Rolling Loud is the premier festival brand in hip-hop, known for its expert curation of wide-ranging lineups that reflect the state of the genre.
Founded by 6-time Billboard Hip-Hop Power Players Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif as a one-day Miami show, Rolling Loud has grown into a global festival phenomenon. This year, Rolling Loud Miami was a three day festival between Friday, July 21 to Sunday, July 23.
This is Rolling Loud’s biggest year yet! The festival has expanded its empire even further, hosting a series of star-studded festivals in all corners of the globe. From California, to Thailand, Portugal, Rotterdam and Germany, Rolling Loud has been a triumphant force in celebrating rap and hip hop. Rolling Loud season culminated with its flagship festival, Rolling Loud Miami.
What makes this year even more special is that it is the 50th year anniversary of Hip Hop. To give homage to the decades of influence brought forth by the Black and Puerto Rican community of the Bronx, Rolling Loud invited The Black Music Action Coalition.
Together they hosted a rally and panel conversation on the Rap Act, featuring Representative Hank Johnson (D, GA-4), Representative Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud Co-Founder, and NLE Choppa – moderated by BMAC co-founder, Willie ‘Prophet’ Stiggers.
The event took place at BMAC’s Rolling Loud installation, the BMAC Community Lounge. The design for the space gave homage to a Bronx Block Party theme with concert posters from all 5 decades of hip hop as the backdrop.
The purpose of the Rap Act is to bring attention to the fact that Black men have been persecuted because their lyrics have been used as evidence against them in court and has proven them to be guilty. However, the Rap Act believes it is an attack on Hip Hop and Black culture. This is a very heated debate, what do you readers think?
Rolling Loud has put center stage many fan favorites. Although I felt there could have been more women artists, Rolling Loud had a lot of the hottest women in rap and hip hop. From Sexxy Red, Ice Spice, Lola Brooke, City Girls, GloRilla, Latto, and Coi Leray we were served female empowerment in its many iterations.
To start highlighting some of my faves we gonna start with the New York City baddies! While the crowd waited in anticipation, they cheered on her name, and men called themselves a munch, can you guess who it is?
As the Miami sun began to set, Ice Spice, princess of the Bronx, performed fan favorites such as “Princess Diana”, “Gangsta Boo”, “Actin A Smoochie”, “Boy’s A Liar”, “Bikini Bottom”, “Munch” and “In Ha Mood”. She even performed a new song, “Deli” of the Deluxe version of her project “Like..?”.
After quickly establishing herself as the hottest new voice in Hip Hop, Ice Spice has been consistently delivering one hit track after another since the release of her debut EP “Like..?” in January.
Today the newly-minted Apple Music ‘Up Next’ artist puts a fresh spin on the instant classic with the release of the Deluxe version via 10K Projects/Capitol Records, which bolsters four new tracks including the highly anticipated “Deli”, along with “How High?”, “Butterfly Ku” and bonus track “On The Radar”, in collaboration with executive producer RIOTUSA.
Another one of my favorite artists graced the stage. Lola Brook, from Brooklyn, New York, came out and gave the people what they wanted! She performed “Here I come”, “Dummy Ummy”, “Gator Season”, “Shabooya Remix”, “SO DISRESPECTFUL” and the song that put on game “Don’t Play With it”.
One of NY’s hottest rappers, Lola Brooke, did a meet-and-greet inside the Pringles activation. She is very personable and you can tell her force is mighty.
To highlight a third woman in the game, Coi Leray came on stage with a purpose. Truly one of the most memorable performances of all of Rolling loud, her choreography seemed effortless. She really showed out on stage and I feel she is underrated.
Her energy is pure and she really invites the audience to vibe out with her. She performed several tracks: “Huddy”, “No More Parties”, “TWINNEM”, “Fly Shit”, “Bops”, “Get Loud”, “Run It Up”, “ Self Love”, “Make My Day”, “ No Angels”, “Jatty” (by Chow Lee)” and the ultimate fan favorite, “Players”.
What was the icing on the cake was that Coi Leray invited Lola Brooke to share the stage during her set for the song “No Angels”.
Words by Shirley Reynozo // Photography by Down To Be Artsy
