‘I Love the 90’s’ big hit in Corbin

Approximately 2,000 people came out to The Arena in Corbin Friday night for the “I Love the 90’s” Tour.

“It was a fun time,” said Arena Director Kristi Balla of the show featuring hip hop artists

Salt N Pepa, All 4 One, Coolio, Tone Loc, and Young MC.

Balla said Monday that while she had not yet spoken with tour officials, the reaction she received from the artists after they came off the stage was positive.

“I can tell you that Salt n Pepa were happy and in a great mood,” Balla said.

This marks the second hip-hop show The Arena has hosted since Balla took over as director in August 2016.

Flo Rida played The Arena in April 2017.

Like with that show, Balla said one of the big differences she sees versus artists in other genres is the way the hip hop artists engage and interact with the audience.

“They make it more personal. It is like you are their guest,” Balla said explaining that the artists Friday night invited members of the audience up on the stage, and during both Friday night and Flo Rida’s shows, the artists took the opportunity to go out into the crowd.

“They are crowd friendly,” Balla said.

Balla said while neither crowd will rank among the largest the venue has seen, based upon the size and reaction of the audience at the two shows, there is definitely a market for hip hop shows in Corbin.

“It expands our reach,” Balla said of adding the hip-hop shows to the lineup.