With the Rolling Loud 2022 festival season officially coming to an end, New York closed out the year with memes, heavy traffic, rainy weather, and surprise performances. The world’s largest hip-hop festival made its way to the place where rap all started, The Big Apple, a.k.a. New York City.
From technical difficulties (A$AP Rocky’s performance was cut short) to dehydration scares (Dee Watkins passed out halfway through his set) and everything in between, the third installment of the famed concert series came with just the right amount of adversity – but the show must go on. And it did. In fact, Dee used that moment as a content piece for his latest music video, and Rocky went viral for his mosh pit struggles despite being ridiculed by the internet and his longtime friend Tyler, the Creator.
Aside from the aforementioned hiccups, Rolling Loud New York delivered performances from buzzing newcomers like GloRilla, Hoosh, Lola Brooke, Armani White, and Eem Triplin, familiar faces like Pusha T, Curren$y, Chief Keef, and Robb Bank$, as well as New York legends like Fat Joe, Remy Ma, and the queen of Queens – Nicki Minaj, whose mere presence compelled the Barbz to recite song lyrics word-for-word after an hour-long wait in 50 degree weather.
However, the frigid gusts of wind was no match for Nicki’s fiery star power as she graced the Fashion Nova-sponsored stage with flowing black hair and real bad bitch energy. During her set, Nicki delivered an all-star lineup of guest appearances from Fivio Foreign, Bia, Lil Uzi Vert, and G Herbo (who completely missed his performance Friday night) like she was summoning The Avengers.
Throughout the weekend, many of the opening acts hyped up crowds as concertgoers braved cold weather and overpriced food. However, the highlight of Rolling Loud New York would have to be when Playboi Carti surprised fans by bringing out Ye to perform their Donda collaboration, “Off The Grid.”
Ye’s surprise appearance arrives two months after he supported Lil Durk at Rolling Loud Miami, where the duo performed “Hot Shit” and part of “Father Stretch My Hands Pt.1.” Although there’s no confirmation on how long Ye’s unofficial Rolling Loud Residency will last, it’s exciting to know that anything is bound to happen at the night show. Well, unless it starts to rain like it did minutes into Future’s headlining set Sunday night, then the only that’s guaranteed is a free-for-all scramble towards the nearest emergency exit.
Rolling Loud New York was the perfect bookend to an incredible festival season. As the brand continues to dominate the market, there’s no telling what’s in store for 2023 when the world’s largest hip-hop festival returns to Hard Rock Stadium for the eighth annual Rolling Loud Miami.
Check out more photos from Rolling Loud New York 2022 here.
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