The city of Berkeley’s own Brandon “Lil B” McCartney drew a rapt crowd to Memorial Glade Friday night, performing with his group, The Pack, for a free Spring Welcome Week concert sponsored by UC Berkeley’s ASUC SUPERB and New Student Services. The rappers brought down the house with Lil B’s hit “Vans,” an anthem about his sneakers, which they saved for the end.

Lil B made it onto Billboard’s 200 when he was just 15; “Vans,” got nationwide airplay and won him a recording contract. Lil B is also known as TheBasedGod, for his advocacy of the Based lifestyle, which encourages positive thinking, creative expression, happiness and helping others.

On Friday, the NewsCenter’s Kevin Ho Nguyen was there and captured the night in photos.