Rapper Lil Durk Hits the Court at HBCUs for Starry Fizz Fest

Rapper Lil Durk has joined forces with soft drink brand Starry for a series of promotional appearances at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) this spring. Making stops at Jackson State earlier this week and scheduled to appear at Morgan State on April 26, Lil Durk has already visited Norfolk State and Hampton in the Tidewater area at the beginning of April.

These campus events are part of the Starry Fizz Fest, an event centered around basketball that offers over $333,000 in scholarships and prizes.

Students participating in the event have the chance to compete in various basketball-themed contests, including S-T-A-R-R-Y (a variation of the popular game H-O-R-S-E), 3PT Knockout (a three-point shootout contest reminiscent of the STARRY NBA All-Star and HBCU Classic tailgate footprint), and Shaky Shot (a game inspired by classic arcade basketball, featuring a moving backboard). Prizes such as Starry merchandise and gift cards are up for grabs. In the game of S-T-A-R-R-Y, students must score specified shots around the court to spell out the word “STARRY” in the fastest time possible. Winners from each school will advance to a final competition to showcase their skills and vie for major bragging rights.

Recently, Lil Durk surprised students at Jackson State University’s Starry Fizz Fest, a basketball skills competition designed to reward students with prizes and scholarships across four HBCUs this spring. The fest was part of JSU’s Thee I Love Bash, an annual end-of-year celebration for JSU students.

Lil Durk shared his thoughts on the initiative, stating, “Being competitive doesn’t just apply to sports; life itself is about hunger, drive, and teamwork. This initiative is about rewarding students for their dedication on and off the court, showing support for our people as they pursue their dreams.”

The ultimate winner from the final four events will have the chance to become one of the new faces of Starry. This individual will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the Kia NBA Tip-Off later this year. Additionally, their nаme, image, and likeness will be featured on promotional materials for next year’s Starry Fizz Fest, further cementing their status as a rising star with an NIL (Nаme, Image, and Likeness) deal.

Kent Montgomery, Senior Vice President of Industry Relations and Multicultural Development at PepsiCo, expressed the brand’s mission with Starry Fizz Fest: “Our goal is to bring excitement to basketball fans while rewarding HBCU students for their passion, amplifying their talent, and providing opportunities that positively impact these universities, their students, and their communities.”