By April 10, 2025
Photo: Myicha Drakeford / CLTure
This past weekend, over 50,000 poured into Dix Park each day for the fifth and final Dreamville Festival. The park, once home to Indigenous communities, later became Spring Hill Plantation, where Black people were enslaved for over 150 years, and eventually North Carolina’s first mental health hospital over the next century. Since 2019, the transformation of this historically complex space into a beautiful celebration of music, art, and culture has felt both profound and divine.
For North Carolina — hip-hop’s geographical outlier — and for Raleigh specifically, Dreamville has helped put the city on the map. The festival brought some of the genre’s most influential artists to the South while honoring the culture with care, authenticity, and hometown pride for Carolina cities.
Although this marked the final installment of Dreamville Fest as we know it, ScoreMore and Live Nation will continue to bring a large-scale music festival to Raleigh. Whether they’ll be able to capture the same spirit, intimacy, and aesthetic that made Dreamville so beloved remains to be seen, but one can only hope its legacy lives on in some shape or form.
What was certain, though, was that this year’s Dreamville Fest was an overwhelming success. From star-studded performances and high-energy dance parties at branded installations to delicious food, seamless drink access, and curated photo ops — every detail felt intentional. As festivalgoers raced through the gates, many donned Dreamville merch, while others leaned into the Dreamville aesthetic: sunflowers, bantu knots, cornrows, and carefree vibes.
Over the years, Dreamville Fest has evolved from a music festival to a cultural moment, and a reminder that when rooted in community, even the most unlikely places can become sacred grounds for joy.
J. Cole
When J. Cole shared on stage last year that he wasn’t sure how much longer he could continue producing Dreamville Festival, fans didn’t realize that 2025 would mark the final chapter. For the past five years, Cole has delivered unforgettable performances — even when faced with recurring technical and sound issues — and this year was no exception. While some anticipated a heap of surprise guests to commemorate the fifth and final festival, day-one fans knew better. Cole has always stood firmly in his “no features” philosophy, and that’s exactly how his final headlining set played out.
His performance was a carefully curated journey through his career, visually staged to resemble his humble beginnings — specifically, Mohammed’s crib, his first apartment in Queens, New York. It was a tribute to the place and the people who believed in him before the fame. Despite initial sound difficulties, Cole didn’t settle. He restarted his opening track three times until the sound was perfect, declaring, “We not having a repeat… we starting this shit fucking over — this shit too important!”
From there, the set unfolded like a love letter to the fans who’ve been riding with him from the start. He told stories, including how he produced “Work Out” (his first top 40 hit) using samples Kanye West had specifically chopped up for him, and shared how he felt the first time he recorded in front of Jay-Z and Beyonce when featured on “A Star is Born.” One of the night’s most intimate moments came when he and Erykah Badu met for the first time on stage and performed “Too Deep for the Intro.” Throughout his set, Cole made sure to honor the day-one supporters while promising love to the day-twos, threes, fours, and fives.
As he moved into his more recent hits, the energy across Dix Park intensified. The crowd rapped lyrics to “No Role Modelz,” “G.O.M.D.,” “Neighbors,” “KOD,” “Middle Child,” and “Power Trip” with passion and pride. Watching Cole perform at his own festival for the final time felt like witnessing a rap superhero in his victory lap. His ability to seamlessly toggle between artist and festival producer — even taking moments to call for security assistance mid-set — showed just how much heart and intention he and his team have poured into the event.
In the end, Cole’s final headlining set wasn’t just about music — it was about community, legacy, and love. And as he took his final bow, it was clear: he didn’t just build a festival; he built an extended family.
Lil’ Wayne with Hot Boys and Big Tymers
The New Orleans native and self-proclaimed “best rapper alive” headlined Saturday night with his Cash Money cohorts, delivering a moment for the culture. He brought out a lineup that made every millennial’s dream come true, starting with Mannie Fresh, who got the crowd hyped before introducing the full roster of Cash Money Millionaires. Yes, everyone was in the building, including B.G., Turk, Birdman, and Juvenile.
While Dreamville’s crowd spans multiple generations, and some younger fans didn’t fully catch the weight of the deeper cuts. However, the energy surged when the crew ran through southern cult classics like “Project Chick,” “Bling Bling,” “U Understand,” and “#1 Stunna.” As one of the group’s top performers, Juvenile took center stage and performed some of his greatest hits, such as “Slow Motion” and “Ha.” The group was intentional about giving Juvenile his flowers while on stage for the longevity of his career.
The entire set was a powerful reminder of Cash Money’s undeniable legacy. From their cultural impact on hip-hop — both aesthetically and sonically — thanks to Mannie Fresh’s innovative production, to classic albums like Juvenile’s 400 Degreez, the first two Hot Boys albums (Get It How U Live!! in 1997 and Guerrilla Warfare in 1999), and B.G.’s 1999 classic Chopper City in the Ghetto, the label shaped the sound of a generation. And through Young Money, Cash Money’s influential extension, the world was introduced to Drake and Nicki Minaj. For over two decades, Cash Money has remained one of hip-hop’s most successful collectives, selling more than one billion records globally.
