Dreamville Fest 2025 was initially billed as a final farewell until a few days before the two-day music event when organizers pulled the ultimate plot twist. With their hearts unbroken, fans packed into Raleigh’s Dorothea Dix Park in North Carolina on April 5 and 6 for J. Cole‘s beloved tradition which saw a stellar line up and received much praise.
This year’s show included Saturday’s headliners Lil Wayne and the Hot Boys (Juvenile, Turk and B.G.) with the Big Tymers (Birdman and Mannie Fresh), 21 Savage, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and Ludacris. Other performers of the day included Dreamville’s own Ari Lennox, Ab-Soul, Bas, Young Nudy, Lute, Omen, Kai Ca$h and Niko Brim, with a special 20-year celebration of Keyshia Cole‘s debut album The Way It Is—where she took center stage to deliver the R&B staple’s biggest tracks.
Sunday’s roster included headliners J. Cole, Erykah Badu, and Tems, with other performances by GloRilla, J.I.D., Wale, Coco Jones, Earthgang, BigXThaPlug, Anycia, Cozz, and Akia.
Ahed of the weekend showdown, festival producer Sascha Stone Guttfreund promised that the event is here to stay, revealing, “We’re going to be here for years to come.” Raleigh City Manager Marchell Adams-David echoed the sentiment, noting that the next era of Dreamville will remain rooted in Hip-Hop and the community that made it thrive: “Our consumers have told us what they like, and we’re going to try to provide that to them for the next four years.”
J. Cole may not headline every year going forward, but his influence will remain undeniable. As Adams-David put it, “He is totally committed to this community, and he is totally committed to this festival.” That commitment was reflected not only in the artist lineup and immersive experiences across the park but also in the feeling that Dreamville still isn’t just a music festival—it’s a movement, a homecoming, a family reunion.
“We wanted to keep the feeling of just the community,” said Cole’s longtime manager and business partner Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad. “I think a lot of people from all over the world and from all 50 states come in, and it’s good to be able to do it here in North Carolina.”
And now, with a renewed promise and a city behind it, Dreamville won’t fade, but continue to flourish. Click through the gallery for the best moments from Dreamville Fest 2025 below.
Leave a comment