Celebrating Black Culture at the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands on the First Day of Black History Month

Southern University takes the field at Sofi Stadium for the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands in Los Angeles.

As I stepped into SoFi Stadium, the sound of brass and bass drums hit me like a memory I didn’t know I needed. The energy of Blackness was strong and alive on the first day of Black History Month. Students tuned their instruments, drum majors commanded attention, and the crowd—covered in Divine Nine and HBCU paraphernalia—erupted with roll calls. The familiar sound of bands warming up, running through scales and cadences, pulled me right back to my own days on the field. Every sight and sound reminded me why I fell in love with this culture in the first place.

Back in middle school, I picked up my trumpet, dreaming of one day being on the field at an HBCU. From sixth grade until high school graduation, marching band was my world. Shoutout to Mr. Pollac!!!! By high school, I was locked in, imagining myself at FAMU—either in the band or on the danceline—but life took me in a different direction. Marching band shaped how I connect with music, and HBCU culture has always been part of me—even when I didn’t attend one. As I sat there, hearing the brass and the energy of the bands, it hit me: this was everything I’d dreamed of. Covering this event, after years of imagining being part of it, felt like a full-circle moment. Little ol’ me, live on the field covering the 2025 Battle of the Bands hosted by Nick Cannon, closed by GloRilla!

The Alabama State Might Marching Hornets take the field at the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands.

My Marching Band Journey

My love for marching band began long before I ever stepped onto a football field, but once I did, I was hooked. Growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, everyone wanted to join the Tiger Marching Band. Watching two of my favorite cousins march in what was once one of the best bands in the Midwest made me determined to experience it for myself. In high school, I fell in love with HBCU culture, watching hours of YouTube videos of bands from Southern University, North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, and Jackson State, but FAMU stood out the most to me.

Although I didn’t attend an HBCU, I’ve always loved the culture and was able to connect with it through my friends who did—by going to their homecomings and events. I chose Western Michigan University, and while I do hate that I missed out on the full HBCU experience, I have no regrets.

Drumline's Impact On Battle Of The Bands

Watching Nick Cannon host, I couldn’t help but think about Drumline—the movie that inspired countless people to pursue their passion for marching bands and HBCU culture, just like it did for me. Drumline made such a profound impact on HBCU and marching band culture when it dropped in 2002, and its influence is still felt today. Paying homage to the film, Dr. Lee (Orlando Jones) took the field to introduce Nick Cannon, and the crowd went wild!

My inner child screamed because Drumline didn’t just push me to join TMB—it taught me about the hard work, discipline, dedication, and sense of community that come with being part of a band. Whether you’re an instrumentalist, dancer on the dance line or part of the flag corps, you become family. This event—and HBCU culture itself—stands as a testament to the magic that happens when Black people come together in unity, creating something beautiful. One band, one sound…word to Dr. Lee!

Battle Of The Bands Takes LA

Each performance felt like a masterclass in showmanship, precision, and the unshakable soul of HBCU band culture. The six bands that hit the field—Alabama A&M’s Marching Maroon and White, Alabama State’s Mighty Marching Hornets, Hampton’s The Marching Force, North Carolina A&T’s Blue and Gold Marching Machine, Southern’s Human Jukebox, and UAPB’s Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South—delivered performances that kept the crowd on their feet. Every band ATE, and I loved how they incorporated West Coast classics into their arrangements to compliment this year's location.

UAPB drummajors command the field at the 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands in Los Angeles.

UAPB’s Standout Performance

UAPB’s performance was my favorite of the afternoon. As first-time contenders, they put on a field show that checked every box, but their song selections took it to another level. From Chaka Khan’s “Love Me Still” to “California Love,” “Soak City,” “Not Like Us,” and “TV Off,” they had the crowd locked in. The most unforgettable moment? Their mash-up of Luther Vandross’ “If This World Were Mine” with Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther”—a mix that felt both nostalgic and fresh at the same time.

GloRilla, Jasmine Cockfield, and Nick Cannon pose for a photo after the 2025 HBOB press conference.

GloRilla Closes the Show

After the bands left their hearts on the field, GloRilla came out and turned us up, performing a montage of some of her biggest hits! Although Glo didn’t go to college, during the press conference when she was asked how she felt about being asked to close the show, she admitted that she “loves the bands” and that she has two unreleased tracks (“Touchdown” & “Break Me”) that she would love an HBCU band to perform. This goes to show that student or not, HBCU culture inspires a little bit of everything around us.

Even though I didn’t get to march at an HBCU, the Black community at my PWI (predominately white institution) gave me a sense of home, reminding me that culture isn’t confined to a single campus. The tailgates, step shows, homecoming activities, kickbacks, and even the drama all mirrored the HBCU experience. We called it “Wastern Michigan” for a reason, and despite being at a PWI, I felt connected to that sense of unity and culture I’d always dreamed of. I never thought I’d get that feeling back again. After the things we’ve been through these past 10 years, I never thought it would feel this good to be Black again. Thank you, 2025 Honda Battle of the Bands!