April means a few things you can count on: warmer weather, allergy season, and celebrities stumbling through the desert cosplaying as normal festivalgoers at Coachella. What was once a boho-chic fever dream for mid-aughts Tumblr users has morphed into equal parts influencer convention and high-budget livestream spectacle. According to a recent Variety poll, 66% of attendees said they were there “for the experience,” not the music—an honest, if bleak, confirmation of the vibes.
Still, for all its evolution, one thing hasn’t changed: Coachella is where artists come to make a statement. The genre-fluid lineup only included a handful of hip-hop acts, but their presence was impossible to ignore. Whether it was Yeat turning up from a giant bell like a rage-summoning monk or Travis Scott launching fans (and himself) into low orbit, the impact could be felt—even from the safety of a couch and a YouTube stream.
So we watched them all. Then we ranked them. Not just by songs played, but by the chaos they unleashed, the surprises they pulled off, and the raw energy they brought to a stage that’s seen it all. These are the best rap setlists from both weekends of Coachella—judged by impact, inventiveness, and whether or not they made us forget that 60% of the crowd paid for their GA wristbands in monthly installments.
10. GloRilla
Bursting onto the stage in a mask that looked like it was borrowed straight from The Purge, Memphis rapper GloRilla made it clear she’s been working on her performance chops. She delivered hit after hit, bringing out Sexyy Red for weekend two, and nailed choreography in sync with a crew of backup dancers.
She also gave fans a taste of what’s next, previewing a new track that samples none other than R&B singer Keyshia Cole’s anthem “Love.” Although she closed out the show with her Grammy-nominated hits “F.N.F. (Let’s Go)” and “Yeah Glo,” the entire performance matched the energy of her most popular turn-up anthems. Coachella may be a giant desert party, but GloRilla made it feel like a Memphis block takeover.
- “Tomorrow”
- “HOLLON”
- “Blessed”
- “LET HER COOK”
- “Wanna Be”
- “NEVER NEED”
- “BOP”
- “PROCEDURE”
- “Bad Bih 4 Ya”
- New song sampling Keyshia Cole’s “Love”
- “I LUV HER”
- “ILBB2”
- “All Dere”
- “Lick or Sum”
- “Sticky”
- “Broke N**** Pledge”
- “HOW I LOOK”
- “TGIF”
- “F.N.F (Let’s Go)”
- “WHATCHU KNOW ABOUT ME” (with Sexyy Red)
- “Yeah Glo!”
9. BigXThaPlug
BigXThaPlug pulled up to Coachella and reminded everyone why he calls himself “the biggest,” kicking off his set with heaters like “Back on My BS,” he had the crowd stomping like they were Texas natives in cowboy boots. He also performed “All The Way,” his new track with country star Bailey Zimmerman, finally stepping into the “country bag” he’s been teasing for a minute.
Never one to gatekeep the spotlight, BigX brought out some of the rappers signed to his label, 600 Entertainment, Ro$ama, and Yung Hood. Tracks like “Meet the Sixers” and “Who Run It” turned the stage into a Texas cypher. It felt less like a performance and more like a family cookout where everybody just so happens to be really, really good at rapping. With his signature mix of old-school-flip beats and modern grit, BigX brought the energy of the south to the desert.
- “Change Me”
- “Mr.Trouble”
- “Back On My BS”
- “Law & Order”
- “Big Stepper”
- “All The Way”
- “24 Hours” (with MurdaGang PB)
- “Havin Freestyle” (with Yung Hood)
- “Who Run It” (with Ro$ama)
- “Meet The 6ixers” (with Yung Hood and Ro$ama)
- “Leave Me Alone”
- “2AM”
- “Whip It”
- “Texas”
- “Levels”
- “Mmhmm”
- “The Largest”
8. Missy Elliot
When it comes to visuals, vibe, and delivering rhymes with cosmic precision, Missy Elliott is in a league of her own. Nearly a year after wrapping her Out of This World Tour with Busta Rhymes and Ciara, the four-time Grammy winner crash-landed at Coachella with one of her most mesmerizing performances
Missy didn’t need surprise guests. She was the surprise. She transformed into a giant cyborg on stage to start the show. No warning, no explanation — just pure Optimus Prime energy.
The setlist read like a greatest hits album: “Lose Control,” “Work It,” “Get Ur Freak On” (which had a sample of Ice Spice’s “Bikini Bottom” mixed in) — all delivered with maximum stamina and zero sweat. In between, Missy dropped mash-ups that flexed her elite curation. There was a remix of Kendrick and Baby Keem’s “Family Ties” combined with Justin Timberlake’s “Like I Love You.” That shouldn’t work—and yet it slapped.
Supported by cinematic-level effects and an army of dancers, Missy proved why she’s widely regarded as pioneer, regardless of gender. One small step for Coachella, one giant stomp from Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott.
Setlist:
- “The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly)”
- “One Minute Man”
- “Hot Boyz”
- “Get Ur Freak On”
- “Ching-A-Ling”
- “WTF (Where They From)”
- “Work It”
- “Pass That Dutch”
- “Is That Your Chick?”
