Dillard University hosted its 2026 Spring Fest concert on April 8 with New Orleans native and rising star La Reezy headlining.
The concert featured opening performances by Tr3TakeFlight, QthaPlaya, $hamm, and OG the Artist, all students of the university.
“Truthfully, this is a blessing. This is something that I’ve talked about and it’s something that’s been on my bucket list for some time now,” said Tr3Takeflight, also known as Montreal Dukes, who is a senior mass communications major from Fort Worth, Tx.
He also shared that he was excited to see the other artists perform.
“I’ve been in front of big crowds my whole life, so it’s like second nature to me. I just want them to be carefree and vibe with me,” said QthaPlaya, also known as Qunicy Williams, who is a senior mass communications major from LaPlace, La.
$hamm, whose real name is Jayren Ettiene and is a senior mass communications student from Jennings, La, shared that his focus was on bringing high energy to the stage.
“What’s going through my mind is what crazy stuff I’m gonna do on stage to get the crowd hype and keep myself hype so there can be some good energy while I perform,” he said.
OG the Artist, a 2026 graduate from Miami, said he wanted to deliver a performance that showed his growth.
“This is my first time putting on a show and not just getting up and singing. I want the audience to take away that I’m a superstar, and I really hope to excite and entertain people. That’s my job,” said OG.
La Reezy, whose full name is Khayree Salahuddin, was the night’s headliner.
“I’m grateful to be here and right now I’m excited,” said La Reezy “I just wanna inspire. I want people to leave and feel like they can accomplish anything. I think leaving them with some type of feeling is important.”
The New Orleans artist added that performing at Dillard held a special meaning because his mother attended the university. He looked forward to performing songs off his latest project “Leader of the Uth,” along with tracks from earlier releases such as “Welcome to LaReezyana,” giving the audience a glimpse into his experiences growing up on the streets of New Orleans that ultimately helped shape him.
The show opened with QthaPlaya, who delivered a relaxed, confident set that kept the audience engaged, highlighted early by his performance of “Magic.” His easy movement across the stage matched the carefree tone he hoped to bring.
“I didn’t know what I was going to walk into. I just know I wanted to have fun. I feel like it was cool, they were really rockin with me,” said QthaPlaya.
$hamm followed with a surge of intensity during his song, “Champion,” leaning into crowd interactions and feeding off every cheer.
“I was very nervous in the beginning because I knew I had to come out hype, but I wanted to get the crowd in it. So I came out screaming and the crowd was right along with me,” said $hamm.
TreTakeFlight drew strong crowd reactions with his performance of “Slow Jams” with QthaPlaya and yHmrian, “Kelly Kelly,” and the debut of “Bounce,” which quickly became one of the most memorable moments of the show. yHmrian, also known as Rian Lowens, is a junior mass communications student from Monroe, La.
“I was most proud of being able to perform with my brothers (QthaPlaya and yHmrian). To be able to include them in my set was a big thing and a big goal for me,” said Tr3TakeFlight.
OG the Artist shifted the mood with his songs, “In Your Love” and “Beg For Me,” which offered a more melodic moment in the lineup. His set highlighted the growth he spoke about before the show, with a performance that felt intentional and engaging.
“The crowd was unmatched. I was really happy they interacted with me. We had a good vibe, we were in tune, flashlights and everything. It was legendary,” said OG the Artist.
La Reezy closed the night with a high-energy set with songs like “Hardhead” and “Tiana Anthem,” delivering an energetic performance that connected with the crowd.
He explained that rapper LaRussell advised him to talk to the crowd more while they were on tour together. LaRussell said that the people know La Reezy’s music, but they don’t know him as a person.
“This was my first opportunity to apply that and talk with the people more. It felt great to just talk and be myself. Not just La Reezy the rapper, but human to human,” said La Reezy
La Reezy gave Dillard an exclusive performance of his now-released single “Melanate It,” previewed his upcoming track “How Did You Love Me,” and announced his album release date. The new project was released on May 24.
Since Spring Fest, La Reezy has performed at Jazz Fest and Keith Lee’s Familee Day festival. He’s now gearing up to join Los Angeles rapper and singer Samara Cyn for her European tour in September.
The opening acts have continued to work on and release new music. OG the Artist dropped “EveryTHANg” on April 17, TreTakeFlight dropped “Marble Lounge” on April 24, and QthaPlaya announced that his new album “Heartbreak Summer” will be released on May 31.
The Spring Fest Concert ultimately served as a showcase of rising talent from the South and the community that continues to support it.
