On February 24, 2010 it was announced that E-40 and Busta Rhymes would be playing a free show in Ackerman Grand Ballroom as part of the collaboration between the Hip Hop Congress, CAC, and CEC of UCLA. People had to reserve their spots on a waiting list in order to be let in, which promptly filled up. After a late start, the show began.

The event kicked off with a performance of dance crews that had been on shows like America’s Best Dance Crew on MTV. They danced on the floor with a huge barrier surrounding them, making it nearly impossible to watch if you were less than 6 feet tall. After their little performance, the show began with E-40, but before I start talking about the concert, I feel that one thing must be said: Busta Rhymes, the headliner, NEVER SHOWED. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the headliner to this exclusive free event bailed on his audience.

Now back to E-40. I definitely wouldn’t call myself an avid E-40 fan, but when I saw that this concert would be free, and knowing that E-40 sings the song “Tell Me When To Go,” I thought I might as well just go. By the time E-40 took to the stage, I was about four people behind the barrier, as close as I could get being only just over five feet tall. Squished, as I was between people twice my height, I was ready for an intense concert.

I know that bass is an important factor in any rap song, and I love when the bass is high, but enough is enough. The bass was so high that it actually hurt my ears, which has never happened before, and I can handle my fair share of bass. It was turned up so much, actually, that my hair was blowing slightly from the sound waves coming from the bass. Now that, I have never experienced before.

Besides that, E-40 was pretty good live. The bouncers and security were being pretty strict, and they had to pause the show multiple times asking people to back up lest the whole event get cancelled. That kind of put a damper on it a little; no one wants the music to cut to be told to back up from the stage. They played fan favorites “You and That Booty” and “Tell Me When to Go” and they even invited a few girls from the audience to go onstage and dance with them.

After they ended their set, when everyone was pumped up for Busta Rhymes, the organizers of the event came onstage and announced that he would not be attending. They put on a DJ set and wanted to have a dance party, but as soon as they said he wasn’t coming, everyone bounced and didn’t want to stay for their “awesome dance party.”

All in all, the show started late, and Busta Rhymes never showed, but if the event had been advertised as an E-40 gig, it would have been great.

Intern Taylor Rohrbaugh

Latin Flavors, Friday 8-10 p.m.