Ski Mask The Slump God headlines Music Fest
Hofstra’s 2023 Music Fest kicked off with several artists, including Hofstra student OfficialX. // Lindsey Lolkema / The Hofstra Chronicle.
Music Fest came to life on Friday, Oct. 20, with exhilarating performances from headliner Ski Mask The Slump God along with cupcakKe, Official X and The Nice Guys, femdot. and CIV. Organized and hosted by Hofstra Concerts, the celebration took place in the David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex, featuring a variety of songs and dance presentations for students and their guests to enjoy.
The concert included a heartfelt setlist from Ski Mask, who commemorated his late friends and fellow rappers XXXTENTACION and Juice WRLD. XXXTENTACION, formally known as Jahseh Onfroy, was murdered in a shooting in June 2018. Juice WRLD, also known as Jarad Anthony Higgins, died after an accidental overdose of painkillers in Dec. 2019.
“For our setlist, usually we do a tribute to X and Juice,” Ski Mask said. “Then we also want to play the nostalgic songs that people usually know and mix it up with some new stuff. No one else would really have the say to play X and Juice songs and have people vibe out to it in the way I can because I was really close to them. So we’re the best people to do it.”
“My favorite part had to be [the] start of Ski Mask’s set when he was paying homage to X and Juice WRLD,” said Maria Moreno Suarez, a senior Latin American and Caribbean studies major. “They were a big part of my middle and high school life, and you don’t really hear their music anymore, so I thought that was beautiful.”
“My favorite song that X and Ski Mask made together is ‘Take A Step Back’ because I used to be a big fan of theirs,” said Olamide Oluwafemi, a junior nursing major. “The energy between that song and ‘Look At Me’ was unmatched and so memorable.”
Ski Mask is an American rapper who gained recognition after forming the hip-hop duo Members Only with XXXTENTACION in 2014. His third mixtape as a solo artist, “Beware the Book of Eli,” peaked at No. 6 on the US Billboard 200 and No. 4 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in 2018. His setlist of the night featured hits such as “Catch Me Outside,” “BabyWipe,” “Faucet Failure,” “Unbothered,” “Carbonated Water” and countless others.
“CupcakKe set the tone, and Ski Mask showed his respects to X and Juice WRLD and all of their fans,” said Kevin Sikanartey, a sophomore marketing major.
CupcakKe’s astonishing performance left the Hofstra crowd in a frenzy, with her popular hits like “Deepthroat,” “Cpr,” “Duck Duck Goose,” “Vagina,” “Old Town Hoe” and more. The rapper captivated students (and probably stunned public safety officers) with her fierce and sensuous lyricism, which was flooded with messages of sexual liberation.
“I am proud of everything I do,” cupcakKe said. “I let the public do what they do. I know that everything I put my time into is worth the attention every time. What the public chooses is what they choose. I know that everything I do is to the best of my ability.”
CupcakKe, an American rapper and singer, rose to prominence with her second mixtape “Cum Cake” in 2015. She is most recognized for her unapologetic lyrics, hypersexualized music and assertive persona.
“I feel like ‘Grilling N****s’ is the best song for people to listen to if they’re new to my music,” cupcakKe said. “It’s just a hype song, and it’s for both females and guys. You can just turn that bitch up.”
“Each performer at Music Fest set the mood for the next, but cupcakKe’s lyrics and the faces of people who have never heard her music before was the highlight of the night,” Suarez said.
The festival also welcomed OfficialX, also known as Xavier Bell, who is a junior music business major at Hofstra and the lead rapper of the band OfficialX and The Nice Guys. The band’s setlist included popular songs such as “Stomp,” “Love & Affection,” “Locked In,” “Sum Slight” and many more.
“I felt very empowered and confident on stage. Hearing all of those screams and cheers just did something to me, it was a feeling I can’t explain,” OfficialX said.
“I loved OfficialX’s performance. My favorite song from the show was ‘Throw It Back,’” said Shenelle Miller, a senior marketing major. “He did such a great job, and I’m so proud of him.”
The Hofstra Concerts team was also a crucial part of the planning stage for the festival and aimed to create an inclusive and entertaining experience for both students and guests. The long-awaited appearances from Ski Mask and cupcakKe were postponed in May after weather conditions led to the original show’s cancellation.
“Working as the hospitality chair for Music Fest was an experience I will never forget,” said Lily Anzalone, the hospitality chair for Hofstra Concerts. “We’ve been working on this event for a long time since it was rescheduled, and as a team, we are so proud of what we accomplished not only for us but for the student body as well.”
To close the dynamic performances, Ski Mask and cupcakKe left motivational messages for students, musicians and supporters alike.
“Stay consistent. Weigh your options as best as possible. And just know that in 2023, most of the things a label can do, you can do for yourself,” cupcakKe said.
“Finish whatever you’re doing. If you’re in school, finish that,” Ski Mask said. “Find something that you really like … all it takes is practice and actually doing it. I’m a really big believer of karma, and I think whatever you put in is what you get out.”