- “Where My Girls At”
- “1,2 Step”
- “Lose Control”
Find Missy Elliot’s full setlist here
7. Ty Dolla $ign
The singer/rapper/producer/bass-slinging vibe machine told TMZ he had something major planned — and he meant it. His Coachella set was a statement, turning the stage into a jail cell, Ty rocked a prison jumpsuit to shine a spotlight on his brother Big T.C. (who’s currently serving a life sentence for a murder he says he didn’t commit). Heavy? Absolutely. However, Ty turned pain into power.
He performed tracks off VULTURES, including “BURN” and “BACK TO ME,” even though things seem shaky with the album’s co-creator, Ye. That didn’t stop the vibes, though. Ty brought out a solid guest list including: YG, Roddy Ricch, Wiz Khalifa, and Leon Thomas, who’s signed to Ty’s EZMNY Records. With visuals that hit hard, vocals that hit harder, Ty honored his family and West Coast roots.
- “FUK SUMN”
- “BACK TO ME”
- “BURN”
- “Paranoid”
- “DO IT” (with YG)
- “Toot It and Boot It” (with YG)
- “Chosen” (with Blxst and Tyga)
- “I’m So Rich” (with Tyga)
- “Hit Different”
- “Miracle/ Wherever” (with D-Loc)
- “Bacc Seat” (with Roddy Ricch)
- “MUTT” (with Leon Thomas and Ty on bass)
- “Something New” (with Wiz Khalifa)
- “Or Nah” (with Wiz Khalifa)
- “CARNIVAL”
6. Mustard
Mustard kept his foot on the pedal of his Drake trolling antics, playing “Crew Love” and cutting it off before the Canadian rapper hit a note as the transition into “Like That.” For his crew, he brought out a handful of special guests he’s made music with over the years including Big Sean, 2 Chainz, Tyga, and Ella Mai.
He ran through his deep bag of hits like “Show Me,” “Pure Water,” and a few other tracks that soundtracked every pool party from 2014 to now. Producer sets can be lack luster without performing artists but “Boo’d Up” ft. Ella Mai and “I Don’t Fuck With You” ft. Big Sean did not disappoint live and served as a reminder that Mustard’s catalog has been stacked long before “Not Like Us.”
Currently touring with Kendrick and SZA in stadiums across North America, this Coachella moment felt like a warm-up for what’s shaping up to be a wild 2025 for Mustard.
- “Rack City” (with Tyga)
- “I’m Different” (with 2 Chainz)
- “Show Me”
- “Paranoid” (with Ty Dolla $ign)
- “Don’t Tell ‘Em”
- “Be Faithful”
- “Get Low”
- “Blow the Whistle”
- “Parking Lot”
- “Pure Water”
- “BPT” (with YG)
- “Who Do You Love?” (with YG)
- “You Broke” (with YG)
- “BIG BANK” (with YG)
- “I Don’t Fuck With You” (with Big Sean)
- “The Box” (with Roddy Ricch)
- “Ballin’” (with Roddy Ricch)
- “Needed Me”
- “Boo’d Up” (with Ella Mai)
- “Trip” (with Ella Mai)
- “EARFQUAKE”
- “Perfect Ten” (dedicated to Nipsey Hussle)
- “Crew Love”
- “Like That”
- “hey now”
- “tv off”
- “Not Like Us”
5. Megan Thee Stallion
Real hot girl s*** was in full effect, and it became #MEGCHELLA the second Megan Thee Stallion stepped on stage. She included songs from her latest project, MEGAN: ACT II, like “Where Them Girls At” and the heavy-hitting “TYG,” which featured a surprise screamo twist courtesy of Courtney LaPlante from SpiritBox. Yes, Megan said, “Let’s rage and shake it.”
Then came the guest list. Queen Latifah emerged from the fog to remix “Plan B” and bless us with the classic “U.N.I.T.Y.”. Victoria Monét joined the party with “Spin” and “On My Momma.” Then Ciara — whose knees must be made of NASA-grade alloy — gave a legendary “Goodies” performance, flawlessly synced with Megan’s track “Roc Steady,” which samples the early 2000s classic.
There were outfit changes. There were bars. There was smoke—literally and figuratively, she played her Nicki Minaj diss song “HISS.” The crowd’s reaction? Couldn’t get any louder.
- “Ungrateful” / “Thot Shit”
- “Wanna Be”
- “Freak Nasty” / “Girls in the Hood” / “Where Them Girls At” / “Savage”
- “TYG” (with Spiritbox)
- “Realer”
- “He Think I Love Him”
- “B.A.S.”
