7.3.2023

Rolling Loud Rotterdam 2023: Weekend Recap

Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott, Lil Uzi Vert, Central Cee, Latto, Metro Boomin, GloRilla, Rema, and more global stars pulled up to The Netherlands for a Dutch edition of the world’s largest hip-hop festival

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Gus van der Aa)

THE RECAP:

Rolling Loud has been living up to it’s label of the world’s largest hip-hop festival lately, taking their operation worldwide and putting rap music on a global stage. This past Friday and Saturday, stars from around the globe joined forces to put on an incredible show for the very first Rolling Loud Rotterdam, which shut down Rotterdam Ahoy in the heart of one of the Netherlands largest cities.

Friday got off to a big start with West Coast wordsmith Kendrick Lamar serenading the crowd with tracks off 2022’s critically acclaimed Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. West London was also in the building in the name of Central Cee, who played buzzing bangers like the recently released “Sprinter” ft. Dave and 2022’s viral hit “Doja.” Other highlights from day one included standout sets from rising Nigerian star Rema, ATL super-producer Metro Boomin, and Dreamville lyricist JID. Leading ladies put on like “Put it On Da Floor” songstress Latto, recently named XXL Freshman TiaCorine, and Nigerian singer Ayra Starr. It wouldn’t have been right to come to Rotterdam without artists like SBF, S10, JIR11, and many other Dutch artists touching the stage to show love to their local fans, as well.

Saturday saw things heat up, as La Flame himself, Travis Scott took to the main stage to perform vintage hits from deep bag as fans patiently await the release of his highly anticipated album UTOPIA. One fan was even lucky enough to be gifted Travis’ new Cactus Jack x Air Jordan 1s after he rapped an unreleased UTOPIA track, “LOST FOREVER,” word for word. There was one sought after album that did get some play however, as Philly phenom Lil Uzi Vert stunned the crowd with songs from his newly released Pink Tape. Day two also saw incredible performances from South Florida sensation Denzel Curry, Rolling Loud veteran Ski Mask the Slump God, and Memphis spitter GloRilla. The European stars came out in full force, with artists like Swedish internet enigma Yung Lean, British hip-hop collective D-Block Europe, and Dutch acts like Lijpe, Kevin & Friends, and AFB Family repping for their respective countries.

The first of three European editions of Rolling Loud, Rotterdam began the festival’s Euro trip in exciting fashion. Stay tuned for much more from Rolling Loud, including festivals in Germany and Portugal next week, before the big one, the eighth annual Rolling Loud Miami, returns July 21st-23rd.

Check below for photos of some of the most memorable moments from the festival, view a full complement of photos at the Drive folder below, and be sure to follow Rolling Loud Rotterdam on Instagram for even more highlights.

View photos of Rolling Loud Rotterdam 2023 (please credit all photos to Rolling Loud / Photographer): https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1G_8KaVIn-WCHGw7SP-I0WOOb1LUGcNj_?usp=drive_link

View full performance clips at https://www.youtube.com/c/rollingloud

Buy Rolling Loud merch: shoprollingloud.com

For all other inquiries, please contact Michelle, Kerry, or Kevin

FRIDAY, JUNE 30TH

KENDRICK LAMAR:

Kung-Fu Kenny shuts down day one in emphatic fashion
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

CENTRAL CEE;

The Shepherd’s Bush driller kept it cool on Friday
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Gus van der Aa)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

LATTO:

Latto was “acting brand new” Friday night
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @willemvsbreugel)

METRO BOOMIN:

ATL super-producer broke out hit after hit from his deep bag of tracks
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @willemvsbreugel)

SFB:

Strictly Family Business repped their home nation of the Netherlands in impressive fashion
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Lotte Schrander)

JID:

 

One of ATL’s most prolific rising lyricists puts one up in front of a packed crowd
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Lotte Schrander)

KEN CARSON:

The Playboi Carti-signed rockstar had the crowd jumping inside the Havana Club
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

S10:

The Dutch singer brought some alternative pop vibes with her moody setlist
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Bart Greers)

TIACORINE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @willemvsbreugel)

AYRA STARR:

The rising Nigerian singer proved why she’s one to keep an eye on
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Julia Huikeshoven)

SATURDAY, JULY 5TH

TRAVIS SCOTT:

La Flame treated fans to a set pumped full of his unique brand of trap music
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

LIL UZI VERT:

Vert came to rock, playing songs from his new album Pink Tape for the first time at Rolling Loud
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Guus van der Aa)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Erik Luyten)

DENZEL CURRY:

The South Florida phenom had the crowd bumping with his high-octane raps
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Erik Luyten)

SKI MASK THE SLUMP GOD:

The RL veteran proved why he’s a fan favorite Saturday night
(Credit: Rolling Loud / @willemvsbreugel)

YUNG LEAN:

The Swedish internet sensation wooed the crowd with his moody bars
(Credit: Rolling Loud / Julia Huikeshoven)

LIJPE:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Lotte Schrander)

BKTHERULA:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / @willemvsbreugel)

SCENES FROM THE FESTIVAL:

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Lotte Schrander)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Erik Luyten)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Lotte Schrander)

(Credit: Rolling Loud / Bart Greers)

Critical Praise:

“Rolling Loud has become the biggest hip-hop festival in the country” – Variety

“From niche hip-hop festival to must-play event for some of the biggest stars in music.” – Pollstar

“Until Elon Musk involuntarily envelops society into a physical cloud universe, Rolling Loud will be the closest experience to actually living inside your streaming app.” – Complex

“Rolling Loud’s annual New York edition is always something special, but this year’s Halloween-weekend extravaganza (not to mention the first post-pandemic) brought seriously spectacular energy to Queens’ Citi Field.” – Highsnobiety

“Rolling Loud is a lifestyle brand. They are more than just the shows. They have built a community with their consumers and are building new channels to maintain continuity” – Forbes

“In four and a half years — beginning small in Miami, and now promoting Coachella-sized events around the country — Rolling Loud has established itself as a playground for the young…This time last year, many of the rappers now drawing crowds of several thousand were barely known.” – The New York Times

The Background:

About Rolling Loud

Founded by 6-time Billboard Hip-Hop Power Players Matt Zingler & Tariq Cherif as a one-day Miami show, Rolling Loud has grown into a global phenomenon, hosting festivals on both US coasts and in multiple international locations. Rolling Loud is the premier festival brand in hip-hop, known for its expert curation of wide-ranging lineups that reflect the state of the genre.

2022 was Rolling Loud’s biggest year yet. The festival returned to their home base of Miami for their largest event to date, headlined by Kid Cudi, Kendrick Lamar, and Future, and the inaugural Rolling Loud Portugal, which brought an international array of all-stars to the beaches of Portimåo, Portugal. The festival’s busy 2022 continued with the first ever Rolling Loud Toronto, headlined by Future, WizKid, and Dave, and the third annual Rolling Loud New York, headlined by Nicki Minaj, A$AP Rocky & Future.

In 2023, Rolling Loud expands its empire even further, returning to Los Angeles for Rolling Loud California, debuting Rolling Loud Thailand, its first-ever Asian festival, and staging three European shows including Rolling Loud Portugal, and the inaugural editions of Rolling Loud Rotterdam (NL) and Rolling Loud Germany.

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