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Rapper Lloyd Banks gave a riveting performance Saturday night at the 103 Ultra Lounge in Orono.
An energetic line of anxious concert attendees stood outside just before 9 p.m. Roughly two hours passed while dance music played as G-Unit fans poured into the club before any performers took the stage. 103 continued to fill up until it reached capacity of just over 420 people in the building by 11 p.m.
Opening acts came from all along the East Coast and exhibited their skills with new beats and fresh hip-hop lyrics. Performers MassMovement, full of magnetic energy, were the first to demonstrate their talent to the audience.
Another artist called Bogus Trizzy soon took the stage and performed songs off his album, such as “Wake Up” and “I Saw Your Plan.” Judging by the increasing dull atmosphere in the club and a sea of vacant expressions, the audience didn’t enjoy this performer’s music.
Fans were questioning the arrival of Banks as the night wore on. It wasn’t until just after 1 a.m. that Banks graced the stage along with Affiliate of A Disturbing New Trend.
Despite the late appearance, the audience was not the least-bit disenchanted. They became instantly ecstatic, running toward the stage to get closer view of the rap star.
Banks, best known as an original member of G-Unit, performed songs from his debut album “The Hunger for More” and new songs from A Disturbing New Trend.
The rapper interacted with the crowd during interlude of songs.
“What up, everyone? We’re in Maine,” shouted Banks. “If you got the first G-Unit album, put your hands up,” he said, busting into 50 Cent’s hit song, “What up Gangsta” from “Get Rich or Die Tryin’.”
The performer continued to chant as he went into the hit song “I’m Still Fly.”
Audience members stood shoulder-to-shoulder. Inebriated women swooned and men tried to climb on the sides of the stage reaching out their hands in attempt to touch the celebrity on stage.
“The concert was really great. It was just too small for the performance. It’s like trying to put a shoe on that won’t fit … It just won’t work,” said Crystal Gilman, concert attendee from Brewer, Maine.
Brawls instantly broke out as the crowd went fanatical when the rapper took off, one layer-at-a-time, shirts he was wearing throughout the performance.
“My favorite part was when Lloyd Banks threw my buddy his sweatshirt,” said Matthew Borque, concert attendee from Castine. “My friends and I were throwing elbows. Lloyd was good but he showed up late.”
Occasionally the roar of the audience would drown Banks out when he spoke, but audiences could still hear him informing his fans about how he’s currently working on his third album.
The rapper continued his impressive performance with another hit song, “On Fire.”
Drawing an end to the rambunctious event, Banks and A Disturbing New Trend performed their last songs, while not just showering the audience with lyrical love, but with actual water.
After performing the last song and stripping himself of his last shirt, the rapper suddenly dropped his mic, exited the stage and swiftly disappeared into the back room of the club.
Banks isn’t the only member of G-unit to visit the town of Orono. Former G-Unit member, Young Buck performed in 2007 at 103 Ultra Lounge.
Bangor Daily News