Colored smoke and earth-shaking bass filled the O'Connell Center as Fabolous and Lil Wayne performed Monday night.
Fabolous, encouraging the crowd with, "Let me see your hands in the air," entered the stage at 10 p.m. to cheers and a standing ovation
The crowd broke into screams and dancing when Lil Wayne appeared at 11:15 p.m., assuring them that, "We're going to have fun tonight."
Opening acts had been Montana, Dred Gator, J. Dash and the Pearly Whites, who performed their Gainesville hit "Gator Bait."
La Toya Maise and Derrick Scott, both second-year students at SFCC, said they paid ,100 each at FYE for their second-row seats.
"We were there since the mall opened at 10 a.m.," Maise said. "That's how we got the good seats."
Social Studies Inc. put on the show. Nick Roses, vice president of media relations, said about 4,500 tickets were sold.
According to the O'Connell Center Web site, the main arena seats more than 9,000 during a concert at full house, but Roses still said he thought the event was a success.
Tickets only went on sale two weeks ago, he said, and the event competed with other big acts in Gainesville.
Social Studies Inc. will also donate an undecided amount to a fund for the children of Lt. Corey Dahlem, the Gainesville Police Department officer who was killed by a drunken driver last year.
