Rolling Loud Festival Is a Hip-Hop Fan’s Version of Disney World

The 2017 Rolling Loud Festival is one of the best events a hip-hop fan can experience this year. There’s nothing like it. For over 10 hours daily, for a total of three days, you can see your favorite rappers perform their biggest songs in Miami. The only frustrating part about the festival is trying to choose how much time you're allotting to each rapper you want to see because there are so many good acts.

Rolling Loud Festival is a hip-hop fan’s Disney World, a dream-like circus where you can lose your mind to Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE.,” watch Lil Uzi Vert do a Swanton Bomb to “XO Tour Lif3” and rage to Travis Scott’s “Goosebumps.”

Multi-day hip-hop festivals are all but dead. Now, most rappers perform for established music festivals where different genres of music are featured. While there’s nothing wrong with that, the fact that hip-hop—a genre of music that currently has the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100 right now thanks to DJ Khaled—doesn’t have a more dedicated hip-hop-only festival is somewhat weird. Paid Dues and Rock The Bells haven’t been active in years. That's why Rolling Loud fills that void perfectly.

This year’s lineup was insane. It was the perfect mixed between older, more establish artists and the new upcoming stars of today. Day one featured A$AP Rocky, Lil Wayne, Lil Yachty, Curren$y, Flatbush Zombies, The Underachievers and Mac Miller, among others. Day two had Kendrick Lamar, Young Thug, Action Bronson, Joey Bada$$, Wifisfuneral, Ski Mask The Slump God, Denzel Curry, Run The Jewels, XXXTentacion and more. Day three capped off the festival with big names like Gucci Mane, YG, Future, Lil Uzi Vert, 21 Savage, Migos, Smokepurpp and Lil Pump.

When it came to each set, there were plenty of big moments to witness. Lil Wayne had one of the best sets of the weekend, proving that with all his hits and stage presence, he’s one of the best rappers of all-time. The South Florida youngsters—XXX, Smokepurpp, Lil Pump, Ski Mask, Denzel, Wifi—put on for the Sunshine State with insane stage performances.

At one point of the night on Day three, fans had to use their time wisely because Migos, Post Malone, Gucci Mane, Lil Uzi, Future and Travis Scott’s set times were pretty close together. Backstage, plenty of artists were interacting with each other and having a good time. There weren’t any fights but at one point a fan tried to rush Lil Wayne onstage and there was some commotion when Migos changed stages and fans became frantic.

Kendrick Lamar and Young Thug performed hour-long sets with plenty of pyrotechnics involved. A$AP Rocky showcased why he's one of the best dancers in hip-hop during Playboi Carti's set while the show put on by Joey Bada$$, along with Powers Pleasant and Statik Selektah, received one of the biggest crowds of the weekend.

By Sunday's end, any rap fan at the Rolling Loud Festival is pretty much physically drained but spiritually full. While you drag your body home you can’t help but smile at the fact that you spent three full days watching the best of the best, old and new, in perfect weather and without any major incidents.

See Photos From 2017 Rolling Loud Festival