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2019

FESTIVAL
SPECIAL

Migos member Offset interrupts Cardi B’s set at Rolling Loud Los Angeles at Banc of California Stadium Dec. 15 in what appeared to be an unscripted attempt at getting her back. It’s
just the latest high-profile media moment to take place at the taste-making hip-hop event. Scott Dudelson / Getty Images

Cody Jinks to hip-hop hitmaker Post Malone strong lineup, with representatives from the With hip-hop being arguably the freshest,
getting their own self-branded festivals – Roll- upper echelon of the genre this year such as most popular genre at the moment – from a
ing Loud represents a whole subculture. This hotter-than-ever Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, Migos, Super Bowl halftime show stopper by Travis
means that, as the culture evolves, it can too. Cardi B, Lil Wayne, Juice WRLD and many Scott, standout Grammy moments by Kendrick
“We wanted to make sure it lives forever others as well as the up-and-comers deep on Lamar to Childish Gambino, Post Malone and
and this is how you do it,” Zingler says, men- the 100% hip-hop bill – many of whom will Cardi B topping major festival bills and head-
tioning the duo’s focus on media channels, likely go on to become stars. lining arena tours – there is still pressure to
gaming networks, Twitch, its own merchan- “This is probably our biggest, best lineup put out a lineup that satisfies both the casual
dise lines and various collabs with artists. yet and the most eclectic at the same time, and underground fans. Financial realities, too.
And who knows where hip-hop will be in a with a lot of different styles on there,” Cherif “I really do believe that we will always
few decades? says of the Miami bill, which takes place May book who you want to see and who’s hot, but
“I wonder if I would go to a Post Malone 10-12 at Hard Rock Stadium. "We’ve never everything needs to be at certain prices, and
show when I’m 65, is that going to be my had Kid Cudi before, that’s huge for us. And we want to make sure we can provide that
dad’s Bocelli?” the completely tatted Zingler then having Travis Scott right now, you got same experience for people at the right price,”
says, laughing. “My dad’s 75. He loves Bocelli, probably one of the top festival acts you could Zingler says. “Because, as the years go by,
loves Billy Joel and Elton John. Is that me? see. We’re super stoked on the lineup.” the talent grows. If you look back at some of
That’s what I’m most interested to see.” The undercard is deep as well, peppered our fliers from the past, some of the guys that
Rolling Loud is, however, still a very im- with solid draws such as Young Thug, Lil Baby, were billed really small are now headlining
pressive music festival on its own. Its flagship Playboi Carti, Beast Coast (Joey Bada$$ with Triple A’s and doing multi-nights, and you
three-day Miami event in sold upwards of Flatbush Zombies), Denzel Curry, Smokepurpp can’t have all of them on the same show.
40,000 tickets per day and its inaugural and many others. “I think for us, from the lineup perspective
one-day event in Australia – Jan. 27 with “A big part of our lineup is if you go five and future bookings, Rolling Loud is really
a bill including Future, Rae Sremmurd, YG lines deep, we have artists that are still mas- focused on the experiential and also about
and Tyga – sold out in hours. Rolling Loud sive, selling out 3,000-cap venues on each booking the next Travis Scott or Post Malone.
remains strong in the San Francisco Bay Area day,” Cherif said, adding that the event is sold We pride ourselves on platforming talent and
and Los Angeles, promises a New York stop out but, while working with the proper local showcasing up and coming talent that will be
later this year, and, once they can successful- authorities to release more tickets, he couldn’t the next big thing. I think we do a great job at
ly navigate all the red tape, will continue to publicly disclose how many tickets had been that, and that’s what separates us from a lot of
expand globally. Likewise, it very much has a sold so far. other festival properties.”

38 | APRIL 8, 2019