When Javier Avelar, a freshman majoring in environmental studies, saw a large crowd of students climbing up the Tommy Trojan statue, he thought a protest was happening. But the frenzy was not political; it was due to the arrival of rapper and social media personality Adamn Killa. 

Adam “Adamn Killa” Kelly came to campus Thursday afternoon after putting up an Instagram post asking his followers which college he should visit next. Kelly has previously visited colleges such as UCLA, Howard University, Loyola University Chicago and Temple University.

“Everybody told me to come, so I had to come,” Kelly said in an interview with the Daily Trojan. “Shout out USC, I love y’all so much. It was a lot of great energy. It was great.” 

Kelly is known for his “This is for you” video series, in which he performs his signature dance, gyrating with his hands in the air, to his single “Fall On” while dedicating the video to a specific demographic, like “Filipina baddie” or “Baddie in STEM.”

 During the impromptu gathering that lasted 30 minutes, Kelly stood on top of a lamppost base in Hahn Plaza shouting his iconic “This is for you” phrases in front of the massive audience behind him. He posted the videos on his Instagram and TikTok. 

One person stood on the lamppost base with Kelly and put handcuffs on the influencer. Kelly and the crowd shouted in unison: “Arrest me, daddy!” 

As Kelly towered above a crowd of USC students, he held his camera in selfie mode and pressed record. 

“If you a baddie in law, this is for you,” Kelly and the crowd said in unison. 

When Kelly visited UCLA on Monday, UCPD officers escorted him off the campus, according to the Daily Bruin. David Carlisle, assistant chief of the Department of Public Safety, said DPS was aware of Kelly’s plans to visit USC’s campus.

“We understand from social media that Adamn Killer [sic] plans to go to Tommy Trojan at 3 p.m. We are monitoring the situation,” Carlisle wrote in a statement to the Daily Trojan. “Although I doubt a permit was obtained (a visit to Tommy in and of itself would not require a permit), you would need to check with University Events.” 

Mischa Yen, a sophomore majoring in environmental studies, was one of the students in the crowd, though she was unfamiliar with Kelly.

“I was really confused because I had no idea what was going on. I thought it was another celebrity sighting or something like that,” Yen said. “I have no idea what the content is, so my friend showed me a video of the guy — he just does chants.” 

Jones Guevarra, a freshman majoring in cognitive science, said he has been a fan of Kelly for over a year now. He was excited to meet Kelly after the two chatted on Instagram.  

“I’ve been an Adamn fan for over a year now,” Guevarra said. “I love him so much. He’s my G.O.A.T.” 

While Kelly walked to his vehicle to leave campus, a crowd of students followed, recording him. 

“I’ll be back,” Kelly said.