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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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Azealia Banks is more known for her fiery social media rants over her high-quality music these days, and she once again put a fellow artist in her crosshairs. This time, Wale took some shots from the Harlem rapper, and in typical Azealia Banks fashion, the alleged cat cooker got to it with a barrage of insults with some advice couched within the mix.
As spotted on X, Azealia Banks, who is currently on tour in Europe, had time between sets to hop online and chop it up with her fans and followers. On April 2, AB quote-tweeted a post from Wale which read, “I’m not sellin my soul . I’m not playin them other games either .. ain’t no “era” I ain’t never stopped…hope this helps wit the nostalgia bait.”
In Banks’ caption, she wrote, “N*gga the only hot song you ever made is “ridin in that black joint,”. It’s no shade . But ur rap swag and delivery and persona got something off in a very generic type of way. It’s highkey cause u African no shade. U shoulda been African T-pain.”
In the thread, Ralph Folarin asked, “Can we further explore the African thing… I find your commentary interesting,” prompting Banks to fire back with the following:
It actually is and was given in good hearted faith but ur just so weird and girly and talking about menstrual blood and doing stupid blipster sh*t and fake hustle music and always trying to stunt and don’t even know how to pull a good one. If you’d just realize that it’s not 2012 and the trend of insulting Azealia Banks for the fuck of it is no longer in style
And that Azealia Banks is very f*cking intelligent
And accept my compliment for riding in that black joint as an indication that I have been following your music since I was 16. I am now 33. And it is on a playlist with Zoey Dollas “Blow a Check”.
Please don’t get it twisted dear.
To his credit, Wale continued to engage and may have held his own depending on who is keeping score. Instead of giving you a direct blow-by-blow account that stretched for days, we’ll just share all the tweets connected to the initial exchange below, along with fan commentary that makes sense.
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Photo: Getty
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Val Kilmer, a prolific actor who got his start in the 1980s, starred in a series of films, both dramatic and comedic, throughout his long career. On April 1, Val Kilmer passed away from an illness, and fans on X are honoring the star.
Val Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, according to a Wikipedia entry. Kilmer was accepted into the Juilliard School in its Drama Division and was reportedly the youngest person at the time to do so.
Kilmer began his stage career in 1981, and in 1983, he appeared in The Slab Boys with Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley. The following year, Kilmer appeared in Top Secret!, an action comedy directed by the filmmaking trio, Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker. Perhaps Kilmer’s biggest roles were star turns in Top Gun, Tombstone, The Doors, Heat, and voicing Moses/God in the animated film, The Prince of Egypt, among other roles.
In 2015, Kilmer suffered a health complication that sparked rumors in Hollywood that the actor was suffering from cancer, a fact he confirmed two years later in 2017 by revealing he was suffering from throat cancer. Initially, Kilmer didn’t seek medical treatment as it went against his Christian Science faith, but eventually did so.
Kilmer would continue to act after getting treatment, which rendered his voice a whisper, last appearing in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick opposite Tom Cruise in the role of Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky.
On X and across social media, many are honoring the life of Kilmer, including many of his peers in Hollywood. We’ve got those reactions in the gallery below.
Kilmer is survived by his daughter, Mercedes, and Jack, also an actor like his father. Val Kilmer was 65.
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Photo: Getty
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Val Kilmer, a prolific actor who got his start in the 1980s, starred in a series of films, both dramatic and comedic, throughout his long career. On April 1, Val Kilmer passed away from an illness, and fans on X are honoring the star.
Val Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California, according to a Wikipedia entry. Kilmer was accepted into the Juilliard School in its Drama Division and was reportedly the youngest person at the time to do so.
Kilmer began his stage career in 1981, and in 1983, he appeared in The Slab Boys with Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley. The following year, Kilmer appeared in Top Secret!, an action comedy directed by the filmmaking trio, Zucker, Abrahams, and Zucker. Perhaps Kilmer’s biggest roles were star turns in Top Gun, Tombstone, The Doors, Heat, and voicing Moses/God in the animated film, The Prince of Egypt, among other roles.
In 2015, Kilmer suffered a health complication that sparked rumors in Hollywood that the actor was suffering from cancer, a fact he confirmed two years later in 2017 by revealing he was suffering from throat cancer. Initially, Kilmer didn’t seek medical treatment as it went against his Christian Science faith, but eventually did so.
Kilmer would continue to act after getting treatment, which rendered his voice a whisper, last appearing in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick opposite Tom Cruise in the role of Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky.
On X and across social media, many are honoring the life of Kilmer, including many of his peers in Hollywood. We’ve got those reactions in the gallery below.
