Dreamville
Dreamville Festival concluded its fifth and final outing over the weekend, and Hip-Hop Wired was there to take in all the festivities. As it happens with music festivals of this magnitude, we managed to get a few quick interviews and comments from celebrities while checking out sets in between.Dreamville Festival 2025 was another sold-out event and brought thousands to the city of Raleigh, N.C. Everyone who touched the stage gave it their all, and the fans showed love to all the acts, whether familiar or not. The outpouring of love was bittersweet to witness, and it was beyond clear that this year’s Dreamville Festival meant the world to J. Cole, the Dreamville artists, and all who performed.While backstage, we spoke with several media figures, such as DC Young Fly, who was there representing for his 85 South podcast crew along with the Pour Minds crew, Drea Nicole and Lex P, hosting a joint live broadcast powered by Backwoods. Several Dreamville Festival performers sat down on the couch and gave their perspectives and insights, with DC Young Fly, hilarious as ever, chatting with us briefly as they wrapped.“I really do appreciate Dreamville for having us along with the Pour Minds crew down here and letting us do our thing in their backyard,” DC told us. We then asked DC how seamless the transition from comedy to podcasting was for him.“I give all credit to that man Karlous Miller for seeing something in me and knowing I could carry the weight. It was pretty smooth because I’m used to talking for a living and trying to be funny, so it just came naturally for me,” DC Young Fly shared.We spent significant time in the artist lounge area, coming across the likes of the charming Jordan Howlett, better known as Jordan The Stallion, Dee-1, and Julian Delgado of Something Wrong With The Podcast. Everyone we greeted was charming, affable, and humbled to be recognized by their fans and supporters.In the gallery below, we’ll share a blitz of quick-hit interviews we did with Akia, Kai Ca$h, Niko Brim, Turk of the Hot Boys, and more. We want to thank everyone for being so gracious to us, and best of luck to all in your musical journeys.
1. AKIA
At just 22 years of age, AKIA is currently pushing her latest EP, DUMB, and her dynamic vocal stylings were on full display at Dreamville. In our all-too-brief chat, the charming artist let it be known that she was destined for her current moment.
“The stage and studio, both are where I feel most at home,” AKIA began. “So, no matter how long my set is when I perform, that’s my sh*t. I just get on that stage or in that booth, and it goes from there.”
The Arkansas native credits her mother for pushing what she referred to as her “God-given gift” of singing. Every Sunday, a young AKIA was asked to sing at her church services, honing her powerful and soulful vocals.
“There would be times where I didn’t want to sing because my head was hurting but my mom would be like ‘God is gonna fix it but you gonna have to sing’ and I thank her for believing in me,” AKIA explained.
Next up for AKIA as she continues to promote DUMB is another pair of EPs, CRAZY and STUPID, which will complete a trilogy depicting a romantic relationship’s ups and downs. Considering how her single “DND” resonates with her fans, AKIA’s trajectory appears sky-high.
Learn more about AKIA here.
2. Cozz
Cozz, a longtime artist on the Dreamville roster, commanded the stage on Day 2 of the festival with the poise of a 20-year veteran. We caught up with Cody Macc after his crowd-pleasing set and got into his story a bit.
“This being the last Dreamville is kind of a bittersweet thing, but this is our home as artists on the label, and you can tell the fans who come out are supporters of our dreams,” Cozz said. “But what made this special is that this is the first time I’ve done this festival sober. This is the best version of me, and that’s why the crowd responded the way they did, because they could tell.”
Cozz added that he’s been sober for 11 months and, for what it’s worth, he appeared to be at peace. There was an aura around the Los Angeles rapper that translated well, and whatever troubles he faced before were on the way behind him.
“I haven’t been able to release music much legally since 2021 because I was on the chain with the label, but I’m still Dreamville all day. I have at least three projects in the stash now,” Cozz said. “I’m just trying to determine what to release and when, and I’m in the studio every week, tweaking and recording new music all the time.”
