While rivals Roosevelt and Garfield hit the gridiron for a chance to win Eastside bragging rights Friday night, it was all about unity during the East L.A. Classic’s halftime show.
Black Eyed Peas kicked off the night’s spectacle with its 2003 hit “Let’s Get It Started” alongside both schools’ cheer, drill, color guard and marching bands.
Featuring Boyle Heights’ will.i.am., East L.A.’s Taboo (a Garfield grad himself) plus APLE.DE.AP and J. Rey Soul, the group pumped up a crowd of more than 15,000 at SoFi Stadium.
Red, blue and golden pom poms moved in unison as trumpets and saxophones blared to the electronic synths of the Grammy-winning classic “I Got a Feeling.”
For the band’s frontman, who received a degree from Harvard Business School just a day before, being a part of the Classic was all about inspiring and representing.
“Black Eyed Peas are Eastsiders! My mom and uncles went to Roosevelt HS and Taboo’s family has strong ties to Garfield HS. It’s an honor to return to the East LA Classic field to perform alongside the marching bands,” said will.i.am. “We are so proud of what the students from both schools have achieved in sportsmanship, academics and showing their community pride!”
That pride ran deep Friday night, with generations of alumni, staff, family and friends of the schools sporting red and gold on one side and blue and white on the other. Chants of “Let’s go Riders” and “Let’s go Bulldogs” filled the stadium throughout the night.
Teams from both schools have been preparing for the performance for months, putting in long hours of grueling practice for the spectacle.
“It’s all about dedication. Once you join the team, all you’re working for is the Classic, so we’ve been working for a long time,” said Mia Rosales, a 10th-grade Rough Rider.
READ MORE: How students prepared for East L.A. Classic halftime show with Black Eyed Peas
(Photo by Esther Gomez)
(Photo by Esther Gomez)
For Garfield senior Alyssa Lopez, being able to play at such a huge stadium was surreal.
“It’s so exciting because I would have never expected to perform in a big place like this,” said Lopez. “I’ve come for so many concerts here, performing here is just such a big thing, I’m so happy to be here, I’m just happy to be a part of this.”
For Boyle Heights-raised Roosevelt alumni Albert Argueta, the night’s performances were a thrill.
“Everything was good… everything was outstanding. I like the way Boyle Heights unites here, and East L.A.,” said the 57-year-old, who was wearing a Black Eyed Pas cap.
Argueta said he’s proud to be from Estrada Courts, where will.i.am grew up. “He’s always doing everything for the community,” he added.
Twice during the game, the schools’ mariachi bands, dressed in burgundy and blue charro suits, serenaded the crowds with traditional Mexican songs.
Cheer teams also performed ”unity” routines in between the junior varsity and flag football games ahead of the big performance.
A thrilling back and forth between the two football teams came after the performance, with the Garfield Bulldogs pulling off their third win in a row, 38-28.
