Columbus Students Share Stage with Rapper Lil Durk

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Drake, J. Cole, and Lil Durk created unforgettable memories for central Ohioans this week, but for a group of local students, the experience was truly extraordinary.

The artists performed at the Schottenstein Center on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, where more than two dozen area students were given the opportunity to join the show. Taking the spotlight, they sang and danced alongside Lil Durk.

“It was a dream come true,” expressed Aaiden Bush, a sophomore at Independence High School.

Nine other students from Independence shared the stage with him. Bush, a fan of Drake, J. Cole, and Lil Durk, described the experience as incredible. “Before this, I could never imagine myself on stage singing or even being on the floor with them. It was amazing,” he said.

The opportunity arose through the mentoring efforts of the ACE Program and My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) at the school, explained Jamie Allen, the assistant principal. She revealed that she learned about it on Monday and announced it to the students on Tuesday.

“One boy we announced it to, he cried, because he was just so excited to get the opportunity,” Allen shared.

Students were given a few minutes to write about why they deserved to be part of the experience. Allen emphasized that this aligns with the values taught at Independence – involvement and preparedness.

“You don’t have to get ready if you stay ready, so we want them to stay ready, because you just never know,” she remarked.

Allen accompanied the students to the concerts. In total, 29 students from the area were able to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I think it will show them more of the world that’s out there. That you are not limited to your city, you’re not limited to circumstances, that there is a world out there. You see all these people that are here at this concert, they’re coming to see somebody on stage who at one point he was just a regular high school kid,” Bush reflected.