Believe it or not, it's over.

The lights dimmed over the "Fake The Funk" stage for the last time Saturday night, in the Don Johnson Fieldhouse at Eastern High School, 220 N. Pennsylvania Ave., in Lansing.

The 15-year-old lip-sync contest might have been ending and in a new venue — its first off-campus location — but that didn't hamper the energy of the crowd of nearly 3,000 people or the seven groups of students competing.

"It was hype, energizing, it kept everyone involved," said computer engineering freshman Toni Rease. "Everyone gave a great performance."

The audience members bumped and danced their way along with the lip-synching acts, as well as two fashion shows, a hip-hop violinist, a step show, an audience dance competition and two campus dance groups, Spartan Soul Dance Team and Urban Dreams.

And they were right there as the winners were announced. The crowd exploded into cheers as a group of 25 people — led by a student impersonating rapper Young Jeezy — were deemed the $1,200 grand-prize winners. The group's members celebrated by shooting Silly String at each other.

"From the start, the crowd never sat down," said packaging senior LaRue Burrell, who played Young Jeezy in the act. "That's what we wanted."

The group, called "CTE," performed a compilation of Young Jeezy songs and acted out a number of elaborate scenes on stage, which included costume changes and props.

The show's producers were equally happy with the show.

"It was an awesome show," said criminal justice senior Meagan Mason, president and community service director of Bombsquad Productions, the student group that coordinates the show. "People I've been talking to have been saying it was one of the best 'Fake the Funk' shows."

The show's new additions were well-received. Hip-hop violinist Rodney Page's compilation of nine hip-hop songs, including Kanye West's "Golddigger" and Dem Franchise Boys' "I Think They Like Me," brought the audience to its feet.

Event coordinator Josh Gillespie confirmed the end of "Fake the Funk" during an announcement at the show's conclusion, where he gave three reasons for ending it. He said the biggest reason is that after 15 years, many people have had a chance to attend "Fake the Funk" and it's hard to think of new ways to present the show.

Gillespie said another factor in the end of "Fake the Funk" is a spiritual conflict he's having with the show.

"For me, living the spiritual life but throwing a hip-hop party may be a conflict of interest," Gillespie said.

He also told the crowd to "be safe," and that it was everyone's responsibility to promote a good image of "Fake the Funk."

The perception of the show by the public is a third, smaller reason to end it, he said. Although he has not been confronted about the event personally, Gillespie said he has heard from others that there are some students and administrators concerned about "Fake the Funk."

"Some groups think that when there are big events that are a majority African American, things go wrong," he said to Saturday's crowd.

Gillespie said the statement stemmed from indirect comments he has heard about the show and the fact that the event is a large gathering, where security could be an issue. He said the show's producers were combating that by doing everything they could to promote safety and security during the show.

The show's new location proved to be what the organizers wanted — an environment that allowed for close interaction between the audience and the performers. Seating stretched out in front of the stage and went up into bleachers.

"The new location is better, you can see better in the bleachers," said Brittani Williams, a political science and pre-law junior.

At the same time, it hampered some of the things a finale should have, Gillespie said.

That meant a video montage of past "Fake the Funk" shows couldn't play. The arena also didn't allow for pyrotechnics, a staple in past shows.

Despite the changes, Saturday was a satisfying culmination of weeks of practice for all the groups.

"It went by so fast," said "Mike Jones," or impersonator Darnell Purdy, a packaging junior. "Nights and days of practice for seven minutes on stage. It was good, more than I expected."

Tyloaha Parker, a communication junior, was one of many performers who spent every night for the last month preparing for the event and was ready to get on stage.

"The crowd just pumped us up," she said. "It was great."

All the acts impressed the panel of judges, which included faculty, students and past "Fake the Funk" participants and winners. They were looking for lip-synching accuracy, crowd response, creativity, costumes and choreography.

"(The show) was great," said Mya Mason, a judge and former Bombsquad member. "It was a nice ending to 15 years of fun."

Some people were doubtful or shocked that this was the last "Fake the Funk" — "That's a monstrosity," said DeCarlo Brown, who came from Howard University in Washington D.C. to see his sister model in one of the fashion shows.

Gillespie said that this is "officially" the final show, but there is always an "X factor" — circumstances that may bring the show back for one more, true finale.

"If there is an 'X factor,' it's ending it in the Auditorium," Gillespie said. "We'd love to have an end in the Auditorium."