

Everyone froze, from the duo to the sign interpreter, waiting for the beat drop to explode in one unified leap of youthful expression. The set closer, "Black Beetle," brought back memories from a not-so-distant past. After seeing how fans sang "Sunflower" word for word, Swae ordered his DJ to cut the beat so he could finish the song a cappella. Swae Lee, in his wetsuit, air-humped in every direction as he stood atop a speaker stage-left while Slim Jxmmi patrolled the right side to ensure the energy remained level. Security guards threw emergency water packets like grenades. The crowd mumbled through lyrics for a few seconds before reciting them perfectly, bumping into each other with endearing smiles as they celebrated their growth as "ShremLifers." The Sprite stage's closing act implanted chaotic energy. "I didn't know how much I loved them," a festival-goer clad in a white top and distressed denim shouted into my ear as Rae Sremmurd went through hit after hit, from "This Could Us" and "Come Get Her" to "Unforgettable" and "No Type." Indeed, it's an odd yet satisfying feeling when you realize you love something more than you thought you did.


Mosh pits materialized as the mumble rapper ran through fan favorites from Lil Boat, Lil Boat 3, and Nuthin’ 2 Prove, and, of course, led the crowd on a "wock" to "Poland." For his final act, the Atlanta rapper brought fans to a fever pitch with a surprise appearance by Kai Cenat, who performed "Bustdown Rollie Avalanche" and the Ski Mask cover "Take a Step Back." Valerie Magan Perhaps that's why no songs from that album appeared during his Friday performance - but the crowd didn't care. Since then, he's released a few other projects, including 2023's Let's Start Here, which jumps from psych-rock to soul but earned lackluster reviews. Joined onstage by a multitude of surprise guests, including a cameo by his little sister during "Strike Holster," Lil Yachty took over the Sprite stage Friday night, whipping the crowd into a frenzy with hits new and old, notably "Broccoli" and "One Night," the twosome that launched him to worldwide stardom back in 2016. "I look so good, he died," she shouted at the top of her lungs, and the crowd ate it up. "Die," off her last record, Softcore, was a crowd favorite. She understood that her set was an anomaly, and the New Jersey native made the wandering nature of Rolling Loud into a spectacle worth pausing for. "Black women started this rock shit, and we are here to take it back," she proclaimed. Her two feet tilted slightly toward each other yet firmly planted beneath, ready to explode, as she leaned back, mic in her hand. The band lowered its tone as she walked to the edge of the stage, peering into a stunned crowd witnessing a rap festival hosting a rock show. Valerie Maganįousheé's lengthy blond hair first felt omnipresent, seemingly drifting everywhere at once, then abruptly became still on her matching fur coat, wilted on her elbows. 2," "Bikini Bottom," and her new single, "Deli." The crowd couldn't get enough of her, and we can only hope that wasn't the end of Ice Spice at Rolling Loud. Her stage presence has dramatically transformed she bobbed to and fro as she rapped through one catchy tune after another, including "Munch (Feelin' U)," "Princess Diana," her verse from "Boy's a Liar Pt. Where the Ice Spice of three months ago would have sung mostly ad-libs over a studio track blaring in the background, the Ice Spice of today boldly rapped every word of her songs, captivating the crowd into singing along. The transition from TikTok to the big stage can be challenging, and while Ice Spice was previously known for her laid-back approach to performing, Friday's set proved that her confidence has grown exponentially - as has her breathwork. While a 20-minute slot seemed woefully inadequate for the level of fame Ice Spice has achieved this year, the Bronx-born breakout star of 2023 took the short set time in stride, delivering a strong, spirited sunset set on the goPuff stage.
