Gucci Mane, a rapper, said, “Rockstar lifestyle might don’t make it.”
After the hip-hop entourage Taylor Gang’s 2050 Tour stop Thursday, I beg to differ.
The day started the same as most in the “Lifestyles of the Broke and Famous.” I was dressed fashionably with my gas tank on empty and $2 in my pocket, ready for a great adventure.
After my friend, Branden Gadsen, showed me an Instagram picture of rapper Wiz Khalifa skateboarding outside the concert venue, I decided we had to go. Why not go? We were done with classes. In the next moment, we were off.
Of course, once we got there, Khalifa was nowhere to be found. We paced outside the row of tour buses for about 45 minutes, standing around so long I decided to climb the roof of the neighboring apartment complex for free seats. But, just as we decided to go, I noticed a promotional poster stapled to a telephone pole. As I looked across the street, I noticed a couple of roadies and security standing next to the tour buses. With a plan in mind, I walked to the biggest guy I saw and asked to get my poster signed.
After being rejected and feeling like all of this was for nothing, a man by the name of Polar Bear Breeze, who is head of security for the tour, asked if I was coming to the concert. Unfortunately, I told him no, I am a broke college student and that I have to work.
“How about I let you and six of your hot friends in for free, but you have to be here by six o’clock,” he said. “And let’s see, it’s 4:45 now.”
That was literally music to my ears. I was given the number to Khalifa’s bass player, Kenny Wright, to call when I got there. I anxiously gathered six of my friends, changed clothes and headed out. Part of my mind was hoping this guy does not stand us up and another part was hoping he meant six friends and not three. I did not even know if he would answer the phone for me when I got there.
When we got to the venue, Wright greeted us with passes for everyone. After being escorted through the back stage to the crowd, all six of us jumped for joy and screamed. It was “turn up” time, as some would say in such a situation, and that is exactly what we did.
I chilled with the band members and Taylor Gang artist Berner on the bus. Next thing I know, I was in someone’s VIP booth, holding a cup of gin and orange juice and rocking out to Juicy J. If anyone asked, for one night only, I was with the band.