Taking the Stage: Juvenile, Lil Wayne, and H.E.R.

Homecoming week is notorious for the number of activities available to get the Jaguars excited before the climactic events that cap the week off.
The most notable of these is the Homecoming concert.
This year, three featured artists will be here to entertain the SU student body: up and coming singer H.E.R., popular hit-maker Juvenile, and the famed rapper Lil Wayne.
While all of these headlining artists are equally talented, their diverse backgrounds and specialties promise a varied musical experience for everyone.
H.E.R., a 20 year-old R&B singer, aroused public curiosity due to her insistence on anonymity. The artist has not revealed her face during performances, and has not personally revealed her true name since her emergence in late 2016. Ironically, her moniker stands for the phrase “Having Everything Revealed.” H.E.R. maintains her facelessness in order to keep the focus on her music and the emotions evoked by it, as opposed to her public image. So far, the tactic has seemed successful. Her cover of Drake’s “Jungle” has become one of her most popular acts, and her music has been vetted by several seasoned celebrities, including Alicia Keys, Rihanna, and Kylie Jenner. Concertgoers can definitely expect to hear that well-known Drake cover, as well as her songs “Focus” and “Say It Again,” from the EP “H.E.R. Vol. 2.”
After being mellowed by H.E.R.’s rich vocals, the crowd will be pumped by the emergence of rapper, Juvenile. This seasoned veteran of music has been in the game since the early nineties. He is most known for his popular banger “Back that Azz Up,” which was released in 1998. Since then, his hit has remained a favorite among partygoers all across the nation. Besides that particular song, Juvenile will be sure to recall some fan favorites from his ten career-spanning albums, including “Ha,” and “Slow Motion.”
While these two acts will certainly give everyone a great time, the most anticipated artist will be sure to cause the greatest stir: lyrical rap god, Lil Wayne. Freshman Nursing major, Alexis Jones says, “I am excited to see Lil Wayne specifically because he has always been one of my favorite rappers,” and many of Southern’s Jags echo her sentiment.
Lil Wayne has been on top of the charts since he began his career in 1991 at only nine years old. In fact, he worked alongside Juvenile as a part of the group Hot Boys, and was even featured on the aforementioned hit “Back that Azz Up.” Wayne released his debut album at the age of 17, and the project immediately took the number three spot on the Billboard’s Top 200 charts. After his debut, The Carter remained at the top of the game and has not come down since. Throughout the 2000’s, Lil Wayne has released over 13 works and albums. His most famous album to date is “Tha Carter III,” which has featured beloved hits like “Like a Lollipop,” and “A Milli.” Due to his famously intricate wordplay and catchy hooks, Wayne has appeared on an innumerable number of collaborations with the likes of Nicki Minaj, Drake, Demi Lovato, Eminem, and more. As one of the best-selling artists of all time, Wayne is sure to deliver with all of his famed singles.
With talents like these set to take the stage, Jaguars are in for an amazing concert. Chyna Nguyen, a Nursing major from Port Arthur, TX reflects on her anticipation for the event, “I’m sure the concert is going to be fantastically lit,” she exclaimed.