Within the past two years, Miami’s Rolling Loud Festival has become one of the premier hip-hop events in the Southeast. After last year’s inaugural lineup with ScHoolboy Q, Travis Scott and Action Bronson, DOPE Entertainment outdid themselves for the second annual event by recruiting heavyweight headliners for 2016.
Over the weekend, Miami scene-strealer YesJulz helped fill Mana Wynwood in Miami’s Art District with eager hip hop heads for dope performances from Future, Young Thug, 2 Chainz, and plenty more. The two-day lituation raged on into the night as the Dab Stage and the Sauce Stage were infiltrated by the most prominent artists in the country and the rulers of the underground Miami’s hip-hop scene.
WTB’s Kent Jones, Pro Era’s Nyck Caution, OVO’s Roy Woods and more kicked off Day 1 at the Sauce Stage located inside a spacious warehouse. As the night progressed, the echoes of from the booming bass from the Dab Stage bounced back off the Wynwood Walls as Divine Council, Robb Bank$, Lil Yachty, Playboi Carti, and Lil Uzi Vert too turnt for comfort. However, the surprise guest Ty Dolla $ign and 300 Ent’s Young Thug dissipated the tension and created peace in the audience with their plethora of club bangers.
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The following day attracted even more hip-hop fans from the #FutureHive to the loyal followers of the Based God. The Sauce Stage remained the realm for the key players in South Florida’s underground hip-hop movement. Yung Simmie, Yung Yogi, and their crew fired up the massive crowd and inspired numerous mosh pits around the venue. Pouya, Fat Nick, The $uicide Boys, Da$h, 21 Savage, and Kevin Abstract followed suit and kept their sea of fans lit until headliner Lil B hit the stage to close out the show.
The Dab Stage hosted a mixture of seasoned lyricists and rising breakthrough acts in the game today. Atlanta’s own 2 Chainz blessed the crowd with his classics early followed by Freebandz/Epic signee Zoey Dollaz, newcomer Kap G, and Palm Beach natives Wifisfuneral with tunes from 103.5 The Beat’s DJ Epps and DJ Bulletproof in between each set. Once the sunset behind I-95, the heavy smoke grew more dense and filled the block with the aroma of high quality herb once Indiana’s finest Freddie Gibbs and Jet Life chief Curren$y set foot on stage.
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Gibbs’ extensive set was a dope collection of records from his past projects like ESGN and Piñata. Curren$y came out on stage with a joint at hand and made everyone throw the Jet Life hand sign up during his set. Spitta performed hits from as far back as “Smoke Somethin” off Verde Terrace to his most recent work like “Drive By” off Canal Street Confidential. The show was more turnt once Kodak Black hit the stage and busted out his signature hit “Skrt Skrt.”
After Zoey Dollaz and Julz kept the enormous audience hype by firing free t-shirts into the air, the main act Future set the festival ablaze when he opened with his DS2 street hit “Thought It Was Drought.” The Freebandz Gang founder backtracked with past hits like “Move That Dope” and “Magic” for his day 1 fans. Although Freebandz official hype man was absent from the show, Esco’s essence was radiant throughout Future’s set as he pulled off his DJ’s well-known dance moves as he performed songs off 56 Nights, Monster, Beast Mode, and of course What A Time To Be Alive (minus Drake unfortunately).
After another year of success, Rolling Loud Festival has established a platinum foundation for hip-hop in the heart of Miami. With plenty of potential to prosper significantly before next year’s lineup is confirmed, the two-day event can become the most anticipated music festival South Florida has to offer.