Kilmer is survived by his daughter, Mercedes, and Jack, also an actor like his father. Val Kilmer was 65.
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Photo: Getty
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Source: Drake / Youtube
To say that 2024 was a rough year for Drake would be an understatement. From taking the most devastating “L” of his career at the hands of Kendrick Lamar to being mocked for suing anyone he could for promoting “Not Like Us,” 2024 was less than a banner year for the King of The North.
Still, Drizzy isn’t throwing in the towel on his career and continues to press on with some new black-and-white visuals to “NOKIA” in which Drizzy seems to be enjoying his life regardless as he turns up with a gang of dancers while pulling out the old school cell phones that look like bricks but had the Hip-Hop world on fire.
T-Mobile needs to bring back the Sidekick with a touchscreen or something. Just sayin.’
Elsewhere, Big Sean keeps his reppin’ his city like no other and in his and G.T.’s clip to “FTW,” the Detroit duo put on for the Motor City and get some grub at the American Coney Island eatery before stuntin’ on the curb to show the drinks they ordered with their food ain’t packing any ice like them.
Check out the rest of today’s drops, including work from Zayaa, B$C Ziggy, and more.
DRAKE – “NOKIA”
G.T. & BIG SEAN – “FTW”
ZAYAA – “HOME”
B$C ZIGGY – “88”
JIZO MAN & BIG DON – “DOUBLE CUP”
SAINT JORDN – “PRAY FOR ME”
SEAN PAUL – “NAH FOLLOW DEM”
MONEY G – “LATE NIGHT”
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Sen. Cory Booker wrote himself in the U.S. Senate history books by delivering the longest speech in the chamber on record, eclipsing the record of Sen. Strom Thurmond’s filibuster by a good measure. As Sen. Cory Booker concluded his marathon speech, many on social media, especially X, are showing high approval for the New Jersey politician’s herculean effort.
Sen. Cory Booker, 55, took to the U.S. Senate floor on Monday (March 31) at 7 PM local time and begin his blistering marathon speech, using the time to voice the concerns of the American public who feel betrayed by the machinations of President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the DOGE bros, and the gutting of longstanding federally funded government establishments and programs.
Booker’s time at the podium was partly a reading of letters from not only constituents he represents, but others on the other side of the aisle who have been casualties in President Trump and the GOP’s culture war. Speaking frequently in impassioned tones, Booker appeared weary at moments and used the podium to support himself. When he was alerted that he was nearing Sen. Strom Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster record of 24 hours and 18 minutes, Booker quipped that he was near and kept going despite the obvious fatigue present.
Thurmond, the senator from South Carolina, used the filibuster to protest the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1957, which would give Black Americans certain protections and access to the democratic process. Thurmond, holding fast to antiquated views of Black Americans and an obvious allegiance to the memory of the Confederacy, represented a far different Democratic Party than we see today. Adding to this, Thurmond was dogged by rumors that he secretly fathered a daughter with a Black woman whom he allegedly helped by financing her education.
The late senator also voted against the Voting Rights Act of 1964 and 1965 and was a staunch segregationist who pushed for a ban on school integration. Thurmond’s resistance to granting equal access to Black citizens would follow him to the bitter end of his career as he cemented his legacy by being a raging racist.
What Sen. Cory Booker has done in contrast has been deemed symbolic by many, but it isn’t quite a criticism; instead, it is a fact. The United States is splitting apart on party line allegiance and the ever-present reality that this country still has yet to reckon with its past. This is happening at the Trump administration is attempting to sanitize history, do away with DEI, and eliminate social programs that benefited poor, working-class white Americans more than any other group in the nation.
On X, Sen. Booker’s historic feat is all the rage, and we’ve got reactions below.
Americans aren’t a line item in a budget to cut. Your story matters, your voice matters, this fight matters. pic.twitter.com/cDpXIZMtRe
— Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) April 1, 2025
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Photo: Getty
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Kanye West, also known as Ye, has been on a weeks-long rant on Twitter discussing everything from his connection to Diddy, along with harsh critiques of the Jewish community and fellow artists. In a new interview with DJ Akademiks, Kanye West donned an all-Black KKK hood and wore a swastika chain during the meandering and bizarre chat.
On Sunday, Ye, aka Kanye West, was joined by DJ Akademiks, who traveled out to Los Angeles to meet with the Chicago native. As seen in Big Ak’s video that he shared on social media, the planning of the meetup with Ye didn’t go off without a hitch, and it appeared that West wanted Ak to perform the interview in China or Japan, as he claims not to feel safe in the United States.
