Backstage at Boost Mobile Rock Corps

When it comes to hanging out backstage, you never know what to expect behind the curtains at Boost Mobile’s Rock Corps concert on Saturday at Radio City Music Hall. There were many surprise acts of the night, including Eve, Marley Marl, Swizz Beatz, and Jadakiss. The fans must have left with hoarse voices because as soon as rap star Eve hit the stage in a classic black dress, red pumps, and a slicked back ponytail, they went wild. However, backstage wasn’t where she headed at the close of her performance. Even Eve’s lone female co-performer, Keyshia Cole, was no place to be seen after she blessed the mic. Come on, now, ladies, you know better.

But the women weren’t the only ones who deserved a tongue-lashing. Nick Cannon, the host of the night, did a superb job of getting the crowd on their feet. However, his recent split with Victoria’s Secret Model Selita Ebanks apparently not only gave him a broken heart, but a tight lip. He refused to see any reporters at the event, most likely to avoid speaking of the break-up. Busta Rhymes and alternative rockers Angels & Airwaves were no-shows backstage, as well. But they did show up earlier at De Witt Clinton Park, in New York City, to have some one-on-one time with the kids who volunteered their four hours to make a change by doing community service.

Despite the few who were M.I.A., some did provide an earful of praise and acknowledgement to their fans’ hard work and dedication, such as: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Marley Marl, Biz Markie, Just Blaze, Swizz Beatz, Hurricane Chris, Ludacris, Yung Joc, and Fabolous. The latter Brooklynite said it best, “The biggest message is kinda showin’ [the kids] that I can be a reward for this kind of situation. [It] shows them some morals…If you work for something, in return, you can get something in the long run. They did the four hours community service, and now today, they get to see me perform. I’m just happy to be a part of that reward…This is a great thing to do, a lot of times now, kids don’t wanna do anything, they just wanna get, so this teaches them about giving.”

–Mercedes Augusta