More than four thousand flocked to Colonial Life Arena on Jan. 29 for the annual Cockstock concert featuring Quavo and Mariah the Scientist. This year marked the first time Cockstock has been hosted during the spring semester after years of being a part of USC Homecoming Week in the fall.
The concert dates back to 2016, when Gamecock Entertainment worked with student groups to bring hip-hop duo Raw Sremmurd to campus for a concert on the intramural fields. The event has featured several renowned artists across various genres over the last nine years, including Quavo – who was twice nominated for a Grammy as part of the Migos. Other Grammy Award winning artists include 2017 performer 21 Savage, 2018 headliner Daya and 2022 performer T-Pain.
Quavo and Mariah the Scientist were selected to perform this year by a student committee, which includes members from Carolina Productions, the Homecoming Commission, Student Government, USC Dance Marathon, Association of African American Students, Residence Hall Association, College Panhellenic Association and National Pan Hellenic Council.
“As a sports and entertainment management major passionate about coordinating events that bring people together, organizing Cockstock was an unforgettable experience. From handling logistics to working with the artists and their agencies, I gained hands-on experience in making a large-scale event come to life. Seeing students enjoying the show and knowing I played a role in making it happen was incredibly rewarding. This experience truly solidified my passion for event coordination,” said Jessica Gregorio, Event Coordinator for Cockstock 2025.
Every year, organizers pick a different genre of music for the concert to appeal to a variety of interests across campus. After pop rock band Coin visited in the fall of 2023, the committee pivoted to a hip-hop and R&B-focused set this year. From there, students were pivotal in organizing and promoting every aspect of the concert .
For updates on future concerts and events coming to USC’s campus, stay tuned to @gamecockentertainment and @uofscstudents on social media.