Masses of devoted but disappointed fans loitered in front of McArthur Court on Saturday evening after the concert that was supposed to host comedian Charlie Murphy and hip-hop acts GreenState, Fat Joe, Sean Kingston and Lil’ Wayne.
Headliner Lil’ Wayne didn’t show.
Despite rumors of an altered lineup, concert-goers clad in miniskirts, flat-billed baseball caps and bling-bling accessories still arrived as planned, hoping to see their hip-hop idol perform.
But Lil’ Wayne, born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., had been arrested in Boise, Idaho on Friday night because of an outstanding warrant for possession of a controlled substance, said Lt. Alan Cavener of the Boise Police Department.
Lil’ Wayne’s absence didn’t stop the other performers at the Gods of Hip Hop and Comedy tour, but there was an angry overtone demonstrated by distraught fans booing acts off the stage. Hip-hop duo GreenState said the disrespect shown by fans was a nightmare.
Judging by the Lil’ Wayne memorabilia sported by many attendees, it appeared most had paid good money to see him, but strangely his no-show status only demonstrated their loyalty.
“I don’t blame (Lil’ Wayne),” said University of Puget Sound freshman Bob Kinney, who drove hours to hear the chilling lyrics from Lil’ Wayne’s hit “Feel Like I’m Dying.” “Everyone just came for Lil’ Wayne. We would not have come if it weren’t for him. He’s the best rapper alive.”
Most of the fans were infuriated that they had to sit through the other acts without seeing the Louisiana-bred rapper.
Lil’ Wayne, 25, was performing in Boise on Friday evening when local law enforcement received news about the warrant from Georgia police.
He paid his $10,000 bail on Saturday to be released from the Ada County Jail, Lt. Cavener said.
Comedian Murphy and Fat Joe both were outraged by the fans’ crude behavior, GreenState member Dusty Fuller said. Murphy threw down his mic after only 20 minutes, commenting that he has made people laugh all over the world and has never been so disrespected. Fat Joe had a similar experience. Fans chanted “Weezy,” one of Lil Wayne’s nicknames, prompting Fat Joe to exit after a few songs.
“It was chaos,” said Fuller, who felt proud of his own performance. “These people are icons and Eugene is going to disrespect them?”
The UO Cultural Forum helped 94.9 JAMZ produce the event, but the group was not responsible for the “concert or content,” said Darrel Kau, the Cultural Forum’s coordinator.
Kau said he was “disappointed that the concert did not occur as planned and it did not meet our expectations as presented by the promoter.”
University of Puget Sound junior Carling Lee, who comes from the hip-hop artist’s hometown, New Orleans, said the event was “the worst concert ever.”
Portland resident Corey Falbo acknowledged that Murphy performed well, but said that other acts received no love.
“I have followed (Lil’ Wayne’s) work since the beginning,” he continued. “He knows metaphors. His words intertwine together well,” Falbo said.
“My message to Lil’ Wayne is ‘You shouldn’t have been to Idaho. You should’ve laid low.’”
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