The time has finally come – after an unfortunate postponement due to Hurricane Florence, Dreamville 2019 is less than a week away. J. Cole’s Dreamville Fest will take place right here in Raleigh on Saturday, April 6th at Doretha Dix Park. The WKNC staff and I are very excited for the jam-packed day of music and here is why
1. First and foremost, I’m looking forward to potentially getting the chance to hear the music Dreamville has been working on for their new collaborative LP, Revenge of the Dreamers III. Sources indicate that some of the innovative producers in hip-hop, such as Mike WiLL Made-It, Kenny Beats, !lmind, and ChaseTheMoney were invited to the album’s recording sessions. In addition to Dreamville emcees (J. Cole, EarthGang, JID, Bas, Cozz, etc.), some of my favorite artists like Ski Mask The Slump God, Raleigh-based Mez, Smino, Saba were rumored to have attended the recording sessions as well. Some have been previewing some of these tracks during their live shows, and I have loved what I’ve heard so far. Considering many of the artists involved in the recording process will all be in the same place on Saturday, it’s safe to say those attending Dreamville Fest will get a chance to hear some of these new songs.
2. Second, It’ll be interesting to see Dorthea Dix Park be put to good use and transform into lively festival grounds. Raleigh has put forth a master plan to expand and transform Dix park, and Dreamville Fest is the first major event to be held on the land. I’m hoping the the festival can be used as an example of using the park in creative and interesting ways.
3. Next, If you know anything about WKNC you know we love us some North Carolina music. We cannot wait to see the talented Raleigh artists billed on the lineup play for large crowds in a local space. NC artists featured on the Dreamville Fest Lineup include: J. Cole, Rapsody, King Mez, and Loot. It’ll be cool to witness Raleigh hip-hop fans show these talented artists love for keeping the NC music scene alive and well.
4. Last and most obviously, we are excited for Dreamville Festival because the line-up is stacked with great artists. Whether it’s 21 Savage’s I Am > I Was, JID’s DiCaprio 2, J. Cole’s KOD, or Saba’s Care For Me, most of the lineup contributed to some of the strongest hip-hop releases in 2018. JID, EarthGang, J. Cole, and Saba have all proved themselves to be incredible performers when I’ve seen their shows in the past, and I believe the rest of the lineup will do the same this weekend.
Looking to explore some of the artists on the lineup? Check out our Spotify Playlist: WKNC’s Guide to Dreamville 2019
Jack Greene, Program Director at WKNC 88.1