When Olivia Gabel asked rapper Hoodie Allen to perform her favorite song at UF, she didn’t expect him to respond.
But when she opened her email inbox later that day, she had a surprise waiting for her.
He wrote back.
The 18-year-old’s internet plea has galvanized a small group of about 30 fans hoping to lure Allen to Gainesville for a concert.
They’ve lobbied Student Government Productions and now have their sights set on GatorNights and Reitz Union Board Entertainment.
In December, Allen asked his Twitter followers to suggest colleges he could perform at.
Olivia Masih, an 18-year-old UF business administration freshman, immediately emailed him. When Allen emailed her back, she posted a screenshot of the message to the UF Class of 2020 Facebook page to show other students, she said.
Her post has gathered more than 350 likes and reactions since.
“I figured there was a couple people here and there that would be interested or agree with me, but I didn’t think the numbers would be like this,” Masih said.
Dillon Knox, the director of SGP, wrote in an email he cannot comment on potential shows but has heard student requests.
“However, there are multiple other considerations in planning other shows,” Knox said.
@romyellenbogen
rellenbogen@alligator.org
