Rites of Spring headliner NLE Choppa will no longer perform during his set time on April 5, as announced by the Music Group Committee of Vanderbilt Programming Board in an email on April 2 and an identical Instagram post. Per the email, NLE Choppa cited “extreme dehydration and exhaustion” for his absence on Saturday, and had to cancel several other performances this weekend due to his health.
According to the VPB email, the remaining lineup consisting of two performers would remain unchanged for this year’s Rites of Spring, with sets by indie folk band The 502s and alternative rock band Grouplove. There is currently no update on whether a new artist will replace NLE Choppa or if the two-performer lineup will remain in place. The VPB email also states that no refunds will be issued at this time.
“[NLE Choppa’s] health is his priority, and he has canceled multiple shows as a result,” the email reads. “We understand this may be disappointing, especially those looking forward to his performance.”
NLE Choppa is scheduled to perform at Towson University in Towson, Maryland, on April 4. As of publication, the university’s Campus Activities Board has not publicly announced any changes to NLE Choppa’s performance.
The official lineup and schedule for Rites have yet to be posted as of April 2, with the VPB website stating the schedule will be posted soon. VPB did not immediately respond to The Hustler’s request for comment.
First-year Darrah Handmaker said she was upset that NLE Choppa would no longer be performing but was sympathetic to his situation.
“When I heard the news that NLE Choppa would be longer be performing at Rites of Spring, I was truthfully very disappointed,” Handmaker said. “I was really looking forward to seeing him perform so it was definitely a bummer to hear the news, but I understand he needs to put his health first.”
First-year Julia Pien expressed frustration that refunds would not be granted.
“At first, I thought [the announcement] was an April Fools’ joke. When I realized that it was not, I was shocked that they wouldn’t give refunds,” Pien said.
Senior Marco Navarro Stanic said he had been looking forward to seeing NLE Choppa perform.
“It’s really disappointing as I really wanted to see NLE Choppa,” Navarro Stanic said. “I’ll do a thirst strike [in support of] him.”
