Before the doors opened to Addition Financial Arena on Thursday, a long line snaked around the building as students were eager to watch DaniLeigh and 6lack live during Concert Knight.
The 2019 Homecoming Committee wasted no time getting the show started as they burst onto the stage with inviting smiles on their faces.
“What’s up, UCF? Are y’all ready to get this homecoming started?” members of the Homecoming Court shouted, in which the crowd replied to with loud cheers.
As the homecoming committee made their exit, DJ Tonee emerged from behind his booth and started to jump around the stage.
DaniLeigh stepped onto the stage with an energetic presence.
She sang each song with what seemed like every ounce of energy she had in her — and with a smile on her face — ending the performance out of breath. The crowd loved her, screaming louder and louder every time she took to dancing across the stage, and they reciprocated her energy.
“Thank you so much UCF, I love you all deeply,” DaniLeigh said before finishing her performance. “I can’t wait to see all of your pretty faces the next time I come to Orlando! Are y’all ready for 6lack?”
After Leigh finished her performance, DJ Tonee returned to the stage, jumping and pumping his arms to “My Type” by City Girls. The fans were going crazy, chanting the song lyrics and bouncing as a single unit. The lights dimmed as Tonee made his way back to his booth.
As the lights turned back on to illuminate 6lack’s face as he walked to the center of the stage, the fans in the front row could not contain their excitement.
He stood at the mic stand and observed the crowd of faces peering back at him, as an “I love you!” rang out from the crowd. 6lack pointed in the direction it came from and said, “I love you more.”
The melody from the song “Loaded Gun” echoed throughout the room, as the crowd recited every line word for word along with him.
As an artist with a discography of mostly slower hits and R&B tracks, 6lack let his inner energy out during this performance. The Atlanta-born singer and rapper never stopped moving about the stage and was not afraid to interact with the crowd.
He brought out the hidden side of himself as he allowed himself to grow more and more hype as the show went on. The fans also encouraged him each time he walked to the edge of the stage and danced, and he became more confident bringing out an ecstatic cheer each time.
Up until that point, he had played every other song from his album “East Atlanta Love Letter,” as well as some other singles he featured on.
After performing “Disconnect,” 6lack stood center stage and the crowd got quiet.
As he put the mic back on the stand, he said, “I don’t know if y’all know this song, but it’s grammy nominated, and its featuring J. Cole.”
Everyone had their phones out to record, and as the beat slowly started to creep out from the speakers and the first lyrics came on, every single person sang along as one cohesive unit
“Do better, who better? You better? Been around,” 6lack stopped singing his “Pretty Little Fears” song and looked out as the crowd at Addition Financial Arena was singing the rest of the lyrics.
Finishing the song to roaring applause, 6lack stood in the center of the stage and thanked everyone for coming, that he truly loved Orlando and all the people at UCF, and he thanked the Homecoming Committee for organizing the event.