Cozz is currently promoting his new singles “50 Percent” and “God’s Design,” and on the former track, he hints at his sobriety journey and tells listeners that everything from the time before he stopped drinking was just him at half of his power. Cozz shared what the song meant to him with us.
“The track [50 Percent] is really a testament to the growth and the first freestyle I recorded since being sober,” Cozz explained. “I wanted my listeners to know that they were only getting half of me, so imagine how I’m gonna sound with a clear mind.”
In closing, Cozz left a message to anyone who is struggling on their path and what he hopes his fans get from his music.
“It’s never too late, it ain’t never too late to improve your life but you have to want it,” Cozz said. “It took me a long time to get to this place, but now I’m here and my life feels beautiful.”
Learn more about Cozz here.
3. Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim
Native New Yorkers Kai Ca$h and Niko Brim kicked off the Dreamville Festival with their high-energy set, and it truly felt like we were witnessing Hip-Hop’s latest young superstars in the making. Backstage, the energetic duo shared the trials of their time as artists and where they intend to go from there.
“I used to take this ability I have lightly, and I kid you not, I didn’t take it seriously until my teen years,” Kai began. “Truthfully, you do get discouraged because the music business is not easy. Especially when you don’t see things working expeditiously, but I just kept the focus on what’s next.”
Niko Brim, who has been around the music industry all his life via his parents Misa Hylton and Jojo Brim, added, “I’ve seen a lot because of my parents and their belief in my gifts, but having a brother from another like Kai really makes this journey easier than it looks.”
Niko shared that his first track was with Kai, and they recorded the “Stop Being Greedy” freestyle at his home studio. With Kai leading the way as an artist, Niko said that his brother inspired him to keep going.
“When Kai started making moves and considering all I’ve seen in my upbringing, it made sense for me to fall in line and get serious about it too and I thank him for giving me a lane and making this easy for me,” Niko said.
Kai Ca$h is currently preparing to drop his new album Ca$h Rules, later this month. Niko Brim says he has plenty of music he’s working on and wants everyone to stay tuned.
Learn more about Kai Ca$h here.
Learn more about Niko Brim here.
4. Lute
Lute is a mainstay of the Dreamville roster and the Charlotte rapper has kept active on the scene despite having last dropped a full-length project, the excellent Gold Mouf, in 2021. We just had a few minutes with Lute yet in that time, we got to learn more about the artist.
“It’s always love to come to Raleigh, and even though I’m a Charlotte boy living two hours west, this is home for me,” Lute said. “I appreciate the Dreamville fans because without them, I wouldn’t be doing any of this right now.”
Despite just being two hours apart, Lute explained the difference between the North Carolina cities to our outsider’s ears.
“In Charlotte, it was tough making it because we didn’t have much of a Hip-Hop scene when I first started, but now it’s starting to change,” Lute shared. “I come from the Blog Era and that’s how I got my first project West1996 pt. 2 out via the blog site,s and it just makes me appreciate how far I came in this game.”
In a reflective moment, Lute shared that his personal journey right now is bigger than music, although he’s clear that putting something out this year is a goal.
“I’ve been focusing on my mental health journey crazy and I’ve been through a lot. I can be honest and say that things are looking up for me and I won’t keep the fans waiting for too much longer,” Lute said.
Learn more about Lute here.
5. Omen
Omen is one of the senior members of the Dreamville roster, and the Chicago native’s reserved nature is a total 180 from his passionate presence onstage. We caught up with Omen as he made his way to his trailer to learn what’s next for the rapper and producer.
“It’s always amazing to get in front of all these people who know your music and support the Dreamville movement the way they do. It’s humbling, actually,” Omen began. “This journey might not always go the way you envision, but the chance to express that, it feels special.”
Omen’s lone studio album, Elephant Eyes, isn’t available on DSPs at the moment. However, Omen has kept active over the years, appearing on several Dreamville projects and producing for J. Cole among others. As he prepares his upcoming album, Granny’s House Again, Omen is taking it back to his earlier days in Chicago.
