Saturday night’s Associated Students, Inc.-sponsored Ludacris concert in The Walter Pyramid proved to have a low turnout of protesters but a large amount of energy from audience members.
The successful Southern rapper Ludacris addressed students and protesters in a press conference prior to the concert.
Most questions were geared toward the protesters, but questions included his upcoming movie projects, and the importance of protesters and rap music in general. The rapper also spent some time talking about his nonprofit organization, The Ludacris Foundation. According to the foundation’s website, its goal is “to show young people they are the architects of their future and instill our ‘Principles of Success’ – a roadmap for achieving dreams.”
Ludacris said he wanted the protesters to know that he does not try to demean women and that he’s not trying to send that message across in his music.
“I feel like even in the song ‘Ho,’ I kind of desexualize the word. I said men are ho’s also,” Ludacris said. “So when people try to pinpoint or think when I say the word ‘ho’ or the word ‘bitches’ it’s always referring to women or trying to degrade women, it’s not about that. Hip-hop is a coded language, so it’s not for everybody to understand.”
Ludacris added, “All I’m doing is being honest about humanity, about living life. I’m not all good. I’m not all bad. Nobody’s perfect – that’s what real life and that’s what hip-hop music is all about.”
The opening act Pacific Division started off the night with its own rendition of the song “Poison” by Bell Biv DeVoe. The group’s three members – BeYoung, Mibbs and Like – showed off their playful style with some dances and by encouraging the audience to vote for them as the city’s next mayors.
After Pacific Division’s set, the DJ gave a shoutout to “all 12 of the protesters outside.”
Though the concert did not sell out, some fans with floor seats waited outside in the rain for more than six hours just to make sure they had seats in the front.
Other fans had their own dance battles on the floor before the show and in between sets, with many of audience members sitting on the floor getting up from their seats to watch the dancers.
Certain songs were dedicated to the protesters, such as “Move Bitch” by Ludacris and “Damn!” by YoungBloodZ. Ludacris dedicated the end portion of the concert to the women in the audience and sang them songs such as “Lovers and Friends,” and “Money Maker.”
Ludacris made his feelings toward the protesters clear and many members of the audience sided with him. They cheered when Ludacris or the DJs made jokes about the low turnout of protesters, and others booed for those who defended them.
According to CSULB President F. King Alexander, 24 of the 30 members of the University Police were also present to help maintain a safe concert.
