Emanuel Rubin – Battle of the Bands 2/1/25
My day at the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands was an event filled with exciting moments. A group of students from Hawkins High School got tickets to Battle of the Bands. It all began when we arrived at SoFi Stadium, where we encountered unexpected other students from Hawkins High School. It was a fun surprise that other students from the school were going to an amazing and exciting event like Battle of the Bands.
Afterwards we headed to the Black College Expo near SoFi Stadium, an incredible space filled with a variety of colleges. Prestigious colleges and universities like UCLA and UC Berkeley were present, alongside a strong representation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). It was amazing to see such a variety of schools all in one place, offering students an opportunity to learn about the career pathway that those universities and colleges offer like scholarship options, and other resources. As we made our way to SoFi stadium, I couldn’t help but look at the incredible stadium. With its awesome and modern design, it stood out even more with a beautiful pond in front of the stadium reflecting the beauty of the stadium. Soon, the excitement increased rapidly as the gates opened and the crowd became impatient.
The event was made even more special by the host appearance of Nick Cannon, the actor, comedian, and rapper. Nick Cannon is known for his role in Drumline, which is kind of fitting for his appearance in this event. Nick Cannon is also known for having an army of 12 kids that he has. The event had lots of anticipation as the fans eagerly awaited the highly anticipated performances from the HBCU marching bands. Hampton University, Alabama State University, and North Carolina A&T State University were just a few of the schools represented. Each band gave an incredible and passionate performance with their incredible routines.
This event was only supposed to last until 4PM and it started at 1PM, until a surprise guest appeared, rapper GloRilla. As soon as she appeared on stage, the crowd went wild with claps and cheering, the energy and excitement in the stadium was overwhelming. Her performance was incredible performing her most popular songs like “TGIF”, “Yeah Glo!”, and many more. Her surprise appearance was a great surprise and the event lasted about 30 minutes more than expected, filled with a mix of music, performances from bands and entertainment. Reflecting on the day, the Battle of the Bands event was not just a celebration of marching bands, but also a celebration of culture, talent, and community. From the college expo to the amazing performances and special guest appearances, it will be a day I’ll always remember.
