By Jason Fontelieu

Although CupcakKe was over an hour late to the show scheduled for 10:30 p.m., she Facetimed one of the Clarice staff members who brought the phone out on stage so she could speak to the audience, leaving the fans desperate for more.

When she finally entered the stage minutes before midnight, the crowd erupted in cheers.

“It’s like Black Friday, when everything goes on sale,” freshman psychology major Zereda Farhat, describing her excitement for the show.

Held in the Kay Theatre of the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, it was clear that the show was in high demand when the line for CupcakKe stretched all throughout the halls of the Clarice.

“It was incredible to see the line form an hour and a half before her set,” said Megan Pagado Wells, associate director of the Artist Partner Program for the Clarice.

CupcakKe was selected by student curators junior biology major Hunter Jones, junior marketing major Emily Gorey and junior environmental science and policy major Jacob Wills, based on student interest and feedback, Wells said.

“Maryland is an inclusive campus, and I appreciate that,” freshman world languages Jaela Goodwin said, referring to the school’s invitation to CupcakKe.

CupcakKe is known for her delicate mastery of trying sharp, expertly-written rap with the ridiculousness of explicit description of her sex life and anatomy, proving the two to be non-exclusive.

“She unapologetically brings her full self and experience to her art and performance,” Wells said.

She played her viral hits, like “Vagina,” “Spider Man Dick” and the chant-worthy “Deepthroat.” Fans in the crowd belted out every word to every song, even to her newer bops like “Duck Duck Goose” and “Quiz.”

She led confidently with her brand of sex appeal, whipping her breast out on multiple occasions and leading the audience in a chant of moans.

Her profound and unapologetic support for the LGBTQ+ community was apparent in her pride anthems, “LGBT” and “Crayons.”

“To have an artist like CupcakKe perform, a woman whose platform is about acceptance and being confident in owning your body and sexuality,” sophomore government and politics major Shania Garcia-Herrera said. “It is refreshing.”

However, not all students who showed up for the performance were able to fit into the theatre and were escorted into an overflow room, where the performance was displayed on a black-and-white projector.

Sophomore government and politics major Alysa Conway said that on the screen, CupcakKe looked like a “white orb.”

“The camera wasn’t focused enough to capture realistically anything,” Conway said. “I felt like my needs were not cared for.”

Despite any mishaps along the way, CupcakKe gave an unforgettably raw show, in a way where the fans feel an authentic connection with a performer with nothing to hide from them.

She had one last thing to let the audience know before she exited the stage, however.

“‘Bout to go some suck dick,” she cried gleefully.

Featured Photo Credit: Courtesy of CupcakKe’s Facebook page.

Jason Fontelieu is a sophomore journalism major and can be reached at jcf037@comcast.net.