Nearly 4,000 people flocked to the O'Connell Center Tuesday night to see Ne-Yo, an artist known for his R&B and pop stylings.
Audience members, many of them women wearing stilettos and sequined tops, cheered throughout as the opening acts heated up the anticipation for Ne-Yo's performance.
UF's Student Government Productions and Black Student Union presented the concert as part of Black History Month.
Electric Red, a female R&B band, opened by dancing provocatively on stage. The crowd responded with screams as the women used their microphones as if they were shot glasses.
The solo performer Musiq Soulchild followed, dressed in a gray suit and sunglasses, addressing the crowd between his soulful stylings.
"What's good in the 'ville, y'all?" he said.
Audience members turned up the volume and jumped to their feet when Ne-Yo rose up out of a trap door in the middle of the stage and started singing an older hit, "Because of You." While he performed songs off of his most recent album, Ne-Yo flirted with members of the audience by throwing red roses into the crowd.
He interacted with his female backup dancers as he moved around stage, eventually taking a break to introduce himself to the audience.
"How 'bout them Gators?" he said.
The stage was simple, with sparkling lights in the backdrop and deep-blue and purple lighting.
Members of the audience mouthed the lyrics to his songs as he smoothed his hand over his top hat and spun around, getting screams from the audience.
Many attendees said they came by just to enjoy the show, which only cost $10 per ticket.
Khelia Johnson, a UF fourth-year telecommunication management major, came for the music.
"I want to see him dancing out on stage," she said. "I hope it's good. I saw his performance on B.E.T. Honors and it was weak. I just want to see the dancing."
UF Marine Corps recruiter Armondo Vickers bought tickets as an early Valentine's Day present for his wife, Shretha.
"We just want to have a good time. It's a relaxed atmosphere," Vickers said. "It's more for her."