“I want this album to bring folks into my world, coming up in Chicago and how I used to be at my grandmother’s house just dreaming about what I’m doing currently,” Omen shared. “I put a lot of work into this project, and I think people who liked Elephant Eyes and anything I did over the years will hear something they never heard before from me.”
In closing, we asked Omen how he keeps himself grounded as a public figure who, by all appearances, would rather just play the background.
“Like you said to me before we spoke, I tend to be introverted and keep to myself and allow my music to do most of my talking,” Omen said. “However, I want my new album and performances to show that I have layers, and maybe I’ll inspire someone along the way because music definitely got me through a lot.”
Learn more about Omen here.
6. TRAP DICKEY
TRAP DICKEY might have been one of our quickest interviews, but also one of our favorites. The South Carolina native’s personality is bigger than life, but what was surprising is how much of a student of Hip-Hop he is.
“People hear my music and the accent and probably think it’s just one thing but I came up freestyling and listening to the greats like Nas, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, DMX, you name them, I was on it,” TRAP began. “You gotta go back to the old ways of rapping and tap into that country soul. That comes from being around grandma; it all comes out in the music.”
TRAP DICKEY says that his upcoming album, The Preacher’s Grandson, will showcase him in a light few have heard thus far.
“I been grinding a long time and things are paying off, but I think this album gonna show the fans about how I came up, how I grew in this game, and where I’m going next, ” TRAP said.
Learn more about TRAP DICKEY here.
7. Turk
Last but not least, Turk, one of the original Hot Boyz members, gave us a few moments of his time and some gems along the way. Turk’s growth as an artist, husband, and solid human being came across in our chat with the New Orleans native.
“I feel so blessed and honored to be on that Dreamville stage with my original family,” Turk began. “People know the story, they know the history and the controversies and what I done been through, but we’re still here and it feels good to be together again.”
He continued, “We had to let that pride and ego stuff go. Brothers fall apart all the time but since we patched it up in November, we out here selling out arenas and shows all over the world, and that feels right.”
Turk said that now, as a married man who has reformed his life, his upcoming musical journey will reflect that growth.
“Seeing as I’ve got my wife in my corner, my new musical outlook is all about growth, development, being a family man, being a leader in my community,” Turk shared. “I want people to know through my story that you can go through some things that’s hard but you ain’t gotta stay there. Look at me, and of course, you keep God in the front, it’s all possible.”
Learn more about Turk here.
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EarthGang, the potent duo out of Atlanta, were among the dozens of performers at this past weekend’s Dreamville Festival, concluding J. Cole’s leading role as its organizer. Olu (Johnny Venus) and WowGr8 (Doctur Dot) graciously spoke with Hip Hop Wired for a quick backstage chat.
EarthGang delivered yet another electrifying performance at Dreamville Festival over the weekend, performing tracks from celebrated albums such as Mirrorland and select tracks from their latest full-length, PERFECT FANTASY.
We asked Olu and WowGr8 about their new sonic direction and where they intend to take the music from here, especially on the heels of PERFECT FANTASY.
“I think PERFECT FANTASY was just us using all the abilities we have started from our early days until now and putting it in that package,” WowGr8/Doctur Dot shared. “You can hear our whole journey. We got songs on there with The Gorillaz (Damon Albarn), Little Dragon, Pharrell, and Snoop. These were people we met along the way, and it just happened to work out.”Olu added, “We weren’t setting out to make an acclaimed album or try to impress anyone. We just wanted a chance to be ourselves and stick to a vibe instead of chasing something that’s not us.”
Both Olu and WowGr8 have returned to using their original stage names and haven’t abandoned the personas, and they said that this kinetic flow that they’re on currently was the point of the latest project.
“We did what the music called for at the time because again, we’re not chasing anything but the right feeling,” Olu explained. WowGr8 supported his partner, adding, “Once you start trying to say an artist is doing one thing or another, [i] feels like a trap. We did what the beat called us to do and it feels more real, more organic that way.”
The pair said that there are some new EarthGang albums on deck, along with solo projects, so that they can explore their artistry on individual terms. However, we were told to expect the same level of quality despite the slight change.
