Waka Flocka Flame highlights Welcome Back Bash

By Anna Biondolillo | Staff writer 

Georgia rap star Waka Flocka Flame performed at the 2026 Back to School Bash at Christenberry Fieldhouse on Aug. 21.

Waka, born in New York, although he but grew up in the Atlanta suburb of Riverdale, left it all out on the stage as he performed his hit songs. During the performance, the rapper even invited some Greek Life members to join him onstage to dance.

It seemed like Waka, who was born Juaquin James Malphurs, had an allergy to the stage because after about 10 minutes of his performance, he left the stage and was walking all around Christenberry while performing. Anywhere he went, a mosh pit followed as students kept rushing to get as close to the rapper as possible.

After he spent a while performing around the Fieldhouse, he went back to the stage and had a moment of recognition for any loved ones who had died.

“I grew up in a church choir,” said the rapper, “and I would love to fill this room with light and have the angels look down on us as we sing to the people we’ve lost.”

This moment looked quite different from the rest of his performance, but brought the students down for a second to remember all that is important in life. As the students lifted their flashlights in the air, the room was filled with people’s smiles in this slower moment.

“I thought Waka Flocka Flame’s performance was very fun and engaging,” said the sophomore Gabriella Buron, who was in attendance. “I appreciated the moment he took to have everyone settle down and point the focus to God. That’s who we live for.”

After this moment of peace, the energy was brought up again as the rapping and singing continued. It seemed as if all of AU was one family having the time of their lives together. People were talking to people they never knew well before, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered were the memories made and the time shared.

Waka’s performance ended with a few other songs and then his greatest hit, “No Hands.” After this song, many people were in a scramble to leave to not get stuck in the line of traffic, but even then, people left smiling and laughing.

The turnout for Waka made this perhaps the largest attendance ever for an AU Welcome Back Bash, although no official statistics are kept for the event.

Of course, the was a concert with an outside hired performer, which made it different from past welcome-back events that mainly focused on AU athletes. Thus, after the usual programming students see every August, rapper Waka and Atlanta hip-hop trio Travis Porter came out to entertain.

Among those in attendance Friday night were students from the Medical College of Georgia, Dental College of Georgia, athletes, and various fraternities and sororities, as well as the general student population.

As usual, it started with introductions of the sports teams, followed by the royal court from the 2026 homecoming and then dancing the Augusta slide. This was all before the main event.

Next Travis Porter performed their top songs and new releases, such as “Ayy Ladies,” “Bring it Back” and songs from their new album “Party Pack.” The energy was high, and, after a 45-minute performance, Travis Porter left the stage for Waka.

Note: At the top of the page, Wake Flocka Flame performs one of his songs in Christenberry Fieldhouse at AU’s annual Welcome Back Bash. (photo by Anna Biondolillo)

 Contact Anna Biondolillo at abiondolillo@augusta.edu.