Update, 12:49 p.m. tickets for Chico State students are free
Picture it – you are in the Bell Memorial Union Auditorium, loud music fills the room and a crowd of students is screaming and singing at the top of their lungs. But as you decide to dance, you realize the song you are belting out is familiar. A song you’ve heard countless times, ‘Lil Boo Thang’ by Paul Russell.
Russell is performing for the first time in Chico, at the BMU on Thursday. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the event starts at 7:30 p.m. After the show, there will be a meet-and-greet with him. Tickets are $10 for Chico State students and $20 for non-students.
He is an American rapper, singer and songwriter from Dallas, Texas. He is best known for his 2023 hit song ‘Lil Boo Thang,’ which went viral on TikTok. Russell has gained over 470 million streams on Spotify as of April 2026.
“A Night with Paul Russell is going to be packed with great music, high energy and unforgettable moments. It’s the perfect chance to come together, have fun and be part of something special on campus!” said event and outreach assistant Abraham Trujillo.
Last semester, Associated Students hosted another major concert, “Una Noche Con NEZZA.”
“We’ve taken what we learned and are elevating the entire concert experience in the BMU Auditorium, so attendees at the Paul Russell show can expect an even more engaging and memorable night!” Trujillo said.
When preparing for an event like this, Trujillo stated, A.S. starts by reaching out to the artists and checking their availability while working within their budget. They then coordinate ticketing, marketing, audio and visual production, catering, safety, and the artist’s arrival onto campus.
“We also carefully select artists based on their credibility and popularity. We look at things like streaming numbers and touring activity to make sure we’re bringing in talent students are genuinely excited about,” Trujillo said.
For the past couple of weeks, A.S. has been promoting this concert through social media and flyers across campus. Despite this, students like senior Brooks Hearne didn’t know about the concert.
After learning about the concert, Hearne said he is considering going, depending on his schedule, particularly if Paul Russell performs ‘Lil Boo Thang.’
“Really depends on class schedules, timing, with work and everything like that,” Hearne said.
For senior Ringo Casamajor, he feels like he doesn’t plan on going because he said he never got into Paul Russell’s music.
“Putting together an event of this scale is exciting and rewarding! The A.S. Presents team has been working hard to bring live concerts back into campus culture, and it’s been amazing to see that energy return,” Trujillo stated. “We are always eager to see students having fun and enjoying the events our team produces!”
For more information about the concert, contact the A.S. Presents team via email at
Aiden Masson can be reached at [email protected]
