Vanderbilt Programming Board announced on March 6 that the 2025 Rites of Spring music festival will feature NLE Choppa as the main headliner. The concert will take place on Alumni Lawn on April 5. 

Rites of Spring was previously a multi-day festival across one weekend, but it was cut down to one day in 2024. Additionally, Commodore Quake, the annual homecoming weekend concert was also canceled last year, with VPB citing budget cuts and construction reasons in a 2023 email to The Hustler. 

VPB announced on March 21 that The 502s, an American indie folk band, will open the concert.

Bryson LaShun Potts, who goes by his stage name NLE Choppa, is a rapper, YouTuber and Tennessee native. The “NLE” in his stage name stands for “No Love Entertainment,” a movement he started with local artists in his hometown of Memphis. 

According to Jaden Royal, coordinator for Arts & Student Activities within Student Affairs, VPB sends a survey to the student body ahead of Rites of Spring each year to gauge student interest in artist selection. 

“Artist availability, budget and student interest all play an important role [in selecting artists],” Royal said. “We also take past survey feedback into account and try to bring in artists that will create a great experience for the Vanderbilt and Nashville community.”

Laila Thomas, a senior, expressed excitement regarding the selection of NLE Choppa, but noted that there has yet to be more artists and performers announced.

“NLE Choppa feels like a very exciting choice and I am excited to see him perform,” Thomas said. “I also think he’s from Tennessee so that’s a fun connection point. Usually, there are two performers but I haven’t seen or heard any communication regarding night two, so I am also experiencing a bit of confusion on that.”

Tickets can be purchased using credit, debit or Commodore Cash online via Vanderbilt’s Virtual Box Office.