We asked the brothers about the pressures of fame, being creative, and how to turn those moments into gratitude when you can.
“First off, you gotta give that weight to God, you a fool if you think you carry all of that on your own,” Olu said, with WowGr8 providing harmonizing gospel stylings in the back.
WowGr8 said that the pair’s solo records will be coming later in the year and that they have at least one EarthGang project on deck. They were mum on release dates but emphasized that by the end of the year, fans will have plenty to cheer for.
Olu and WowGr8 were among the most fashionable rappers we saw over the weekend, and we asked if they had any aspirations to enter that world.
“We would love to do that, because it’s in us but it has to be fun and not pretentious,” Olu said, with WowGr8 chiming in with his partner adding, “It’s the same thing with our music, bro, it’s just about taste and if it ain’t got the taste, we won’t be involved in it. When you curate things with a particular taste, the people can connect with it.”
Olu and WowGr8 concluded our chat by alerting their fans that they will hit the road this summer, including a European run, and to prepare for more of the music at the pace fans have come to expect.
Learn more about EarthGang here.
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Photo: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty
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Dee-1 has always been positioned as a Hip-Hop artist with a message, and few have shown the level of conviction and criticism that he has for the music and culture of Hip-Hop. While attending Dreamville Festival last weekend, Dee-1 graciously gave us a few minutes of his time and shared details of his upcoming album, Hypocritical Hop.
While backstage at the Dreamville Festival, Dee-1’s towering frame and his always observant stance stood out, and as we approached him for questions, we asked what brought him to the festival.
“One of the things I’ve learned as an artist is the power of networking,” he began. “Getting out there helps because people can see my face and hold a conversation with me, and that helps in turn with the other work that I do.”
The former schoolteacher turned musical artist then explained the similarities of leading the youth in the position of guidance and leadership, and how that translates into his current role as a front-facing media figure.
“It’s very similar. As an artist and teacher, you have an audience that you can either pour positivity and light into them, or pour negativity and destruction into them,” he explained. “In both roles, I recognized that early on.”
In recent times, Dee-1 has been an unspoken critic of Hip-Hop music and culture, with some supporting his views while others find his critiques too harsh. When asked about the state of things, the L.O.A.D.E.D. artist did not mince his words.
“Whenever I see a problem, I feel compelled to be part of the solution,” he said. “It’s a huge problem in Hip-Hop, and I don’t even call it Hip-Hop anymore. I call it ‘hypocritical hop.’ What some of the culture has turned into with the glorification of murdering each other, the glorification of selling dope, or being a drug addict, that ain’t Hip-Hop!”
Dee-1 added that to support this line of thought, his latest album will be titled Hypocritical Hop, and he intends to release the project on Juneteenth of this year.
In closing, we asked Dee-1 to share a message with our readers as we came to the end of our interview.
“Don’t allow the distractions of the world, which are delicious distractions; they taste good, they look good, they smell good, but don’t allow those things to deter you from your God-given purpose,” he stated. “We were put here by God for God’s glory, and it’s that simple. Because God loves us, he gives us free will and autonomy, but don’t fall in love with any of these creations more than you love the creator.”
To learn more about Dee-1 and follow his journey, click here.
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Photo: Paras Griffin / Getty
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J. Cole closed out this weekend’s fifth annual and final Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, N.C., delivering a crowd-pleasing set while using the moment to address the festival’s end. During his time on stage, J. Cole says that while the Dreamville Festival is no longer, Raleigh will host an annual musical and community-focused celebration, and Cole promised to be a part of that movement going forward.
J. Cole graced the stage Sunday (April 6) at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh in front of a sold-out crowd that saw the likes of EarthGang, Ari Lennox, Bas, Omen, Cozz, J.I.D., Tems, Keyshia Cole, BigXThaPlug, Coco Jones, Wale, and more.
Cole invited fellow headliner Erykah Badu onstage for his set, and the pair delivered Cole’s “Too Deep For The Intro” from his 2010 mixtape, Friday Night Lights, which samples Badu’s classic “Didn’t Cha Know” track.
The Fayetteville native paused his set to address the chatter surrounding the conclusion of the Dreamville Festival, but eased concerns by stating fully that the show will go on, but under a new arrangement the city made that will bring shows to town over the next four years.
“We said this is the last Dreamville Festival,” J. Cole said as he asked for the crowd’s full attention.. “I’m just keeping it 100 with y’all, that sh*t be a lot. We want to put on some amazing st for y’all, we want to do it for Carolina, you know what I mean? Because, we love being able to offer that and bring amazing artists, and that sh*t be a lot.”
Cole added, “But as I’m walking around today, 73 people said to me, ‘Cole this can’t be the last one,’ but I’m a just let y’all know our plan. We still gonna bring some sh*t. It will still exist. It might not have the motherf*cking Dreamville Festival name on it, but we will be back with this feel.”
During our time on the ground, people we spoke to off the record told Hip-Hop Wired that the city struck a four-year agreement with Live Nation, although we haven’t seen a confirmed press release stating so.
Check out the footage from the Dreamville Festival by clicking here.
Stay tuned to Hip-Hop Wired to check out our exclusive recap and backstage interviews with some of the talent and celebrities on hand at the festival.
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Photo: Source: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty
Days after teasing a new collaboration with Roc Marciano, Grammy-nominated TDE MC Ab-Soul graced the fifth and final Dreamville Fest — and Billboard caught up with him moments before he hit the stage.
“I’m a little offended because me and [J.] Cole are very good friends and I’m a very good rapper, if not the best rapper of all time,” he said in jest. “Why is this my first time on the lineup? It’s beyond me. They really saved the best for last!”
Though it is Ab’s first time performing at the North Carolina festival, it may not be his last opportunity to head down to Raleigh. During a press conference on Thursday (Apr. 3), Raleigh festival organizers surprised fans by revealing that Dreamville Fest will return in the future under a new iteration. Of course, the final (for now) Dreamville Fest is a poignant moment for Ab, who “came up in the same era” as several key Dreamville stars.
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“These are really my guys, Bas was on my first headlining tour, and that’s where I met Earthgang, JID, Cozz, the whole team,” he said. “They’re undeniable. They’re true MCs, true artists. Ari [Lennox] goes crazy. I’m sure [Dreamville Fest] is a dream come true for Cole and for many others in this area. I’m honored to be here [today].”
Last year, Ab dropped his sixth studio album, Soul Burger, a record dedicated to his best friend Doeburger, who passed away in 2021. Stacked with collaborators like Doechii, Ty Dolla $ign and Lupe Fiasco, Soul Burger also features Doeburger as a posthumously credited writer across all tracks.
In the caption of an Instagram post teasing his forthcoming Roc Marciano collaboration and honoring Doeburger’s birthday (Apr. 1), Ab gave a special shoutout to Cole, thanking the “Middle Child” rapper for sharing his perspective. “Preciate the insight Cole. It was much needed,” he wrote, detailing how much the new song means to him. “It’s imperative that I let the world know the impact my brother left on me and so many others. I didn’t do this for views nor to monetize. I did this to honor someone who was undoubtedly ‘none of a kind.’”
At the very end of his caption, Ab-Soul wrote: “Soul Burger: The Odyssey… Stay tuned.” While it’s unclear what exactly he’s teasing, Ab confirms to Billboard that this new project and his 2022 LP are “two different things.”
“Soul Burger is a character, it’s the fusion of me and Doeburger,” he explains. “The Odyssey is… the odyssey. It’s one of the most special pieces I’ve ever put together, I’m very excited about it. It’s very therapeutic — liberating, if you will. It’s a continuous ode to my brother.”
With new music and a performance at Wiz Khalifa’s forthcoming 420 on the Rocks show on the horizon, Ab-Soul is showing no signs of slowing down in 2025.
