Rolling Loud Miami is finally here. Here’s who you don’t want to miss
Rolling Loud is finally here.
Can you believe it’s already been 10 years?
Time truly flies when you’re having fun. This year there are several artists that deserve your attention. Future’s got three new projects worth of songs to perform. Legendary R&B producer Darkchild’s new label signees Jon Keith, GAWVI and Alex Jean will present Rolling Loud’s first Christian hip-hop set. And Travis Scott is always good for a legendary show.
Still, for those who might not know the ins and outs of the lineup, a guide is always helpful. Before first, we always support the home team. Translation: definitely check out Rick Ross, JT, Denzel Curry and everybody else from The 305
Friday
▪ BossMan DLow (4:45 p.m. - Amazon Music stage)
Few people have had a bigger year than Port Salerno’s own BossMan DLow. That’s because he truly has, to quote his mixtape title, been “Mr. Beat the Road.” After he kicked the door down towards the end of 2023, the hits just kept coming in 2024: “Get in Wit Me,” “Mr. Pot Scraper,” “PJ,” “SportsCenter,” the list goes on and on.
Even better: his debut album “Dlow Curry” releases Friday.
▪ Isaiah Falls (3:30 p.m. - gopuff stage)
This one for all my Florida babies.
Normally, Rolling Loud is a hip-hop event. Over the years, however, they’ve expanded.
Isaiah Falls, whose hit song “Florida Baby” has racked up nearly 20 million streams on Spotify, is part of that expansion effort. An R&B singer with silky, smooth voice and a penchant for catchy hooks, Falls provides a softer side to Florida’s hip-hop-dominated music scene.
If you want to get a R&B fix before the turn up, Falls is definitely the guy for you.
▪ Flyana Boss (5:15 p.m. - Snipes Stage)
Do you remember the feMCee duo who went viral last year for a TikTok promoting their single “You Wish” that featured them running through the streets of Santa Monica, among many other places?
The video earned the pair cosigns from innovative artists in their own right including Missy Elliott and Janelle Monae.
Flyana Boss will be there and for anyone in search of a show that exhibits “an unapologetic sense of joy and sex positivity,” as Vogue Magazine recently described, then this is for you.
Honorable Mentions: Babyface Ray, Metro Boomin, Anycia, Young Nudy & Curren$y
Saturday
▪ Cash Cobain (4:50 p.m. - gopuff stage)
Cash Cobain has been everywhere over the past year and half: On Apple Music’s Up Next 2024 class. On billboards in Times Square. On songs with Charlie Wilson, Drake and J.Cole.
That’s because the Bronx, New York, native has pioneered his own sound entitled “sexy drill.”
For far too long, the majority of post-Blog Era hip-hop has been very violent. Cash Cobain wants to change that.
“Instead of [rapping] about killing each other, mine is about having a good time,” he told Mixmag in Nov.
▪ Sexyy Red (7:35 p.m. - Amazon Music stage)
Fun.
That’s what stands out about Sexyy Red.
Remove all the overtly sexual references as well as her flip-floppy political stances and all you have is a feMCee making music that’s just about having fun.
Any doubt about the quality of her music can be solved with a trip to Tootsies or Booby Trap.
▪ Veeze (3:45 p.m. - Amazon Music stage)
Do yourself a favor and listen to Veeze’s 2023 project “Ganger.”
You’ll understand why he’s a must-watch.
Thank me later.
Honorable Mentions: Luh Tyler, Byron Messia, Don Tolliver, YG Marley & 4batz
Sunday
▪ Shaboozey (5:05 p.m. - Amazon Music stage)
You’re probably thinking “Why is there a country artist at Rolling Loud?”
It’s a valid question considering “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” catapulted Shaboozey not just into the mainstream but to the top of the charts, where the track stood for 19 weeks.
Here’s the thing: Shaboozey’s artistry extends far past the realm of country. While country definitely provides the basis for most of his music, let’s not forget the very clear hip-hop influence. Case in point: “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” interpolates J-Kwon’s 2004 banger “Tipsy.”
Other songs across the DMV native’s discography – “Drink Don’t Need No Mix,” “Tall Boy” and “Sticks and Stones” – showcase more of that hip-hop/country blend that made him so famous.
▪ Karahboo (4:30 p.m. - Snipes stage)
Let’s just get this out the way: Karahboo was the most intriguing rapper in Concrete Boys.
Now that she has left the group, it will be intriguing to see how she handles a solo career. Karahboo certainly has the laidback flow and the style to turn heads. Sunday’s show will be a first step in showing she can stand on her own.
▪ BigXthaPlug (7:35 p.m. - gopuff stage)
This one is a personal favorite.
What makes BigXthaPlug so special is his love for R&B and soul music. So far, the Dallas native has sampled the likes of Carl Carlton, The Whispers and the Dazz Band. It also goes without saying that he raps with that popular Texas twang that makes the state one of hip-hop’s most underrated goldmines.
His 2024 offering “Take Kare,” which explores the rapper’s mindset amid his burgeoning fame, was of the year’s best hip-hop projects.
Honorable Mentions: Maxo Kream, Rich the Kid, Fridayy, Bryson Tiller & TiaCorine
This story was originally published December 12, 2024 at 4:17 PM.
