Founded in 2015 by childhood friends and Miami natives, Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif (8x Billboard Hip-Hop Power Players), Rolling Loud was built out of a flourishing South Florida hip-hop community that the pair cultivated through years of concert promotions.
Rolling Loud’s advancement is largely credited to its dedication to cultivating community in every market they touch, paving an opportunity for them to be revered as more than just a festival – it’s a lifestyle brand.
The World’s Largest Hip-Hop Festival, Rolling Loud, kicked off its first day of the California festival with unstoppable energy from performers including A$AP Rocky, Peso Pluma, YG, and Sexyy Red.
True to Rolling Loud’s tradition of jaw-dropping moments, Day 1 had fans overflowing with excitement as A$AP Rocky made his triumphant return to the stage, his first performance since his “not guilty” verdict. The show began as a helicopter hovered over the stage and a spotlight revealed A$AP Rocky floating over the roaring crowd. He kicked off his set performing three songs from the air, including an unreleased one, before belaying down to the stage from 100 feet high.
Taking a moment to address the ruling, he also showed support for California wildfire victims and those affected by recent immigration policies. He opened and closed his set with a montage of his trial before he made a nod to Rihanna (spotted arriving with Blue Ivy Carter) who was watching from the heart of the crowd. He also debuted brand new music from his highly anticipated album Don’t Be Dumb including the upcoming Metro Boomin’ produced single “Your Honor.” Skepta joined A$AP on stage to perform “Praise the Lord (Da Shine). He closed his set with a heartfelt tribute to his late friend A$AP Yams, ending on a high note with “Yamborghini High.”
In addition to A$AP Rocky’s legendary performance, Peso Pluma made history as the first non-Hip-Hop, and Latin artist to headline any edition of the festival. He brought out Rich The Kid and Ty Dolla $ign to perform “Gimme A Second” and “Carnival” as well as guests El Alfa, and Eladio Carrión. YG made a statement, bringing out a Donald Trump impersonator to perform his hit “FDT”, while Sexyy Red hyped up the audience with a surprise appearance from 03 GREEDO. The excitement continued as LiAngelo “GELO” Ball made his festival debut at Rolling Loud, electrifying fans with his viral hit “Tweaker” and an unreleased track, which left the audience buzzing. Following GELO’s set, Co-Founder/President & CEO of Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) Prophet and Rolling Loud Co-founder and Co-CEO Tariq Cherif took the stage with Altadena community members who lost their homes and/or businesses to the Eaton Fire.
The day began with performances from rising stars like IAN, Peysoh and BossMan Dlow who wore a custom ESPN chain for his song “SportsCenter,” warming up the crowd for an evening of unforgettable sets. Heavy hitters like Ski Mask The Slump God, Larry June, Cash Cobain, Real Boston Richey, and DDG kept the energy soaring throughout the night. Fans from around the globe brought an unparalleled energy to the festival today. Rolling Loud continues to serve as a cultural mecca for hip-hop lovers, uniting seasoned fans and newcomers in a shared celebration of the genre.
The festival grounds were buzzing with interactive activations that added to the immersive experience including Bunny’s Bae Bar which offers free glam services to attendees, Loud Cutz for free haircuts, the Tattoo Parlour for free tattoos designed by Panda, exclusive rides, tooth gems by SHEIN, and more. There was an exclusive Rolling Station with 420 friendly products (ages 21+) as well as food for the munchies. Boys Lie also launched an exclusive Rolling Loud merchline, creative directed by the Queen of Rolling Loud, Bunny Zingler.
The second and final day of Rolling Loud California, The World’s Largest Hip-Hop Festival, will go down in hip-hop history. Playboi Carti had an electrifying performance on the Gopuff Stage, playing tracks from his newly released Music for the first time ever and brought out The Weeknd and Skepta as surprise guests. The Weeknd’s guest appearance was a monumental occasion in Rolling Loud history, with it being his first time appearing on the festival’s stage. Streamer Kai Cenat was also invited on stage by Playboi Carti himself, and livestreamed the entire set, showing scenes of himself embracing The Weeknd and Rolling Loud co-founder and co-CEO Tariq Cherif. Actor and star of the Rolling Loud movie Owen Wilson was also spotted at Playboi Carti’s set with Rolling Loud co-founder and co-CEO Matt Zingler, celebrating the close to a successful weekend.
Earlier in the day, Luh Tyler took the stage with Jamie Foxx watching from the photo pit, and Jesse Jo, Frankie and Kristian Stark were spotted at Ken Carson’s set, where he played the unreleased track “Ain’t Playin.” Fellow Opium artists Destroy Lonely and Homixide Gang delivered stellar sets. Soulja Boy popped out at the Zig-Zag Stage where he performed throwback hits “Kiss Me Through The Phone” and “Pretty Boy Swag” before closing with fan favorite “Crank That (Soulja Boy)” before Los Angeles’ own Blxst shut down the stage later in the night.
The D’Ussé Stage was a mecca for underground hip-hop lovers, with artists like Nettspend, Molly Santana, Skaiwater, DC the Don, and more getting the crowd excited for Carti’s set later in the night.
Sunday night’s performances closed out yet another successful Rolling Loud California, marked by a jaw-dropping Saturday performance from A$AP Rocky who debuted unreleased tracks from his highly-anticipated album Don’t Be Dumb while Rihanna watched from the heart of the crowd alongside Blue Ivy and more celebrities. Peso Pluma also made history as the first Latin and non-hip-hop headliner in Rolling Loud history, bringing out El Alfa, Eladio Carrión, Rich the Kid, and Ty Dolla $ign.
Beyond the sets, Rolling Loud was an immersive experience for music lovers, whether it was free glam services at Bunny’s Bae Bar, free tattoos & haircuts, food options like 10/10 Burger and Dave’s Hot Chicken, and one-of-a-kind merch offerings, including a Boys Lie collab, creative directed by Queen of Rolling Loud, Bunny Zingler. Rolling Loud also unveiled a new gravitron spin ride in the VIP section, where Ski Mask the Slump God debuted a new song.
© 2025, Seth "Digital Crates" Barmash. All rights reserved.