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Dreamville Festival was launched in 2019 and save for one year skipped due to a nationwide shutdown due to the pandemic, it has occurred annually since. Dreamville Festival organizers released the finalized lineup for this year’s event which features J. Cole, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, and Erykah Badu among its headliners.
Now in its fifth and final year, Dreamville Festival will return to Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday, April 5 and 6, featuring familiar acts for past attendees along with new names in the star-studded lineup.
The top headliners for the festival are Lil Wayne, joining forces with the Hot Boys and the Big Tymers, and J. Cole on the following day ending the festival. Joining these acts on the opening day (April 5) are 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR, Ab-Soul, and Ludacris. Keyshia Cole will also be performing and celebrating the 20-year anniversary of The Way It Is project. Dreamville Records acts Ari Lennox, Bas, Lute, and Omen will also take the stage.
On day two (April 6), Tems and GloRilla will rock the Dreamville stages and will be joined by Dreamville Records star J.I.D., Wale, Coco Jones, and BigXThaPlug. Dreamville’s EARTHGANG and Cozz will also rock the stages.
“Our team looks forward to welcoming fans from around the world to Dreamville Festival this spring for our fifth anniversary celebration. The first weekend in April has grown to become one of our team’s favorite times of the year as an annual NC reunion,” said Dreamville Cofounder and Festival President Adam Roy in a statement.
A limited number of two-day general admission passes are available now and portions of the sales will be donated to the Dreamville Foundation charity, and the Dorothea Dix Park Conservancy. So far, all of the general admission plus and VIP ticket packages are sold out but waitlists are available on the festival’s website.
Learn more here.
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Photo: Shaun Llewellyn / @shaunllewellyn_
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Source: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty
Music artists wanting out of their contracts is nothing new in the game and it seems like Ari Lennox is the latest in a long line of disgruntled rappers/singers to demand they be given their walking papers from the record label they feel is holding them hostage.
Taking to her Instagram stories, the “Pressure” singer went into detail as to why she no longer wants to be a part of Dreamville and Interscope saying they’ve been “playing” with her all month and “treating me like they’re sorry for me and like I’m the face of mental health.” Further expanding on her discontent with her situation, Ari explained where she was coming from in the situation.
“What I don’t like is being signed and lied to and manipulated. Not one person at those labels ever knew how to market or protect me. Y’all don’t know the half. Constant let down and neglect. This industry stuff will never be for me.”
https://x.com/big_business_/status/1851513547265605725
According to Rap-Up, Ari even explained how she had to come out of pocket to pay for Google ads after the label released her visuals to “Smoke” without her permission.
Per Rap-Up:
The Shea Butter Baby creator hopped on Instagram Live to further air out her problems with Interscope. There, she revealed that the visuals for “Smoke” were released without her permission. “You cannot expect an artist to be anything without advertisement,” she said before mentioning that she’s been paying for the track’s Google Ads.
“I just want to be released, and it’s just that simple, and I’m tired of being nice,” the D.C. native explained. “I was trying to do everything the right way, but now I’m pissed. This was my final straw.”
Knowing what it’s like to be in a dire situation with a record label, T-Pain offered his services and took to the comments section to let Ari know that he’s there to help steer her through this situation as he’s been through the motions himself.
“Bb… … I need to talk to you. I wanna at least throw out some suggestions from experience on how I navigated from being supported by a label to fully independent. It’s fuckin tough as shit but you’re so talented and smart I knew if I gave you a littler perspective from my recent experience, I’ll at least spark something you can take and absolutely kill this shit on your own and be your own boss.”
Yeah, Ari Lennox is over it. Damn. pic.twitter.com/vwx35bshhN
— Write Life (@TheQueenMuse1) October 30, 2024
We hope she reached out to T-Pain to see what could be done to help her get out of her situation. Who knows, maybe her label will honor her wishes and just let her walk away, but if we’ve learned anything about the music industry over recent decades it’s that they rarely ever give the artists their freedom when asked to.
What do y’all think about Ari Lennox calling for her label to release her from her contract? Let us know in the comments section below.
