It was a chilly Friday evening, typical weather for Spokane in the fall. But for the hip-hop fans at Gonzaga University, this evening was far from the usual. There was a sense of excitement in the air as hundreds of students filed into the campus ballroom. The lights dimmed, the crowd cooed in anticipation, and as the instrumental of one of his tracks dropped, out strode the man himself – Travis Thompson.

The 21 year old rapper has humble roots – he’s a typical Seattle kid with a passion for rap music. Like many other modern hip-hop artists, Thompson’s career began on SoundCloud. His unique voice and melodic flow quickly gained the attention of hip-hop enthusiasts, including acclaimed Seattle rapper Macklemore. Macklemore featured Thompson on his latest album “Gemini,” and brought him along as an opener on his U.S. tour.

At his Gonzaga show, Thompson didn’t hesitate to bring the heat, kicking off his set with his most popular   track “Father Forgive Me.”

Instantly, the crowded ballroom turned into a flat out party.

Devoted fans sang along, newcomers danced, and the floor shook as the crowd bounced up and down.Thompson’s precise flow and high energy made him especially captivating to watch. He followed up his anthem with a series of songs from his mixtape “Ambaum,” along with few recently released singles.

In between songs, Thompson repeatedly emphasized how thankful he was for his fans, noting how in a matter of months he went from changing diapers in a day-care to performing shows all across the country. After the show, he stuck around to chat with fans, again exhibiting his humbleness – a trait hard to find in many rap artists today

This Gonzaga show marked a momentous point in Thompson’s career – not only was it the rapper’s first headlining college show, but it also served as a homecoming for the artists return to Washington State. Travis’s Music can be found on Spotify, iTunes, Soundcloud, and most other streaming services.