Students ‘Drop It Like It’s Hot’ for Snoop

Snoop Dogg DJed at the Yost Theater for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity’s first Phideltopia event April 9. Photo by Allie Camp.

Chapman students danced the night away under flashing strobe lights at the sold-out Phideltopia concert April 9 as Snoop Dogg’s “The Game” blasted over the speakers.

“We came out to see Snoop Dogg – he’s a personal favorite,” said Elizabeth Rõsero, a senior business administration major. “I’m graduating, so this is the best way to end it.”

The event took place at The Yost Theatre in Santa Ana and was organized by Chapman’s chapter of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Phi Delta Theta has been planning the event since last year when David Harned, founder of the entertainment company GDM Live, rushed the fraternity during the fall of 2015.

“It ended up working out when I pledged last semester and I told (Phi Delta Theta) my background,” the junior business administration major said.

Harned said that although GDM Live had the option of securing many other artists, the names of whom he couldn’t disclose, Snoop Dogg was its first choice.

“The reason why we chose Snoop Dogg was probably because he’s the type of person that reaches all demographics,” Harned said. “Whether you like hip-hop or EDM, all people listen to hip-hop. We felt like that was the best thing to offer Chapman.”

Many students from all majors were thrilled to be in attendance, expressing their gratitude toward Phi Delta Theta for hosting the event.

“It’s fun to be with all my peers. It’s fun to be with the entire Chapman community as one,” said Peter Heres, a freshman screen acting major who attended the event. “It’s super fun to have Phi Delt throwing such a great event. I’m having a great time.”

The Yost Theater was sold out April 9 for the Phi Delta Theta fraternity’s Phideltopia event featuring Snoop Dogg. Photo by Allie Camp.

Although Snoop Dogg engaged the audience, his performance mostly consisted of playing recordings of his songs and popular music, such as Lil Jon’s “Get Outta Your Mind” and DMX’s “Party Up (Up In Here).”

Seniors Haya Kaylani and Ari Berman pose for a photo at the Phideltopia event April 9 at the Yost Theater. Photo by Allie Camp.

Some students were disappointed in the fact that Snoop did not actually perform live versions of any of his music, despite Phi Delta Theta advertising that Snoop would be “rapping and DJing,” according to a promotional poster for the event.

“I’m upset because I feel like expectations for Snoop were high, and not even remotely met,” said Tansu Philip, a senior political science and television and broadcast journalism major. “It wasn’t clearly conveyed that he wouldn’t be rapping.”

Phideltopia sold out six weeks before the event, selling 1,250 tickets to Chapman students and the general public. Harned could not confirm how much money was raised, how much it cost the fraternity to book Snoop Dogg or where funds raised would go because the fraternity and GDM signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Members of the fraternity said they’re enthralled with the chapter’s rise at Chapman since it colonized in the spring of 2013.

“As a member of Phi Delta Theta, it’s so great to see our fraternity rise up,” said Josh Nudelman, a senior communication studies and political science major. “I’ve been part of this fraternity since the beginning. It’s great to see us go from the square root of nothing to where we are today. We have Snoop Dogg.”

Harned said that Chapman students can expect more events from Chapman’s Phi Delta Theta in the future.

“You guys are going to see a bigger and better event next year,” Harned said. “This was just the start of something huge.”