set.
The show featured many of Flo Rida’s most popular songs, along with moments of audience interaction, including bringing students onstage, according to Pires.
Flo Rida began his concert with “In the Ayer,” followed by “Where Them Girls At.” During this portion of the concert, Flo Rida tossed roses to the female audience members on the floor.
After teasing one of his most popular songs, Flo Rida’s security team selected women from the audience to join him onstage for “Low,” inviting them to dance and have their moment of fame.
“I thought that it was fun when he brought people on stage,” Pires said. “The first time he did it, I didn’t see it coming, and then everyone just came out with him.”
Following a featured Pitbull song, “Move Shake Drop,” Flo Rida made his way into the audience for “Club Can’t Handle Me.” On the shoulders of one of his security guards, Flo Rida paraded through the floor’s crowd, joining a dance circle before returning to the stage. More girls were brought onstage for this song as well.
Giving attention to his male students and audience members, Flo Rida invited a group of “Ridas” onstage, referring to the men as his hype squad. They joined him for “Whistle,” then took a group photo after.
Flo Rida’s clothes also made it into the audience during the concert. Fans in the floor section received both of his sneakers, his tank top, and his leather vest.
After “GDFR,” the rapper’s security team brought girls onstage for a third and final time during “Wild Ones.” Flo Rida followed with “My House,” changing the lyrics at the end to be personalized for Rhode Island.
As the concert wrapped up, Flo Rida performed “Good Feeling” and “Right Round” before closing out his show with “I Cry.”
Excitement from the concert carried into the next day, according to Pires, with students talking about Flo Rida in their classes and around campus.
“That made me really happy,” Pires said. “I feel like the students had a good time.”
SEC’s next event will be “A Conversation and Acoustic Set with Ross Lynch” on April 23 at 8 p.m. Tickets are on sale now on the Ryan Center website.
