Rolling Loud has been the stage for some of hip-hop’s wildest and most unforgettable performances. It’s where legends are made—and where fans witness history in the making, experiencing moments they’ll talk about for years to come.
What started in 2015 as a single-day event in Miami has since evolved into the world’s biggest hip-hop festival. This year’s Rolling Loud California follows a massive milestone for the festival. It’ll be the ninth West Coast edition, following Miami’s 10th anniversary in December.
Scheduled for March 15 and 16, Rolling Loud California has a headlining lineup that’s sure to impress. A$AP Rocky will return to the stage, marking his first performance since his “not guilty” verdict, and the anticipation for his album, DON’T BE DUMB, is at an all-time high. Playboi Carti is bound to have another wild performance, having just declared, “my album done,” and his set could be the inaugural performance of I AM MUSIC.
Every year brings something new, and the unexpected moments—surprise guests, impromptu collaborations, and viral chaos—truly define the experience. Don’t miss your chance to experience this at Rolling Loud California, with tickets available starting at $119 (find them here).
From Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti reuniting on stage to perform “Shoota” to Young Dolph gifting fans $20K onstage, we looked back at the festival’s best moments of all time and ranked them in anticipation of what surprises next weekend has in store.
#8 Travis Scott Brings Out Owen Wilson at Rolling Loud Miami 2024
Travis Scott kicked off his headlining set last year with an unforgettable entrance, arriving by helicopter and making a dramatic landing via a SWAT tank. But the show quickly soared to new heights when none other than Owen Wilson stepped onstage, declaring he was “feenin’ for more.”
The Hollywood star surprised the crowd by joining Scott for a performance of his hit “FE!N”—a track that had the crowd moshing out, as it was performed over five times. This unforgettable moment will be immortalized in the upcoming Rolling Loud movie. Beyond Wilson’s unexpected cameo, Scott kept the energy at a fever pitch, with a wild stage setup—because, honestly, you can never have too many lasers—while orchestrating one mosh pit after another, solidifying his place as a rap heavyweight.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#7 A$AP Rocky Headlines First Ever Rolling Loud New York 2019
Headlining Rolling Loud’s first-ever New York festival was more than just a milestone for A$AP Rocky—it was a full-circle homecoming. Fresh off his highly publicized legal battle in Sweden, the Harlem native returned to his city with a triumphant energy, making sure the moment was unforgettable. Rocky ran through fan-favorite tracks like “Peso” and
“LSD” and sent the crowd into a frenzy, but he didn’t stop there.
He brought out A$AP Ferg for a high-energy reunion and gave the festival an extra dose of NYC greatness by bringing out 50 Cent, solidifying the night as one for the books. Rocky’s set wasn’t just a performance—it was a celebration of resilience, legacy, and New York’s place in hip-hop history, making it worthy of the #7 spot on our list.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#6 Playboi Carti Previews ‘I AM MUSIC’ at Rolling Loud Miami 2024
After hyping up his Rolling Loud Miami set last year by saying he would preview I AM MUSIC, Carti set the bar high. Closing out the festival on Sunday, the day was filled with Opium artists from Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely to Homixide Gang, but as the label’s founder, he had to show out. With tons of pyro and shredding guitars, he treated the crowd to a first listen of five new tracks, including his collaboration with The Weeknd, “Lose You.” Plus, he made sure to get into his vampire bag, hanging upside down during his set to the crowd’s wild delight. It was an unforgettable performance, taking the #6 spot on our list.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#5 Young Dolph Surprises Fans Who Were Fired for Playing His Music at Rolling Loud Miami 2018
Back in 2018, two Young Dolph fans were asked to resign from their barista jobs at Duke University’s Joe Van Gogh (a local coffeehouse chain) for blasting “Get Paid” by the rapper for everyone in the shop to hear. But Young Dolph has always been a real one. He flew the two workers out to Rolling Loud Miami that year, brought them onstage, and handed them $20,000 each until they could find new jobs.
Of course, he had to play “Get Paid” next so the two could celebrate the major bag they secured, thanks to Dolph. The rapper was an underdog for the festival, creating a viral moment that not only showed how much his music meant to fans but how much his fanbase meant to him. RIP to a true GOAT.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#4 First Time Future and Metro Boomin Play “Like That” at Rolling Loud Cali 2024
The duo first teased the track that would change the rap game at Rolling Loud California 2024. After Travis Scott literally begged Metro Boomin to play it following their performance of “Type Shit,” saying “Please bruh,” the producer finally caved and let it drop. As soon as the screwface-inducing beat hit, Scott’s reaction was priceless —he was like a kid who just scored a McDonald’s Happy Meal, running and screaming back onto the stage in pure excitement.
Future nailed the first verse of “Like That,” and although no one knew that the song would have Kendrick Lamar’s lethal feature, the preview was enough to make fans feverish for the full album. Future and Metro’s set that year was legendary, marking the first performance of multiple hits from We Don’t Trust You, and was unofficially the most memorable part of their album rollout. It snags the #4 spot on our list of standout Rolling Loud moments.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#3 Lil Uzi Vert’s Insane Stage Dive at Rolling Loud Miami 2017
Lil Uzi Vert’s rockstar status is thanks to moments like this. At Rolling Loud Miami in 2017, he risked it all and climbed a two-story scaffolding—approximately 20-feet high—and leaped into the crowd, creating an iconic moment in the festival’s history. Videos of his dive, while “Money Longer” blasted in the background, quickly went viral and bolstered his reputation for eccentric and energetic stage presence.
It was one of the most-watched moments from that year’s festival, so much so that Uzi tried to recreate it the next year at Rolling Loud Miami. However, the original will always be best, which is why it takes the #3 spot on our list.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#2 Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti Reunite for “Shoota” at Rolling Loud New York 2021
After years of on-and-off tension—subliminal disses, canceled tours, and even rumors of a physical fight—Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti finally put the speculation to rest in front of a rain-soaked but electric crowd. Carti popped out during Uzi’s set to perform their track “Shoota” from Carti’s Die Lit album, and the crowd lost it.
The two embraced on stage, Carti let out a triumphant scream, and just like that, their so-called feud dissolved into one of the festival’s most unforgettable moments. Seeing two of hip-hop’s most influential rockstars come together again was a reminder that some bonds are bigger than the drama—making this moment worthy of the #2 spot on our list.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
#1 XXXTentacion’s Last Performance With Ski Mask at Rolling Loud Miami 2018
Rest in peace, XXXTentacion. Before the world lost the artist on June 18, 2028, XXXTentacion delivered his last performance ever alongside Ski Mask the Slump God at Rolling Loud Miami on May 13, 2018. As they performed their hit song, “TAKE A STEP BACK,” the audience erupted with energy, singing the lyrics, proving just how deeply the artists had captured the crowd and kept them in the palm of their hands. The performance is one that can never be forgotten or recreated, which is why it’s at the top of our list.
Experience moments like this and more at Rolling Loud California—tickets available here.