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CLOSE
J. Cole put the Hip-Hop world on notice after firing back at Kendrick Lamar on his surprise project, Might Delete Later. During his set at this year’s Dreamville Festival, J. Cole addressed the beef with K-Dot and said that “7 Minute Drill” will be removed from streaming services in an epic moment of walking it back.
J. Cole, 39, took to the stage on the closing night (April 7) of his annual Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, N.C., and addressed the crowd as he’s often done in the past. The massive elephant roaming through the festival grounds was the shot K-Dot took at Drake and Cole on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” from the pair’s WE DON’T TRUST YOU project.
Taking a moment during his closing set, the Dreamville honcho addressed the crowd and checked himself for taking shots at Lamar and ending the feud, at least from his end.
“I’m so proud of that project [Might Delete Later] except for one part,” Cole said onstage. “There’s one part of that sh*t that makes me feel like, ‘Man, that’s the lamest sh*t I ever did in my f*cking life.’ And, I know this is not what a lot of people wanna hear. I can hear my n*ggas up there right now like, ‘Nah, don’t do that.’ But, I gotta keep it 100 with y’all. I damn near had a relapse.”
Cole admitted to being reactionary at the moment and expressed that he wasn’t pleased by the chatter sparked by his diss track although he framed it as friendly competition. In the end, Cole says he intends to remove “7 Minute Drill” from his latest project while stating he has love for both Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
On Xitter, fans are debating who won the mock meat tussle (more on that later) between J. Cole, Drake, and Kendrick, the so-called “Big Three” with some declaring winners and losers in a battle that never took off to the degree some seem to think.
We’ve got reactions below.
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Photo: Astrida Valigorsky / Getty
2. Xitter is way too bored.
3. Seeing this live was something else.
9. Too much like right for some people.
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This coming weekend, the city of Raleigh, N.C. will once more host the annual Dreamville Festival headlined by J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, and SZA. Ahead of the epic celebration of music and artistry, several Dreamville Festival Week events start this Wednesday across the city and are free of charge.
Dreamville Festival Week will begin on April 3 and runs through April 5 across the City of Oaks and the events will be free to attend and all-ages. Dreamville organizers have always centered businesses in the surrounding areas of the festival grounds to bolster the local economy and provide opportunities for small businesses and organizations to increase their visibility.
On Wednesday (April 3), Doctur Dot of EarthGang will be featured in a stand-up comedy showcase. On Thursday (April 4), Omen will host an adult game night event, and on Friday (April 5), OLU of EarthGang will host a morning yoga session and later that day, Lute will host an afternoon block party and car show and Bas will also play host for a kickback. There will also be educational panels at CAM Raleigh.
Along with all of these exciting events, fans can get Dreamville Festival fresh with apparel from the label at a downtown pop-up shop offering exclusive merch and other fashion items. As we shared above, Dreamville Festival Week is a way to give back to Raleigh for being great partners with the Dreamville team.
“Raleigh has embraced Dreamville Festival from the start, which is why our team is so excited to continue expanding the festival’s local impact beyond just the weekend dates. Our team looks forward to building upon last year’s success as Dreamville offers even more free programming for the locals and fans who come to visit Raleigh from around the world this spring,” said Dreamville Cofounder and Festival President Adam Roy.
The full schedule for the events can be found below. Dreamville Festival runs from April 6 through April 7. Learn more here.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3
Dreamville Pop-Up Shop
207 S West Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Noon to 7:00 p.m.
Free, No RSVP Required (all-ages)
Punchella Comedy Clash with Doctur Dot and Friends
Goodnights Comedy Club (401 Woodburn Rd, Raleigh, NC 27605)
7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Free, RSVP Link Coming Soon! (21+)
About: Hosted by Doctur Dot of EarthGang, Dreamville is bringing all the laughs this week. Featuring a mix of national touring and local comics at the top of their game, this event is sure to be one for the books.
