Though I am not an avid rap music fan and I generally try to avoid profanity, I attended the Ludacris concert Tuesday, April 29 to find both. It was free and this was my first spring concert at UNA, so why not?

How I viewed the concert might vary largely from what others liked and disliked, partly because I had never been to a concert and did not know what to expect. But here it is — the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good:

Ludacris’s opening act, Two-9, looked like they were having their own party on stage. Part of me believes they would have given the same performance had Norton Auditorium been completely empty. They were all over the stage and were some of the most energetic performers I have ever seen. They performed original songs and some already familiar to the audience, but for the most part they prompted the already pumped crowd for the Ludacris experience.

Norton was almost full by the time Ludacris got on stage. I have never seen UNA students as excited as I did last night. Considering how many times I heard students question why UPC chose Ludacris, I did not expect them to enjoy the concert as much as they did.

The concert was very interactive. Ludacris would have the audience members take turns yelling explicatives back and fourth to opposite sides of the auditorium. Also, when it came to Ludacris’s performance everyone was rapping with him because the majority of the crowd knew his songs.

Ludacris introduced his band members and DJ and they each performed solos. Recognition of the other musicians onstage is always a good thing, in my opinion.

The strobe lights and the fog machine were pretty cool, but I’m easily impressed when it comes to special effects.

The Bad:

I cannot count how many times the audience was asked: “Where my weed smokers?” or “Where my alcoholics?” either by Two-9 or Ludacris. Smoking marijuana is illegal in Alabama, however there are states in the U.S legalizing it and the negative connotations seem to slowly be fading in this country. But, alcoholism? It is a serious disease and it shouldn’t be celebrated. The phrase was referenced to prequel a performance of “One More Drink,” but I think a better introduction could have been made.

There was a lack of honesty in Ludacris’s performance. He kept saying to prove we were really Ludacris fans we should know his old music, as if it were a test. Honestly, what other music does he have? If he did not perform songs like “Fantasy” or “Get Back,” the concert probably would have lasted 10 minutes.

Also, the concert started late and there was a thirty-minute wait between Two-9 and Ludacris. A friend told me that was normal at concerts, so I will let that slide.

All in all, I would say Two-9 was decent, Ludacris was great, and the concert was overall much better than expected. Considering it was free for UNA students, we got way more than we paid for.