Sam Houston State University Student Activities has announced that rapper Gucci Mane, pop-singer Daya and rock band We the Kings will headline the highly anticipated 2018 Sammypalooza scheduled for March 28. Admission is free for students with a BearkatOne card, and $20 for non-students. Tickets go on sale Feb. 28 in the Recreational Sports office: Health and Kinesiology Center room 162.
Sammypalooza is an annual concert event that features multiple musical acts and is held in the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. Last year, the headliners were the Eli Young Band, A$AP Ferg and Wacka Flocka. In the past, artists like Panic! At the Disco, T.I., Josh Turner and Wiz Khalifa have performed at this landmark event.
“I’m extremely excited to see Gucci Mane because I feel like he’s a very popular artist,” freshman Studio Art major Emily Cabana said. “I’m very happy with the decision they made for that particular artist choice.”
All three artists featured this year carry a track record of hits with them. Gucci Mane is known for hit songs like “I Get the Bag,” and “Both.” He has been featured on tracks such as Rae Sremmurd’s “Black Beatles” and Migos’ “Slippery.” Daya has hits like “Sit Still, Look Pretty” and “Hide Away.” We the Kings have alternative hits such as “Sad Song” and “Check Yes Juliet.”
In Fall 2017, SHSU Student Activities put a poll on Twitter that asked which artist students would rather see at the concert in spring 2018. Out of the four options, Lil Wayne and Post Malone tied for first, with Gucci Mane pulling in second and Young Thug coming in last. A total of 5,508 Twitter users voted.
“I don’t know any of the artists in the lineup and am disappointed but not at all shocked that it’s no one popular,” sophomore Mathematics major Rachel Van Pelt said. “Every year it’s people that I don’t know.”
Gucci Mane, real name Radric Delantic Davis, is credited with helping to create the hip-hop subgenre trap music. He has collaborated with artists like Migos, Drake and Usher. This year, he released two albums, “Mr. Davis” and “El Gato: The Human Glacier.” His new album “The Evil Genius” is scheduled to come out later this year.
Daya, otherwise known as Grace Tandon, has seen mainstream success when her song “Don’t Let Me Down” won the 2016 Grammy award for Best Dance Recording. Her most recent single is titled “New” and was released in late 2017.
We the Kings is a Florida-based rock band whose members include singer/guitarist Travis Clark, guitarist Hunter Thomsen, drummer Danny Duncan, keyboard player Coley O’Toole, and bassist Charles Trippy. In December of last year, the band released a new single called “Festival Music” and announced their plans to release their sixth studio album.
“I actually really like the lineup,” freshman Business major Meagan Curtis said. “I saw Daya last year because I got tickets usper cheap, and it was a really fun concert! Also I used to love We the Kings but it seems like it’s been a while since they’ve come out with new music.”
SHSU is known for having a diverse range of performers from year to year, this year appears to be no exception. Tickets will be available next Wednesday in the Recreational Sports office, free for card-carrying SHSU students and $20 for everyone else. Sammypalooza is scheduled for March 28.