Dreamville Festival returned for its fifth year, inviting hip-hop and R&B artists J. Cole, Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, J.I.D, Erykah Badu and more to perform to a sold-out crowd in the heart of Raleigh, N.C., on the 308-acre Dorothea Dix Park.
The festival had two stages opposite each other on the grounds, allowing for nearly non-stop performances with no overlap between sets and ensuring attendees had a chance to see each artist. Tickets started at $350 for two-day passes, selling out three days before the weekend.
Day one kicked off with sets from Omen and Ab-Soul before Bas announced during his set that he would be releasing a new album in June 2025, performing an unreleased track.
Halfway through the day came heavy-hitter Chief Keef, hyping up the crowd throughout his set before Keyshia Cole brought on smooth R&B songs with live guitar and drums, inviting the crowd to sing along.
As the sun set and the night came to a close, 21 Savage and Lil Wayne pulled the deepest crowds of the day, with thousands of attendees getting as close as they could to the stage.
21 Savage brought his hard-hitting, rap-influenced hip-hop, performing his biggest hits. Lil Wayne was the final act of the night, bringing on hip-hop trio Hot Boys and duo Big Tymers, rapping throwback tracks from hip-hop’s early days in the ’90s and early 2000s.
“Wayne did his thing. He popped off with the Hot Boys and everything; he made sure to thank the crowd,” said attendee Manny Baron-Gaspar. “But J.I.D outdid everybody on day one.”
Day two started with sets from Akia, Trap Dickey, Cozz and Anycia, among others, before BigXthaPlug’s set excited the crowd with his signature raw Southern raps. Coco Jones brought her contemporary R&B style to the festival with a live band and played a song from her upcoming debut album coming April 25.
J.I.D performed popular tracks “Stick,” “Surround Sound“ and “Raydar,“ getting the whole crowd pumping, and Erykah Badu performed her blend of soul, jazz, hip-hop and funk.
Festival co-founder and headliner J. Cole was the final artist on day two, attracting thousands and the largest crowd of the festival. Cole performed fan favorites such as “Wet Dreamz“ and “No Role Modelz“ before symbolically finishing his set with “Farewell.“
“I’ve been dying to see him for a while, it was overall amazing. He acknowledged the crowd and gave credit where it was due. Since it was the last Dreamville, he made sure to acknowledge the day ones, but he made everybody feel included,“ said Baron-Gaspar.
However, activities started even before any artist took to the stage. On April 4, the day before the festival, Dreamville Public Access was held at the Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) in Raleigh. Open to the public, the event featured food trucks, a live DJ and enthusiast cars on display. The energy was certainly high in anticipation of the weekend.
Hayden Karnes was selling vintage clothing, primarily vintage music and tour apparel, under the name Definitely Not Vintage.
“It’s been really awesome, man. The weather has been great, the people have been great and it’s been a good time. We’ve made a lot of really cool connections, and that’s what it’s all about,“ said Karnes.
Inside CAM, there were audio workshops and industry panels with musicians and producers answering questions from the audience about their experience. Two beat battles were hosted, where two music producers showcased their skills by creating and playing their beats back and forth for a panel of judges.
A large stock of vinyl records, sold by Gene Brown, was available for attendees to browse and purchase. J.I.D also announced on his social media that he would be doing a pre-festival activation event in Raleigh for fans on April 4 before the festival.
Fans were under the impression that this year would be the last Dreamville, given hints of J. Cole’s retirement and social media statements implying that this year was the final chance to be at Dreamville.
“I’m not going to lie; I think they’re going to keep some going. I think they’re going to keep some going for real. I think they’re going to come back with another one next year; it’s just not going to happen,“ said attendee Trey Smith.
However, on April 4, it was announced that Dreamville would be continuing in Raleigh for the next four years. Even if J. Cole may not be headlining future festivals, he is likely to stay involved behind the scenes, but it is uncertain what the festival will look like in the future.
A variety of drink sponsors supported the festival, including Bacardi, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and Patrón Tequila, which each had shelters with music and drinks for attendees.
There were also several non-profit organizations present, including the NC Black Alliance, Heal Charlotte, Fayetteville Urban Ministry and Hip Hop Caucus. Free Narcan was distributed by This Must Be The Place to help keep attendees safe and prevent overdoses.
The festival ran smoothly throughout the weekend, and fans enjoyed their time. While J. Cole may be stepping back, the legacy of Dreamville lives on as a celebration of music, culture, and community that promises to keep going strong in Raleigh for years to come.
“I just wanted to experience it one time [before it ended]. I would definitely go [again],“ said attendee Ramon Boctor.