I can’t fathom how some hip-hop fans seriously consider Lil’ Wayne the best rapper alive. Is this a cruel joke I missed out on? Am I the paranoid pawn in some real-life version of The Game? How people believe this, I may never know, but I still empathize with Saturday’s miserable Lil’ Wayne fans.
Although Lil’ Wayne’s music makes me physically ill, I’d be furious to drop $60 on my favorite emcee only for him to get arrested on an outstanding warrant. First of all, how could anyone not initially be pissed at Lil’ Wayne and the cops, only to further get boned by the UO Cultural Forum and 94.9 JAMZ with a soggy supporting lineup and no refunds? That’d be like me dropping $60 on Radiohead, Dane Cook, Minus the Bear, and the Kooks, only for Radiohead to be denied at the border. Sure, I can stomach some of Cook’s material, and I think Minus the Bear’s old stuff is solid, and the Kooks are boring but ignorable; but would I be willing to spend $60 on it? Absolutely not. If I had purchased this imaginary ticket for this imaginary show, you can bet I’d have expected a full refund and apology. Without Radiohead that show is worth $20 tops. The same can be said about Saturday’s “Lil’ Wayne Show” that suddenly became the “Who’s Who of Top B-List Stars Show.”
Okay, to the opening acts’ credit, they were opening acts meant only as filler for the grand finale. But all these second-rate “artists” and sponsors must have forgotten their place in the hierarchy of musical events, and placed the negativity of the crowd on the fans themselves. First off, this is Eugene, home of one of the loudest stadiums in the country, annual Halloween riots, infrequent large-scale concerts, and tons of pot. What did the performers expect from stoned and drunk fans who were there to see “the greatest rapper alive,” just to be severely disappointed? Throw in $60, and somehow people are still surprised at the crowd’s reaction!
Listen, concertgoers: Kamran understands. I’m on your side. I’m proud of your composure by not turning this disastrous event into a full-scale riot. I applaud you. If all those prima donnas suffered were some boos and tainted prides, then they got off light. Those performers could have come in, seen the situation, and blown the crowd away with a completely spectacular performance. Instead, they fussed, cried, and threw tantrums like they were Ms. Dion herself.
But the show must go on, through thick and thin, through a weak lineup, including a second-rate version of Big Pun, a superstar’s overshadowed, aging brother whose only break came thanks to Dave Chappelle, and a couple of low-budget, nameless openers. I’m not feverishly blasting these performers, but this had to cross everyone’s mind at the show. How can event planners be so unprepared? Had this potential dilemma never crossed anyone’s mind? Do those alleged performers really expect to be revered when the main act is a no-show? And does the UO Cultural Forum and 94.9 JAMZ realize how much $60 really is for a college student? That’s like 40 percent of my monthly budget after rent. And including the price of booze and weed purchased prior to show time, concertgoers probably spent at least $100 for the event -only to be drastically shortchanged in return.
Even though the UO Cultural Forum “was not responsible for the ‘concert or content’,” how can they and JAMZ ignore that many pissed off students? The truth is, they really can’t – or shouldn’t. So here’s what I propose: Make it up to the concertgoers by finding a way to bring a free or truly inexpensive show to the UO. I don’t care about the logistics. I don’t care about the expenses. I know JAMZ and the Cultural Forum have the power and budget to pull off something like this. I suggest bringing Wu-Tang to Oregon for free, because if one gets arrested, you’ll still have seven more Wus to go around. Besides, it’d give fans the opportunity to see the real best rapper alive: the GZA.
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