By Lena W. Claybon
GSU always brings in top talent for homecoming and this year did not disappoint. Kicking off the entertainment festivities is Wednesday’s Comedy Night featuring DC Young Fly. DC Young Fly, whose real name is John Richard Whitfield, is a comedian, host, singer, and actor, who gained prominence when he became a recurring cast member on the improv comedy series, Wild ‘n Out, in 2015. Since then, he has gone on to star in several films and television series such as Almost Christmas, My Cousin’s Ghetto Wedding, The New Edition Story, How High 2 and I Got The Hook Up 2 with Master P.
He has also hosted shows like the 2019 BET Social Awards with Jess Hilarious and Celebrity Squares also on BET. DC Young Fly continues to perform comedy all over the country and has a podcast with fellow Wild n’ Out co-stars, Karious Miller and Chico Bean, entitled 85 South Show.
Joining DC Young Fly on stage Wednesday night will be Grambling State’s own up and coming comic, Jordan Harris, as his opening act. The event will be held at the Hobdy Assembly Center. Show starts at 8pm.
Another hot ticket will be Saturday night’s Homecoming Concert starring Coco Jones, Lloyd and Webbie.
Coco Jones has captivated the world with her timeless artistry, sensual voice and emotive songs to become R&B’s breakout artist. She signed with High Standardz/Def Jam in 2022 and released the EP What I Didn’t Tell You with the lead single “ICU,” which has been certified platinum. In 2024, she was nominated for an impressive five Grammy Awards—including the coveted Best New Artist accolade— and won for Best R&B Performance “ICU.” The song was lauded by fans and critics alike and peaked at #1 on the Billboard R&B Airplay chart, leading to Best New Artist wins at the BET Awards, The Soul Train Awards and NAACP Image Awards.
R&B singer, Lloyd, began his solo career by climbing the Billboard 200 in 2004 with “Southside,” his steamy duet with Ashanti. A more romantic album, Street Love, arrived in 2007; it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, with “Get It Shawty” easily its most successful spin-off. Lessons in Love followed a year later, featuring the Lil Wayne collaboration “Girls Around the World.” The singer would not release new music until 2016. Preceded by the release of the title track, the Tru EP arrived in late 2016, and was followed in 2018 by the Tru LP, a full-length version that included the single “Caramel.” Lloyd has also ventured into acting, with appearances in “The Bobby Debarge Story” and other TV roles.
Rounding out the lineup for the evening will be Rapper, Webbie, from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, known for his raw, authentic style and his collaborations with Boosie Badazz. He signed with Trill Entertainment and rose to prominence in the mid-2000s with his album Savage Life and the hit single “Give Me That”. His music often focuses on street narratives and reflects Southern hip-hop culture, solidifying his legacy in the genre.
It’s all going down Saturday, Oct. 10. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 8pm at the Hobdy Assembly Center.
Last but not least, it wouldn’t be an HBCU Homecoming weekend without a little gospel thrown in the mix so on Sunday, October 12, Grambling State presents an All White Brunch featuring gospel artist, JJ Hairston. J.J. Hairston is a Grammy-nominated gospel artist, songwriter, and director of the popular choir Youthful Praise, known for their energetic urban-tinged gospel music and songs like “You Deserve It” and “Resting on His Promise”. A prolific songwriter and producer, Hairston is also the founder and CEO of the JamesTown Music record label and a governor for the National Recording Academy.
The Brunch starts at 1pm and is also at the Hobdy Assembly Center.