Some 13 minutes into the video, Ak finally gets to Ye’s hotel room, where the producer is seen wearing a Black Sean John shirt with white lettering and the aforementioned bejeweled chain. At minute 16:10, Ye emerges with the KKK outfit and the pair launch into their chat.
There are far too many moments to highlight, but chief among them was Ye saying that he didn’t intend to have children with his ex-wife, Kim Kardashian. Kardashian and West are the parents of North, Saint, Chicago, and Psalm. Ye also stood on business regarding the comments he made about former collaborator Jay-Z and Beyoncé, and seemingly defended what he said about their children.
The conversation between Kanye West, aka Ye, and DJ Akademiks can be viewed below.
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Photo: YouTube Screenshot
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What up, Hip-Hop Wired Family! We’re back with our latest Baes & Baddies post, and we’re featuring Atlanta by way of St. Louis sweetface stunner, the spectacularly stacked Jasmyn Danielle aka @jascatron.
Despite our best efforts, all we know about Jasmyn Danielle is that she is a native of Missouri and now resides in Georgia. Her Instagram account only has a handful of images, but the @jascatron page is showing a lot more activity lately as she aims to gain fans and followers on social media.
It appears that the sultry model took a break back in November of last year and returned with a bang this month. We’ll feature her latest images and work our way back in the gallery section below.
For now, please show some love for our latest Baes & Baddies entrant, Jasmyn Danielle aka @jascatron.
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Photo: @jascatron / Instagram
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Lil Durk is currently embroiled in a legal matter involving an alleged murder for hire plot involving rival Quando Rondo. While behind bars, Lil Durk released his ninth studio album, Deep Thoughts, and the early reactions are in on X.
Lil Durk, 32, announced the release of Deep Thoughts on social media and left a message for his fans, along with sharing the album covers and images of the Chicago rapper at work.
From Instagram:
I WASN’T GON PUT THIS OUT BUT THEN I REMEMBERED THE STREETS NEED THIS.
NOT BEING OUTSIDE WITH Y’ALL WHEN I DROP IS HARD, BUT I KNOW I WILL FEEL Y’ALL LOVE AND ENERGY THROUGH THESE WALLS
THANK Y’ALL FOR ROCKING WITH ME THROUGH EVERYTHING. I TELL THESE STORIES SO OUR VOICE IS NEVER LOST. I’M COMING HOME SOON STRONGER THAN EVER. INSHALLAH, THE VOICE
LOVE, DURK
Deep Thoughts only has four features, with Future showing up on “They Want To Be You” and Lil Baby delivering a verse on “1000 Times.” On “Cant Hide It,” Jhené Aiko delivers vocals, and lastly, Hunxho appears on “Late Checkout.”
Much of the album finds “The Voice” in a reflective space, especially on the opener “Shaking When I Pray,” which features the artist born Durk Banks praying in Arabic. The common themes of his back against the wall, eclipsing his meager beginnings, and speaking directly to his detractors are present throughout Deep Thoughts. However, it is an extension of the rhythmic comfortability Lil Durk displayed on his 2023 album, Almost Healed.
On X, formerly Twitter, we’ve scoured the site and got the best reactions to the album we could find. Find those replies below.
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Photo: Prince Williams / Getty
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President Donald Trump hosted an event this week at the White House for Women’s History Month and honored some of the top women officials in his administration. During the event, President Donald Trump referred to himself as the “fertilization president” after highlighting his stances on in vitro fertilization (IVF), causing some on X to recoil in disgust.
On Wednesday (March 26), President Donald Trump held a Women’s History Month event and heaped praise upon Attorney General Pam Bondi and other key women who work alongside him. This happened in the wake of an executive order signed on Tuesday (March 25) to expand the policy on IVF access and reduce costs to patients.
The executive order is largely ceremonial, as it suggests that a domestic policy aide has three months to share recommendations to IVF policies, the Trump administration is using this moment as a time to gloat. In short, the executive order does not lower the costs of IVF or provide any inroads to helping those seeking reproductive care, but what has some turning their heads is Trump’s words regarding the order.
“We’re going to have tremendous, tremendous goodies in the bag for women too, the women between the fertilization and all of the other things that we’re talking about,” Trump said in the White House’s East Room. “It’s going to be, it’s going to be great.”
Trump added, “I’m still very proud of it, I don’t care. I’ll be known as the fertilization president, that’s not bad, that’s not bad. I’ve been called much worse.”
It appears that the president coined the nickname on the spot, and the words garnered laughter from the attendees. However, over on X, formerly Twitter, reactions to President Trump’s IVF stances and new nickname were not as favorable.
We’ve got those reactions below.
[h/t MSNBC]
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Photo: Joe Raedle / Getty