Low music pulsated through Schine Underground as students glanced up at the dimly lit stage, quietly awaiting the performance. The energy in the crowd slowly built with each performance, but based on the crowd’s response to each, it was clear the audience was there for Big Sean.

Big Sean headlined Wednesday’s concert, co-sponsored by the Syracuse University Winter Carnival Committee and the Bandersnatch Music Series, a subdivision of University Union. Though the first two acts gave solid performances, the crowd’s responses to both were weak in comparison to the energy and excitement created by Big Sean’s performance.

First up was The Fly, a duo composed of SU juniors Keith Ramon Smith, also known as Sir Jove, and Farasha Baylock. Sir Jove ran onstage donning a cape and top hat, his bulging eyes lined with black. The vocalist spent his time onstage jumping and sporadically falling down and convulsing on the ground as he wrapped himself in electrical chords.

‘It was a surprise,’ said Joshua Romero, an undeclared freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences. ‘They were really outgoing and outrageous, a great opening act.’

Meanwhile, Baylock, clad in tight spandex and heels, rapped aggressively, taking on different pitches and voices, even screeching loudly into the microphone at one point. Her antics received cheers from the crowd with shouts of ‘You kill Nicki Minaj!’ and ‘Nicki who?’

Though the crowd seemed entertained by their theatrical and musical style, the atmosphere still felt calm, and the back half of Schine Underground had yet to be filled.

After a long wait, rapper Donnis finally appeared on stage, receiving a weak response. However, when Donnis turned up his microphone, he engaged the crowd with a strong delivery of each line.

‘He came with an energy,’ said Dean Engberg, a sophomore psychology major. ‘But the way the crowd was responding, it felt flat, I think, because people had trouble understanding him.’

The wait for Big Sean’s performance created an entirely different atmosphere in Schine Underground. Anticipation and excitement in the crowd was building as people began to sing Big Sean’s tunes and dance to the booming music.

The previously roomy venue became tighter as people clustered around the area, surrounding the stage. Latecomers rushed in just in time to catch the headliner’s performance.

The moment Big Sean ran onstage, the energy the audience reserved during the first two performances erupted through the crowd.

‘It was amazing. I loved it, I loved him,’ said Celine Rahmen, a sophomore English and textual studies major. ‘Once he came out onstage I was so satisfied. He’s what I came for.’

The 22-year-old rapper performed a number of his big hits for the crowd, including his newest single ‘My Last,’ which he called his anthem. The single will be released on his highly anticipated official debut album, ‘Finally Famous: The Album.’

His album, set to release next month, took up so much of the rapper’s time that he ‘developed a crick in his neck,’ he told the crowd. His quest for the perfect female masseuse in the crowd began.

The Detroit-native not only tried to pick up girls but also spent time talking about personal topics, asking people in the crowd if they had relationship problems. He even spoke about his 90-year-old grandma who helped him stay out of trouble when he was younger.

‘I think he really showed his character, his personality with this performance, talking about his grandma and his family,’ said Romero, the undeclared freshman.

All eyes were on Big Sean, the obvious crowd favorite, who generously shared the spotlight. He invited Donnis back onstage for a song and performed with rapper SAYITAINTTONE for the later half of the show.

The strongest response from the crowd came from Big Sean’s remix of Gucci Mane’s ‘Lemonade.’ He peeled his shirt off, receiving cheers of approval as the crowd pushed even closer to the stage.

With everyone huddled close to the front with room to spare toward the back of Schine Underground, you could barely tell the show was sold out. DJ Mo Beatz, who backs up all of Big Sean’s performances, said the venue was surprisingly small compared to other universities they perform at.

‘I heard the show was sold out, but it didn’t seem like it,’ Mo Beatz said. ‘They could have had more people, and it would have been more hyped.’

Overall, Mo Beatz and SAYITAINTTONE were impressed with the people in the audience, describing them as ‘interactive.’

‘I gave someone in the crowd the mic, and they finished every damn line for real,’ SAYITAINTTONE said. ‘I was like, ‘Damn.’ I was impressed.’

As the performance came to a close, Gabz Landman, co-director of Bandersnatch and a junior in the Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries, commented on the show’s success.

‘It exceeded my expectations,’ Landman said. ‘It was one of my favorites so far at Syracuse.’

Big Sean, who performed past the set performance time, ended the show with an energetic performance of his hit ‘Bulls***.’ He even shared some words of wisdom.

‘If you guys don’t get anything out of this, remember this,’ said the rapper. ‘Do what you f***ing want, and don’t let anyone tell you what to do.’

dmodiama@syr.edu

Published on February 23, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Danielle: dmodiama@syr.edu | @daniemarieodie