EMMA O’CONNELL / ASST. ARTS & CULTURE

Last week, Toreros stepped away from the finals grind to see this year’s TPB Olé Fest headliner, Chance the Rapper. Known for his independence and genre-blurring style, the Chicago-born rapper energized Torero Way. A crowd of around 2,500 students gathered to hear fan-favorite tracks like “No Problem” and “Cocoa Butter Kisses.” 

 Chance the Rapper rapped his heart out last Friday. Emma O’Connell/The USD Vista

The Grammy Award-winning artist made his mixtape debut in 2012 with “10 Day,” a track inspired by his ten-day suspension from high school for marijuana use. The release quickly attracted attention from major labels — all offers that he ultimately declined to maintain his artistic autonomy and creative control. Since then, Chance the Rapper has collaborated with major names, including Justin Bieber, Madonna, DJ Khalid and Lil Wayne.

Last semester, Malcolm Todd, a rising R&B artist, performed at Big Blue Bash. The concert proved a success, leaving the student body buzzing with anticipation for the release of this year’s Olé Fest headliner. 

When Chance the Rapper was announced as the headliner, students immediately recognized the scale of the moment. According to TPB representative Arden Anderson, Olé Fest drew an estimated 2,500-3,000 attendees, a sharp increase from roughly 500 at Big Blue Bash. The event was ticketed and fenced in, and some students felt that the added structure heightened the excitement and  overall experience. USD first-year Connor Cougevan appreciated the atmosphere, 

“It’s really cool to have such a big name like Chance in such a small space,” Cougevan said. “TPB literally transformed the street.”

DJ DAUCHÉ kicked off Olé Fest with a crowd-pleasing pop and hip-hop set spanning the ‘90s, 2000s and 2010s. From Zedd’s 2012 hit  “We Found Love” to “Soak City” by 310babii, her mix offered something for everybody. USD student Marie Espinosa shares how DJ DAUCHE set the mood.

“[She was] the best DJ at USD so far,” Espinosa said. “We should bring her back. Everyone knew everything [that she played].”

AKIA took the mic after DJ DAUCHE, stepping onstage in a black catsuit and furry stiletto boots with full R&B-princess presence. She performed tracks from her latest release, “DUMBCRAZYSTUPID,” and kept the crowd engaged with lighthearted storytelling and quick crowd prompts. Before “DnD,” she joked that her boyfriend just put her on do not disturb ahead of her big show — something the audience could hardly believe. Toreros leaned into AKIA’s anecdotes and playful “call-and-response,” matching the energy of the set.

The crowd’s energy ahead of Chance’s set was tangible — and attendance was at its peak. DJ DAUCHÉ and AKIA had set the stage for a high-impact, high-energy entrance.

Chance burst onto stage jumping and dancing, and students jumped and danced along with him. He opened the set with fast-paced lyrics over driving bass. When technical issues caused his backdrop visuals to cut out, Chance took the moment to talk right to the crowd. He delivered a stripped-down rendition of “Tree,” saying that he “preferred the moment without distractions” and focused solely on the audience.

Students sang songs like “Cocoa Butter Kisses,” “Ultralight Beam” and “Same Drugs” word for word. These tracks were crowd favorites, especially due to their familiarity among college-age listeners. USD sophomore Annie Dorelien described the set as especially nostalgic.

“‘Cocoa Butter Kisses’ was my favorite… I listened to it in middle school,” Dorelien said. “It was definitely memorable… I think a lot of people feel like ‘this is my childhood.’”

Together, the three performers delivered an energized and impactful show.  A record-breaking number of students came together on Torero Way to jam with DJ DAUCHÉ, AKIA and Chance the Rapper — a celebration to propel  the student body through the final weeks of the semester.

Students gathered to watch DAUCHÉ open for Chance the Rapper. Emma O’Connell/The USD Vista