Rolling Loud returns to California
One of the biggest hip-hop festivals in the country, Rolling Loud, is returning to California March 3-5 at Hollywood Park in Inglewood. Rolling Loud is a three-day music festival that has gained popularity by hosting some of the biggest names in hip-hop and rap. Rolling Loud has seen the likes of J. Cole, Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky and more at its festivals across the United States and worldwide.
Headliners
Playboi Carti, Travis Scott and Future are set to headline this year’s festival. Accompanying them is special guest Lil Wayne, with other big names like Chief Keef, Lil Baby and Lil Uzi Vert. Los Angeles natives like Tyga, OhGeesy and Blueface will also perform.
Rolling Loud headliners are not without their controversies though, as this will be Travis Scott’s first major U.S. performance since the Astroworld catastrophe in November 2021, where 10 people died due to crowd crush. Since then, Scott has started a charity called Project HEAL, which aims to help today’s youth as well as marginalized groups through scholarships, education and mental health resources.
Another headliner, Playboi Carti, recently came under criticism after TMZ reported his arrest in Georgia for allegations claiming he choked his pregnant girlfriend in December 2022. Reports say the alleged assault occurred following an argument over a paternity test. The alleged victim was 14 weeks pregnant and had been dating Carti for two years. Carti’s lawyers have denied the allegations.
Up-and-coming artists
In addition to its big-name headliners, Rolling Loud will feature some smaller up-and-coming acts. With the viral nature of sounds used on apps like TikTok, many of the artists on the bill for this year’s Rolling Loud have found success with their music on such platforms.
Female hip-hop artist Ice Spice has dominated the field of viral music on TikTok. Since the release of her hit single “Munch” from last year, she has consistently released music that tops the trending charts on social media apps.
Other new and trending artists include Babytron, a hip-hop artist who rose to fame due to his 2019 track “Jesus Shuttlesworth,” and his unique style that includes Cartier sunglasses and a diamond-studded turd necklace.
Also featured on the bill is JELEEL!. His high energy, back-flipping stage performances and his single “DIVE IN!” catapulted him to viral internet fame.
Headlining artist Playboi Carti’s music label OPIUM* has been making the rounds on the internet itself. The label has artists like Ken Car$on and Destroy Lonely whose music fits into a punk/trap genre that has proven to be popular on social media platforms. Their hard-hitting synths and 808s, paired with playful lyrics delivered with a sometimes screaming intensity, make their music attractive to highly energized listeners.
Another artist signed to the label, Homixide Gang, has found success with their trending song “Lifestyle,” a track that encapsulates the same high-energy flow that other members of the label possess. All of these artists, including Playboi Carti, will be performing on the first day of the festival.
Rolling Loud History and Present Day
Rolling Loud was founded in 2015 by Matt Zinger and Tariq Cherif with a “mission to lead the vanguard of live music experiences in hip-hop and beyond,” according to a Rolling Loud press release. Rolling Loud has featured hip-hop as its primary genre, and the festival has become known for its wide-ranging lineups that reflect the state of the genre.
Rolling Loud wrapped up its biggest festival to date in Miami last year. The festival headlined Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar and Future. Last year, Rolling Loud held festivals internationally in Portugal and Toronto. The festival will be in Pattaya, Thailand later this year, marking its first appearance on the continent of Asia.
The last time the festival was held in Los Angeles was in 2019 at Banc of California Stadium and Exposition Park. The 2019 festival headlined Chance the Rapper, Juice Wrld, Future, A$AP Rocky and more. 2021’s festival, held in San Bernardino, was one of Rolling Loud’s first festivals following the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s California Rolling Loud is being held at the 300-acre Hollywood Park, a venue adjacent to Sofi Stadium in Inglewood California. Tickets to Rolling Loud California 2023 can be purchased here.
