Thousands of students and fans packed Reynolds Coliseum to see rap artist Big Sean with openers T-Pain and Jeremih at Thursday’s sold-out PackHowl homecoming concert organized by the Union Activities Board.

This is the first year the annual homecoming concert has ever sold out, according to Wesley Grant Rhodes, the Union Activities Board vice president and a senior studying nutrition science.  

Tickets for the concert sold out 72 hours prior to the show, topping the concert’s capacity at 3,700 people, according to Assistant Director of Student Involvement Jermisha Dodson.

Headliner Sean Anderson, better known by his stage name Big Sean, is considered one of the music industry’s most popular up-and-coming rappers. Following the show, the rapper answered questions about his choice not to attend college and about his journey to fame. 

Anderson had college on his radar while in high school, but the 3.7-GPA student changed his mind.

“I had scholarships and everything,” Anderson said. “I was on my way to Michigan State. I had my roommate and my classes. At the last minute, I didn’t go. I decided that I’m doing what I want to do—whether I get paid for it or not.”

Though he didn’t choose college, he said he supports higher education.

“I have to pay a business manager, a lawyer, a whole bunch of people and an accountant,” Anderson said. “If I would have learned to do all that myself, I could just do all that myself. I really do encourage education.”

Anderson said the life he lives now is far different from his childhood in Detroit.

“I came from the bottom,” Anderson said. “I didn’t grow up in a good neighborhood.”

Anderson was raised in a small two-family flat with his mother and brother. His great-aunt lived above them on the second floor.

“It made me who I am, and I appreciate it,” Anderson said. “Now, my life is a little bit different. I was able to achieve some level of success.”

His success is like nothing he’d imagined it would be.

“I’m still at the beginning of my career … The sky’s the limit for me and my team,” Anderson said.

Before Anderson was collaborating and performing with Kanye West and other top names in the music industry, the rapper independently sold CDs of his own music while in high school.

“I was just trying to branch out and build a fan base,” said the former starving artist.

Anderson also became heavily involved in rap-battle competitions at his hometown radio station in Detroit, and he soon developed close relationships with the station’s DJs.

As the victor of several rap battles, Anderson was often given the opportunity to rap on the air.

Pure persistence and notoriety at the radio station lead to Anderson performing for Kanye West during West’s visit to the station promoting a new album.

According to Anderson, his new album will drop soon and includes “high-level” and “intense” raps. He said he wants to continue to impact culture and do what he does better than anyone else.

“I want to be at the top of the rap game,” Anderson said. “I feel like I’m the best.” 

*For more exclusive content about Big Sean’s meeting with Kanye West and his subsequent rise to fame, see this week’s addition of the Nubian Message on stands Wednesday.*