BACCHANAL CALLED, WAKA ANSWERED.
By Keonhee Ahn & Nyah Bailey-Burton
Photos by Chancey Stefanos
Seconds after his set, we quickly ran backstage, where we had a brief chat with Bacchanal’s 2026 headliner Waka Flocka Flame, discussing his connection to his audience and what it feels like to watch his decade-old hits continue to resonate with the new generation.
He described to us how it felt to perform with one simple word: “Electrifying.” That electrifying energy was clear from the get-go. Without a soundcheck, Waka was ready the moment he arrived on campus. After a hip-hop, EDM, and rap mix from the supporting DJ Whoo Kid, Waka took the stage five minutes early. As the heavy synths of “Grove St. Party” came through the speakers, the crowd exploded.
It was incredible to see how Waka’s sheer presence casually transformed the minimal space on Low steps into an expansive stage. He constantly moved across the stage, ensuring everyone had a clear view. At one point, he even ran out onto College Walk as far as the Sundial so the people farther back on the lawns could see him, shouting to the pit, “I just want to introduce myself to everyone, I’ll be back.”
Throughout the performance, he never stopped engaging the crowd. He called out lines like, “WE GOT SOME NEW PEOPLE IN THE BACK,” his entire performance all without disrupting the flow of his music. He even took the time during his performance to shout out the Columbia student body, pausing the music to encourage a “round of applause for being smart, intelligent, sharp, beautiful, ecstatic about life.” The steps below the stage and the Butler lawn became part of his performance. That genuine energy and connection with Columbia students made it much easier for the crowd to get hyped. The seamlessness of Waka’s performance surely made everyone forget that Bacchanal had come close to having no headliner at all—previous headliner, fakemink, dropped out of the show less than 24 hours prior to the concert.
Waka’s easygoing, joyous approach to music and life was infectious from the moment he stepped on campus. After a successful set, he headed backstage into Low Library and happily agreed to take some selfies and answer a few brief questions. As we first approached him, asking if he was comfortable with a short interview, he smiled, “Maybe tomorrow. Nah, I’m playing.” When asked what prompted him to take the gig on such short notice, his answer was simple and of equal playfulness: “I was already in New York. I’m from Queens, so I was just chilling at my grandma’s house.”
To our question on whether he was aware of the “No Hands” dance trend, Waka was clearly unaware, responding, “No, what’s going on?” We followed up by asking what he felt when he saw his decade-old hit resonate with a new generation of listeners. In response, he reflected on how the song was initially received in comparison with the success of his peers. “I remember people getting Grammys and Freshman of the Year,” he said. “They were saying ‘“No Hands” wasn’t a big record.’ But it outlasted everybody.” He then attributed that longevity to his relationship with his audience, adding, “I’m always an artist that only messes with the fans.” That simple comment says a great deal about him. Artists who make quality music for their fans do not need to chase trends or manufacture relevance. Instead, trends eventually find them. Waka shows that timelessness cannot be forced; it emerges naturally when music is genuinely embraced by the people listening.
Join us in sincerely thanking Waka for stepping up on such short notice and delivering a Bacchanal performance to remember!