J. Cole brought an emotional close to the final Dreamville Festival under its original name with a surprise no one saw coming.
On Sunday night, April 6, in Raleigh, North Carolina, the rapper welcomed neo-soul icon Erykah Badu to the stage for a poignant live rendition of “Too Deep for the Intro.” The track, a fan favorite from Cole’s Friday Night Lights mixtape, samples Badu’s “Didn’t Cha Know,” a standout from her 2000 album Mama’s Gun. Their duet took place on a stage modeled after J. Cole’s old Queens apartment, affectionately dubbed “Mohammad’s Crib.”
The set design, rich in personal history, underscored the intimate spirit of the performance and served as a fitting farewell to a festival that has grown into a cultural touchstone.
Tens of thousands attended the fifth installment of Dreamville Festival, Held April 5–6 at Dorothea Dix Park. It marked the end of an era—but not the end of the event itself. This year’s lineup blended hip-hop, R&B, and soul, reflecting Dreamville’s eclectic ethos.
Saturday’s headliners included Lil Wayne, 21 Savage, and Keyshia Cole, who celebrated the 20th anniversary of her debut album The Way It Is. Lil Wayne reunited with the Hot Boys and Big Tymers, delivering a nostalgic set rarely seen since the early 2000s. The weekend also featured performances from Tems, GloRilla, Ari Lennox, J.I.D., EarthGang, Coco Jones, Wale, and BigXthaPlug.
Though the Dreamville name will be retired, the festival itself will return in 2026 with a new identity. J. Cole addressed the rebrand during his closing set. “We said this is the last Dreamville Festival,” he told the crowd. “I’m just keeping it one hundred with y’all; that s### be a lot.” He then reassured fans: “This festival will exist.”
The city of Raleigh recently signed a multi-year agreement to continue hosting the event at Dorothea Dix Park for at least four more years. Organizers, including Cole’s longtime manager Ibrahim “Ib” Hamad, emphasized that the mission remains the same. The festival will stay rooted in hip-hop culture, focused on community, and driven by the spirit of connection that defined Dreamville from the start.
Cole will continue shaping the event behind the scenes. Whether or not he headlines again, the legacy he helped build will endure.
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