Big Sean performs at Pitt

By Parthena Moisiadis

Big Sean emerged on stage at the Fitzgerald Field House jumping enthusiastically to his hit,… Big Sean emerged on stage at the Fitzgerald Field House jumping enthusiastically to his hit, “I Do It,” Saturday night.

The rapper’s chains bounced against his chest and he sported a Pittsburgh Penguins hat during the Pitt Program Council’s annual hip-hop show.

About 3,000 students listened as Big Sean recounted his Pittsburgh ties by telling the audience about his trips and concerts with Pittsburgh rapper Wiz Khalifa, who performed in Pittsburgh two years ago.

“I remember performing in Detroit in front of 60 people. It’s so tight to see where we are now,” he said.

Big Sean dedicated the song “Memories” to Pitt students, and the audience responded by raising their lighters and cell phones in the air.

“I hope you remember me, Pitt,” he said.

Pitt sophomore Kobbie Turkson opened for Big Sean and said he hoped the performance would help him break into the music industry.

“I want to establish a name here, and I think this is a good step,” the student rapper said.

Turkson, whose performing name is Chryon, won WPTS’s Battle of the Bands in February to open for headliner Big Sean.

This wasn’t the first time Turkson participated in the Battle of the Bands. After losing during his freshman year, Turkson said the loss only motivated him to work harder this year.

“I had to make it incontestable that I won,” he said. “This year, I wanted to come back and do everything I did last year wrong, right.”

His self-written raps were right for the crowd, and they cheered during original songs like “Born to Be Better” and “My Thing.”

Freshman Omotayo Balogun was part of the enthusiastic crowd and said the performances weren’t the only thing that made the concert a success.

“We’re broke college students, and the fact that they do this concert is really cool. You can’t disappoint me for $5,” she said.