- “Plan B” (with Queen Latifah)
- “U.N.I.T.Y.” (with Queen Latifah)
- “BOA”
- “Captain Hook”
- “Bigger In Texas”
- “Cognac Queen”
- “Spin” (with Victoria Monét)
- “On My Mama” (with Victoria Monét)
- “Simon Says” / “Body” / “Roc Steady” / “Goodies” (with Ciara)
- “Big Ole Freak”
- “Mamushi”
4. Shoreline Mafia
For their first official performance in over five years, L.A.’s very own Shoreline Mafia pulled up like they never left—and fans ran to the barricades to support. The long-awaited reunion felt more like a family function than a festival set, kicking off the show with the appropriately titled “Back In Bidness.” They brought the nostalgia with classic hits like “Nun Major” and “Musty.” The energy? West Coast as hell. The vibe? Chaotic in the best way.
03 Greedo hit the stage to perform “Trap House,” and rising star 310babii came through with “Soak City,” making it clear that Shoreline Mafia didn’t miss a beat while they were gone.
Even Peso Pluma was spotted in the crowd, clearly there for the culture. The vibes were immaculate, highlighting the gap they left in LA rap, and their performance gave us all the more reason to celebrate their return.
- “Back In Bidness”
- “Work”
- “Back 2 Back”
- “Shoreline Twins”
- “Musty”
- “F*** It Up” (with Mike Sherm)
- “Asshole” (with Mike Sherm)
- “Boot It Up”
- “Bottle Service”
- “Gangstas & Sippas”
- “Trap House” (with 03 Greedo)
- “Hoe S***”
- “GEEKALEEK”
- “Perc Popper”
- “Pressure”
- “Soak City” (with 310babii)
- “Nun Major”
- “Whuss the Deal”
- “HEAT STICK”
- “Bands”
3. T-Pain
It took T-Pain 20 years to get on the Coachella stage — and after what he did with that set, the only real question is: Why did it take so long?
Midway through his performance, the Auto-Tune pioneer got real with the crowd, saying he was just happy he never gave up. By the time he finished twirling, two-stepping, belting out Journey, and absolutely bodying his classics like “I’m In Luv (Wit A Stripper)”, it was clear: this wasn’t just a set. It was a victory lap in a top hat.
What really stood out though was how he remixed his music to meet the moment. One standout mash-up had “Kiss Kiss” (his collab with Chris Brown) suddenly morphing into a remix of Travis Scott and Playboi Carti’s chaotic banger “FE!N”— a transition so smooth it probably made DJ Khaled shed a single tear somewhere.
We should’ve been giving T-Pain his flowers a long time ago. He’s a foundational figure in modern hip-hop and R&B, and this Coachella set felt like both a celebration and a giant “told you so.” Let it be known: the King of Auto-Tune never fell off—he just took the scenic route to the main stage. Worth the wait.
- “Up Down (Do This All Day)”
- “Cyclone”
- “2 Step”
- “P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)”
- “Good Life”
- “Got Money”
- “Booty Wurk (One Cheek at a Time)”
- “I’m Sprung”
- “Can’t Believe It”
- “Blame It”
- “Shawty”
- “Bartender”
- “I’m N Luv (Wit a Stripper)”
- “FE!N” / “Kiss Kiss”
- “Don’t Stop Believin’”
- “Tennessee Whiskey”
- “Shots”
- “Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)”
- “Low”
- “Snap Ya Fingaz”
- “Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin’)”
- “I’m So Hood”
- “All I Do Is Win”
2. Yeat
Yeat started his performance on a giant bell, so it was bound to be an entertaining show. Naturally kicking things off with his highly-anticipated track, “The Bell.” From there, he kept the energy at full send, running through anthems like “If We Being Rëal” while fans (including one very enthusiastic Justin Bieber) screamed every word like their lives depended on it.
Yeat didn’t stop at his own catalog — he surprised everyone with a cover of Drake’s “Feel No Ways,” flipping the 2016 sad-boy classic into a vibey, Auto-Tuned moment that somehow still felt right at home between rage beats and vocal distortion. Bonus points: it showed off some unexpected vocal chops.
Oh, and that giant bell? It wasn’t just for show. To celebrate the performance, Alex Moss gifted Yeat a $300K bell-shaped chain—because nothing says “I made it” like luxury jewelry shaped as a stage prop (hopefully he got it back).
1. Travis Scott
Travis Scott said he was bringing us into his “late-night show” at Coachella—and as it turns out, he meant that literally, visually, and existentially. It was a full-blown, flame-throwing, gravity-defying fever dream in surround sound.
Yes, there were lasers. Yes, there was pyro — but Scott cranked it all the way up with a surprise appearance by brass members of Jackson State’s Sonic Boom and Florida A&M’s Marching 100 (once again showing love to HBCUs), who helped him turn “4×4” into a marching band trap symphony. Suddenly, Coachella felt like the world’s wildest halftime show.
Then there was the floating. Literal floating. During “STARGAZING,” people were levitating mid-air. Not to be outdone, Travis strapped on some safety gear and scaled the stage’s wall himself during “Skyfall,” because why wouldn’t you risk your life for the vibe?
He also delivered on the teasers he’s been flooding socials with, performing two unreleased tracks tentatively titled “She Goin Dumb” and “On Jacques.” After both weekends, Travis set the bar somewhere near Mars.
