NLE Choppa to Headline Yale’s Spring Fling 2025

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The Spring Fling committee at Yale University announced early March 6, 2025, that hip-hop artist NLE Choppa will headline this year’s Spring Fling, set for April 26 on Old Campus. Joining him will be the dream-pop band Cults and British electronic duo Snakehips.

The lineup was revealed through a video during a gathering at Toad’s Place, generating excitement among students. Morris Raskin, a talent chair of the committee, expressed enthusiasm for the artist selection, stating, “Our committee is super excited about this year’s lineup, and I feel we put together a group of musicians that gives Yale students songs they know, love, and can dance to.”

NLE Choppa, who gained popularity with hits like “Shotta Flow,” has over 5 billion streams across various music platforms and boasts more than 18 million social media followers. His recent hits include “Slut Me Out” and “Gang Baby.”

Committee members highlighted Choppa’s relevance in today’s music as a key reason for his selection. Kristin Meola, hospitality and outreach chair, noted, “We’ve been to so many parties and events throughout the school year where we’ve heard him being played, and that to us was an indicator that he’s someone very current.”

New York-based Cults, known for songs like “Always Forever,” also adds significant appeal. Raskin mentioned the band’s resurgence in the past few years, remarking, “They have this very musically diverse and rich catalog, but also so many hit songs that a lot of people recognize.”

Snakehips, a duo recognized for their genre-blending style, has collaborated with artists including The Weeknd and Tinashe. Their track “All My Friends” has racked up over 600 million listens on Spotify. Jenna Chow, production chair of the committee, stated, “I think they’re going to contribute a lot to the energy of the headliner, incorporating EDM into pop in a way that is singable and danceable, and also really crazy and fun.”

The Spring Fling committee, which comprises around 25 members, began searching for artists in August and September. Raskin described the booking process as an “arms race,” emphasizing the competition among schools for popular artists. Last year’s event featured Swae Lee, Dayglow, and Coco & Breezy.

Prior to finalizing the lineup, the committee surveyed students, receiving thousands of responses. Meola noted that students showed consistent preferences for familiar songs. Willa Hawthorne, the creative and marketing chair, emphasized the importance of stage presence in their selection process, stating, “You can love the music of someone, but if they don’t have good stage presence, or they’re not a good live performer, they’re not going to have a good show.”

Excitement to involve new committee members has emerged, with Chow commenting on the growth of their newest recruits and their passion for the festival. While committee members typically focus on preparations and miss the event’s festivities, they find pride in contributing to Yale’s tradition.

As part of the lead-up to Spring Fling, students can also anticipate performances from three student group winners of a competition known as “Battle Of The Bands.” Applications for performers close on March 7. Attendees can register and pick up wristbands the week before the festival, and tickets are free, allowing each student to bring one guest.