And then came the moment everyone had been waiting for: Mr. Carter himself. With only his DJ and drummer, Yayo (better known as the OneManBand), Wayne commanded the crowd with a magnetic presence. His charisma and delivery created such an intimate connection that, despite being surrounded by over 50,000 people, it felt personal. He also showed love and appreciation to Dreamville’s unsung heroes like the production and stage crew, the market and food vendors, and the volunteers.
The set began with a soulful rendition of “Mr. Carter” and included fan favorites such as “I’m Goin’ In,” “Money on My Mind,” and “Mr. Officer.” The ending featured nostalgia-inducing performances of classics like “I Need a Hot Girl,” “Back That Azz Up,” and arguably one of Wayne’s biggest hits, “A Milli.”
GloRilla
Big Glo made a triumphant appearance, delivering a high-energy performance that kept the crowd lit from start to finish. In 2023, she was slated to perform but missed her 5 p.m. time slot after arriving late. This year, however, the Memphis superstar proved she’s not only leveled up — she’s fully arrived. Backed by dynamic dancers, her DJ, Dynasty Digital, and impressive choreography, Glo captivated festivalgoers with a stage presence as fierce as her bars. Wearing a fitted black sheer and lace bodysuit with fishnet tights, her set and show-stopping fit, left fans admiring her elevated artistry and evolving image.
Glo ran through all her top hits, including crowd favorites like “Tomorrow 2,” “Blessed,” and “Lick or Sum,” each one met with thunderous applause and singalongs. She closed her set with the breakout anthem that launched her into stardom, the infamous “F.N.F. (Let’s Go),” sending the crowd into a frenzy. It was a full-circle moment that reminded everyone exactly why Big Glo is one of the most dynamic acts in hip-hop today.
Erykah Badu
Everyone knows that the multi-hyphenate artist Erykah Badu is a vibe, and when she performs, she brings the vocals, live production, a full band, and equally talented background singers (including Durand Bernarr) — and of course, herself. From the moment Badu hit the stage, she commanded the crowd’s attention with her charismatic personality, cracking jokes between song transitions. One of the most captivating aspects of Badu’s set is the deep adoration of her fans. With a career now spanning multiple decades, she has managed to attract and connect with listeners of all ages, which was evident as the audience happily sang along like a gospel choir. With songs like “Window Seat” “’Apple Tree,” and “Bag Lady,” Badu’s music is therapeutic and resonates with fans on a spiritual level. Transporting the masses into her zenful universe, she closed her set with a unique rendition of the fan-favorite “Tyrone,” with most of the audience singing along to every word.
Ari Lennox
Dreamville fans truly missed Ari Lennox last year. At the time, she was caught in limbo with her record label and openly expressed frustration with the lack of marketing support behind her work. Fast forward a year, and the Dreamville songstress seems to be in a much better space — mentally, emotionally, and professionally. She recently reunited with superproducer Jermaine Dupri to deliver her soulful new single, “Soft Girl Era,” and fans have been showing love both online and in real life.
When Lennox stepped on stage in a stunning white crochet-fringed bodysuit, she exuded confidence, grace, and power. Her voice — angelic as ever — soared through the festival air, wrapping the crowd in every note. Each song she performed was met with swaying bodies, singing voices, and celestial vibes.
Seeing Lennox back on stage, and in her element, felt significant. As the only R&B singer and the sole woman on the Dreamville roster, her presence carried weight. She reminded us all of the beauty, strength, and emotional depth that women bring, and why her voice is not just welcome, but essential.
Love for North Carolina Creatives and Artists
Having a festival as monumental as Dreamville Fest in Raleigh has been nothing short of transformative. North Carolina is brimming with talent — rappers, singers, DJs, photographers, visual artists, content creators, and more — the creative ecosystem across the state is both deep and diverse. Dreamville Fest didn’t just bring national headliners to town; it also spotlighted homegrown talent, offering local creatives a rare opportunity to share space with some of the biggest names in music.
From seeing artists like Dexter Jordan and Blanche J providing background vocals on the Rise Stage with Ari Lennox, to Shame Gang and Charlotte neo-soul songstress Cyanca performing on the Shine Stage with Lute, to spotting North Carolina-based photographers capturing iconic moments from the pit, the presence of local talent was felt throughout the weekend. Whether it was DJs like Collective Chaos (Professor X and DJ JMar), DJ Fannie Mae, SeeBirdGo, and Bryan Dawson spinning sets at sponsored stages, content creators filming reels in front of vibrant art installations curated by Artsplosure, North Carolinians were not only in the crowd but on stage, behind the scenes, and in the creative trenches that brought the entire experience to life.
Dreamville Fest reminded us that world-class artistry doesn’t just reside in major cities like New York or L.A. — it thrives in places like Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, and Greensboro as well. When the infrastructure is in place, when the investment is genuine, and when the community shows up, the South can be both the stage and the star.
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