Swae Lee joins Hofstra students below the stage as he opens the Rae Sremmurd concert. // Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra University.
In a memorable night for Hofstra students, the chart-topping hip-hop duo Rae Sremmurd electrified the stage for Hofstra’s annual Fall Fest concert on Saturday, Oct. 1. With hits like “Swang,” “Black Beatles,” “No Type,” “Come Get Her,” “No Flex Zone,” “This Could Be Us” and countless others, brothers Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi delivered a high-energy performance that united hundreds of students and ended in a monumental firework show.
“We always try to put out positive topics and energy,” Lee said. “We want to make fun music for our fans, so hopefully it can make someone’s day.”
Rae Sremmurd, a palindrome for the phrase “Ear Drummers”, is an American hip-hop duo from Tupelo, Mississippi. The two rose to stardom in 2014 with their first single under Ear Drummer Records, “No Flex Zone,” which gained much notoriety with the Gen Z audience.
“For someone who has never listened to our songs, I would recommend ‘No Type’ because everyone loves bad, beautiful women. I feel like everyone can relate to that,” Lee said.
Through the light rainfall during the hour-long set, the Hofstra crowd was given words of encouragement from Rae Sremmurd, who motivated students to stay in school and never give up on their dreams.
“I like to tell kids, your life can get better or worse at any moment,” Jxmmi said. “You have to stay focused in your darkest times. If you keep your eyes set on your goals, you can get through anything.”
“Seeing Rae Sremmurd perform live was very inspiring, especially as a performer,” said Xavier Bell, a junior music business major and rapper. “Watching them both on stage getting the crowd hype gave me chills. I’ve always been a fan of their music.”
“It felt like I was talking to him,” said Roger Aristizabal, a senior mathematics major with a track in actuarial science. “He gave us a really motivational speech, and I felt really empowered. I was jumping, and everyone was having a good time.”
Swae Lee and Slim Jxmmi of the musical duo Rae Sremmurd perform on stage. // Photo courtesy of Matteo Bracco / Hofstra University
A few hours prior to the concert, Lee also paid a visit to Hofstra’s women’s basketball team after their practice on Saturday.
“It was actually a surprise,” said Sorelle Ineza, a guard for the team. “After practice, our coach told us to stay in the building and everyone was so confused. Then, Swae Lee pulled up and we got so excited.”
“He was very personable and outgoing. We spoke to him about basketball, and he even asked to play a quick game with us,” Ineza said. “The idea for him to shout us out on stage came from one of my teammates. Then, he offered to bring us [on stage] instead. The atmosphere on stage was amazing. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
Fall Fest also featured a carnival on the intramural fields. Activities and rides included rock climbing, a slide, hurricane rides, a mechanical bull ride and several game booths.
“I had an amazing time on all of the carnival rides as my girlfriend and I waited for Rae Sremmurd to arrive,” Aristizabal said.
Several student organizations on campus were also involved in the annual Pride Expo, where they decorated their own interactive booths and invited students, parents and alumni to participate. The tradition prompted student leaders to show off their creativity with booth games like Twister, ring tosses, snow cone making, a ‘70s themed disco party and more.
“Our booth with Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Phi Sigma Sigma and SMACS [Student Members of the American Chemical Society] was based on the 2000s, and thanks to everyone’s hard work, we were able to make our ideas come to life,” said Tabi Anderson, the secretary of the club De Moda.
“The most challenging aspect was setting up the walls and making sure they didn’t fall apart. On the day of the expo, it was gratifying to see attendees engaging with our booth and reliving the nostalgia of the 2000s,” said Jessica De Ocampo, the president of De Moda.
Host and Hofstra alum Dina Massery shared that her experience as a theater performance major gave her the skills and confidence to emcee for the festival. This year marked Hoftsra’s third festival since the pandemic. Massery noted that she felt more comfortable this time around.
“I come from the world of live, large events,” Massery said. “You get a sense of stage presence, and you understand what it’s like to be in front of people. The difference with hosting is there’s nothing to hide behind. It’s just you and a mic. I just get to be myself on stage, and I think that’s the most fun.”
As the concert ended, Lee and Jxmmi summed up the unforgettable night with a reflection on their journey and growth as rappers, sharing another inspirational message with their supporters.
“Don’t let anything take you off of your path. Stay away from distractions and negative people and push forward. It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Jxmmi said.
“Our story is literally about how we went from nothing to something. It can happen to anybody,” Lee said.