THURSDAY, APRIL 4
Dreamville Pop-Up Shop
207 S West Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Noon to 7:00 p.m.
Free, No RSVP Required (all-ages)
Omen’s Game Get Together
Kings and Neptunes (14 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27601)
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Free, RSVP Link Coming Soon! (21+)
About: Hosted by Dreamville’s Omen, the 21+ game night includes the games we know and love! From Connect 4, to Darts, Jenga, Uno, Monopoly, and more, this event is sure to bring back your inner child.
FRIDAY, APRIL 5
UP! with OLU (of EarthGang) x 4th QTR Performance Presented By COMPXSS
NC State Campus (location details coming soon!)
Free, RSVP Link Coming Soon! (all-ages)
Yoga begins at 10:00 a.m.
About: Return of the morning yoga session co-led by Dreamville’s very own OLU of EarthGang
Amazon Music Presents: Dreamville Public Access
CAM Raleigh (409 W Martin St, Raleigh, NC 27603)
11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Free, No RSVP Required (all-ages)
About: Curated by Dreamville, EngineEars, and Amazon Music, Public Access is a day-long program featuring panels and keynote discussions with creatives, music producers, and industry leaders. Informative and educational, the 2024 schedule is coming soon!
Dreamville Pop-Up Shop
207 S West Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
Noon to 7:00 p.m.
Free, No RSVP Required (all-ages)
Amazon Music Presents: Gold Mouf Garage with Lute
S Harrington Street (between W Martin Street & W Hargett Street, next to CAM Raleigh)
1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Free, No RSVP Required (all-ages)
About: Free block party featuring DJs, performances, food, low-riders, and other classic cars; hosted by NC native and Dreamville Records emcee Lute.
Everybody Fiends with Bas
3:00 to 8:00 p.m.
S Harrington Street (next to CAM Raleigh)
Free, No RSVP Required (all-ages)
About: Welcome to Everybody Fiends, hosted by Bas and The Fiends. Immerse yourself in our bespoke portrait studio and enjoy a creative gathering designed to inspire and connect like-minded individuals.
SATURDAY, APRIL 6
Dreamville Festival (Day 1)
Dorothea Dix Park (1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603)
Gates open at Noon
SUNDAY, APRIL 7
Dreamville Festival (Day 2)
Dorothea Dix Park (1030 Richardson Dr, Raleigh, NC 27603)
Gates open at Noon
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Photo: Getty
HipHopWired Featured Video
Dreamville Festival, the annual music event put together by J. Cole and his Dreamville Records team, makes its return to Raleigh, N.C. next month, and the headliners have been announced. Nicki Minaj, SZA, Chris Brown, and the aforementioned Cole are headlining the two-day event.
Dreamville Festival is one of the leading music events and kicks off festival season lovely while showcasing Dreamville’s roster and also supporting North Carolina nonprofits and businesses. The festival will be hosted once more at Dorothea Dix Park, with opportunities for fans to take in local cuisine, and purchase exclusive merch on the grounds.
Hip-Hop Wired was at the festival last year, and it was one of the best live experiences we’ve had in years. This year promises to be just as epic with things kicking off on April 6 with Lil Yachty, ScHoolboy Q, Sexxy Red, Jeremih, Teezo Touchdown, Amaarae, Luh Tyler, and Domani rocking the stage.
On April 7, Rema, Jeezy, Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock, Muni Long, TiaCorine, and Chase Shakur are on the bill. Of course, no Dreamville Festival would be complete without the Dreamville musical collective which includes J.I.D, EARTHGANG, Bas, Cozz, Lute, and Omen.
“Some of the biggest names in music will travel to Raleigh in only a few short weeks, bringing about one of the most highly anticipated festivals of the year. Our team looks forward to welcoming all of our Day One fans from around the world back to Dreamville Festival,”
said Dreamville Cofounder and Festival President Adam Roy in a statement.
As we’ve shared on our pages before, the festival is far more than music as the Dreamville team will promote a weekend-long series of free events and educational programming, along with platforming local businesses of all kinds.
To learn more about the festival and to purchase tickets, click here. The full lineup is also below.
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Photo: Dreamville/Getty