Rapper DaBaby surprises students with performance at Charlotte school assembly

Ahead of hitting the stage at Charlotte’s newest uptown music festival, rapper DaBaby put on a special hometown performance at a local high school.

On Monday, the Charlotte native formerly known as Jonathan Lyndale Kirk surprised students at a school assembly at Garinger High School, where he bounced between crowds of students and teachers.

“I suggest that you cherish your last two months of high school and being a child … I love y’all, appreciate y’all. I’m right around the corner anytime you need me,” he said before singing his hit ‘ROCKSTAR’ with local DJ Incognito, who played a part in the beginning of his career as the first one to ever play his songs on the radio.

The rapper’s last show in the Queen City was about two years ago at a festival and concert at QC Sound Stage, but he’s one of 40 artists performing next week at Lovin’ Life Music Fest, a new three-day music festival in uptown.

“Talking to DaBaby, one of the things he said to me was, ‘I didn’t have this when I was coming up.’ You know, Charlotte’s not a big music town, and so as we grow, we want to help the music grow with the cultural side of Charlotte and the artistic side of Charlotte — and he said the same thing,” Bob Durkin, co-founder of Southern Entertainment, the team behind the festival, told The Charlotte Observer.

“Having him out today was just so special … to brighten their day and then hopefully get some of them into the music business.”

Along with DaBaby’s performance, Lovin’ Life Music Fest organizers also presented a special $10,000 donation to support Garinger High’s music department for new instruments and uniforms. Organizers also gave out 50 free festival tickets to students, too.

“I almost felt like it wasn’t real,” said Chevis Anderson, the performing arts director at Garinger High School. “We don’t get that many opportunities to get funds, especially $10,000 … I was overwhelmed with excitement and joy because it never happens.”

This story was originally published April 22, 2024 at 4:33 PM.

Chyna Blackmon

The Charlotte Observer

Chyna Blackmon was a service journalism reporter for The Charlotte Observer. A native of the Carolinas, she grew up in Columbia, SC, and graduated from Queens University of Charlotte. She’s also worked in local television news in Charlotte, NC, and Richmond, VA. Support my work with a digital subscription