In a land full of dreamers from across the nation, the Dreamville Festival returned to Raleigh, North Carolina, this past weekend, offering a packed schedule of events. With J.Cole headlining and featuring special guests like 6lack, Lil Durk, Benny the Butcher, the festival was alive with excitement. SZA’s soulful R&B vocals on both Day 1 and Day 2 added an unforgettable touch to the experience. EBONY was on-site, capturing the vibrant atmosphere and witnessing this incredible display of artistry firsthand.
Guided by the vision of North Carolina native rapper J. Cole, the Dreamville Festival has served as a purposeful platform for Cole to reciprocate the support of the state that nurtured him and played a pivotal role in his growth. With over 52,000 enthusiastic attendees, the festival garnered significant attention. Held at Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park, the event aspires to foster both economic and artistic advancement within the city, elevating its status as a highly anticipated cultural showcase. Last year, Dreamville brought in over $145 million to Wake County. The City of Raleigh also saw an economic boost in the areas of hotel, food and beverage and ground transportation.
EBONY secured exclusive backstage access to the festival, conducting interviews with a range of performers, including Lute, Domani and Jeremih, as well as key figures such as Dreamville’s President Ibrahim Hamad and President of Dreamville Music Festival Adam Rodney, offering readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the event’s inner workings.
Ibrahim tells EBONY “Dreamville is like a family reunion because I want people to come here and feel the energy of who we are as Dreamville. We are chill people we’re not trying to cause any issues. We’re here to give this family vibe.”
The standout moment of the night occurred during J.Cole’s set when he delivered a public apology to Kendrick Lamar. This came after the performance of “7 Minute Drill,” a track from Cole’s album Might Delete Later, which he had released on Friday, April 5th, ahead of the Dreamville Festival. On stage, Cole expressed regret for his previous diss towards Kendrick, acknowledging his actions and issuing a sincere apology.
Throughout the weekend, festival-goers were treated to a diverse array of activities, including engaging activations from Amazon Music, Hennessy, relaxing massages in the JV area and even Hookah available.
At the Hennessy activation, special guest Teyana Taylor joined the announcement of her involvement in their innovative “Made for more” campaign. The campaign features five off-beat mixing films and showcases five cocktails, demonstrating how Hennessy can elevate any drink or occasion to something extraordinary.
The impressive lineup for this year’s event featured renowned artists such as J.Cole, SZA, Nicki Minaj, 50 Cent, JID, Schoolboy Q, Lil Yachty, Rema, Jeezy, Jeremih, Rae Sremmurd, Monica, Sexyy Red, Earthgang, Tezzo Touchdown, Bas, Key Glock, Cozz, Tia Corrine, Hunxho, Omen, Lul Tyler, Amaarae, Lute, Domani and Chase Shakur, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.
Check out the images of a few of the artists who touched the Dreamville stage below:
