Flagler College’s annual spring concert brought students together for a night of live music and community headlined by rapper Waka Flocka Flame. For me, it was the kind of college experience I had imagined when I first came to Flagler, and getting to share it with friends made it even better.
The first 1,250 students who arrived at the venue were gifted a free food voucher that could be used at any of the food trucks, so we decided to arrive early, get food and drinks, and check out some of the amazing merch on sale. My friend was quick to bag a Waka Flocka T-shirt, quickly forgetting her earlier promise that she wasn’t going to spend any more money this semester.
Many of us streamed in before Waka Flocka hit the stage, excited to see the show. While waiting, we were treated to two wonderful opening acts, Shayla Nelson and Last Resort, part of our own amazing student record label. They got the crowd dancing and singing along hours before the main act began. It was a great opportunity to hear some new music and support smaller artists, and they certainly did not disappoint!
Listening to the opening act of a concert is a great way to find new music to listen to, and to give some emerging singers some well-deserved support. People were still arriving, so we could relax and chat as we listened. Shayla Nelson especially impressed us with some wonderful lyrics and an admirable vocal range.
What followed was an upbeat, exciting night of some of Waka Flocka Flame’s popular hits. He started off strong with ‘Grove St Party’, which everyone recognized immediately and greeted with screams and cheers.
The best part of a concert, to me, is the first rush of adrenaline as the booming music first hits your ears, and suddenly you can think of nothing else except the scream of the music. It makes me fall in love with music all over again every time.
The pit filled quickly as students rushed forward; many already wearing newly purchased merchandise. Waka Flocka Flame commanded the crowd from the moment he stepped on stage, keeping the energy high throughout the entire set. He constantly interacted with the audience, calling for louder cheers, directing the crowd’s energy, and making every person in the venue feel part of the show. At one point, he even invited several students onto the stage, turning the concert into a shared experience that sent the crowd into another frenzy.
His energy did not stay limited to the stage. Waka Flocka Flame also moved into the crowd, celebrating alongside students and feeding off the excitement around him. Seeing the night’s headliner in the middle of the audience only added to the atmosphere and made the performance feel even more personal and unpredictable. From start to finish, he never let the momentum drop, and the crowd matched his intensity every step of the way.
Flagler Fest 2026 was everything I hoped it would be and more. Watching Waka Flocka Flame perform live was an unforgettable experience, especially getting to share it with friends and hundreds of other students. He gave longtime fans the kind of night they had been hoping for, while winning over plenty of new ones, me included. For me, it was the kind of college memory that will be hard to top.
