Dreamville Pageant concluded its fifth and ultimate outing over the weekend, and Hip-Hop Wired was there to absorb all of the festivities. Because it occurs with music festivals of this magnitude, we managed to get a couple of fast interviews and feedback from celebrities whereas trying out units in between.
Dreamville Pageant 2025 was one other sold-out occasion and introduced hundreds to town of Raleigh, N.C. Everybody who touched the stage gave it their all, and the followers confirmed like to all of the acts, whether or not acquainted or not. The outpouring of affection was bittersweet to witness, and it was past clear that this 12 months’s Dreamville Pageant meant the world to J. Cole, the Dreamville artists, and all who carried out.
Whereas backstage, we spoke with a number of media figures, akin to DC Younger Fly, who was there representing for his 85 South podcast crew together with the Pour Minds crew, Drea Nicole and Lex P, internet hosting a joint dwell broadcast powered by Backwoods. A number of Dreamville Pageant performers sat down on the sofa and gave their views and insights, with DC Younger Fly, hilarious as ever, chatting with us briefly as they wrapped.
“I actually do admire Dreamville for having us together with the Pour Minds crew down right here and letting us do our factor of their yard,” DC advised us. We then requested DC how seamless the transition from comedy to podcasting was for him.
“I give all credit score to that man Karlous Miller for seeing one thing in me and understanding I might carry the burden. It was fairly clean as a result of I’m used to speaking for a residing and attempting to be humorous, so it simply got here naturally for me,” DC Younger Fly shared.
We spent important time within the artist lounge space, coming throughout the likes of the charming Jordan Howlett, higher often called Jordan The Stallion, Dee-1, and Julian Delgado of One thing Mistaken With The Podcast. Everybody we greeted was charming, affable, and humbled to be acknowledged by their followers and supporters.
Within the gallery under, we’ll share a blitz of quick-hit interviews we did with Akia, Kai Ca$h, Niko Brim, Turk of the Scorching Boys, and extra. We need to thank everybody for being so gracious to us, and better of luck to all in your musical journeys.
1. AKIA
At simply 22 years of age, AKIA is at present pushing her newest EP, DUMB, and her dynamic vocal stylings had been on full show at Dreamville. In our all-too-brief chat, the charming artist let or not it’s recognized that she was destined for her present second.
“The stage and studio, each are the place I really feel most at residence,” AKIA started. “So, irrespective of how lengthy my set is after I carry out, that’s my sh*t. I simply get on that stage or in that sales space, and it goes from there.”
The Arkansas native credit her mom for pushing what she known as her “God-given reward” of singing. Each Sunday, a younger AKIA was requested to sing at her church providers, honing her highly effective and soulful vocals.
“There could be instances the place I didn’t need to sing as a result of my head was hurting however my mother could be like ‘God is gonna repair it however you gonna need to sing’ and I thank her for believing in me,” AKIA defined.
Subsequent up for AKIA as she continues to advertise DUMB is one other pair of EPs, CRAZY and STUPID, which can full a trilogy depicting a romantic relationship’s ups and downs. Contemplating how her single “DND” resonates along with her followers, AKIA’s trajectory seems sky-high.
Study extra about AKIA right here.
2. Cozz
Cozz, a longtime artist on the Dreamville roster, commanded the stage on Day 2 of the competition with the poise of a 20-year veteran. We caught up with Cody Macc after his crowd-pleasing set and bought into his story a bit.
“This being the final Dreamville is sort of a bittersweet factor, however that is our residence as artists on the label, and you’ll inform the followers who come out are supporters of our desires,” Cozz stated. “However what made this particular is that that is the primary time I’ve finished this competition sober. That is one of the best model of me, and that’s why the gang responded the best way they did, as a result of they might inform.”
Cozz added that he’s been sober for 11 months and, for what it’s value, he gave the impression to be at peace. There was an aura across the Los Angeles rapper that translated effectively, and no matter troubles he confronted earlier than had been on the best way behind him.
“I haven’t been capable of launch music a lot legally since 2021 as a result of I used to be on the chain with the label, however I’m nonetheless Dreamville all day. I’ve a minimum of three tasks within the stash now,” Cozz stated. “I’m simply attempting to find out what to launch and when, and I’m within the studio each week, tweaking and recording new music on a regular basis.”
Cozz is at present selling his new singles “50 %” and “God’s Design,” and on the previous monitor, he hints at his sobriety journey and tells listeners that every thing from the time earlier than he stopped ingesting was simply him at half of his energy. Cozz shared what the tune meant to him with us.
“The monitor [50 Percent] can be a testomony to the expansion and the primary freestyle I recorded since being sober,” Cozz defined. “I wished my listeners to know that they had been solely getting half of me, so think about how I’m gonna sound with a transparent thoughts.”
In closing, Cozz left a message to anybody who’s struggling on their path and what he hopes his followers get from his music.
“It’s by no means too late, it ain’t by no means too late to enhance your life however you need to need it,” Cozz stated. “It took me a very long time to get to this place, however now I’m right here and my life feels lovely.”
Study extra about Cozz right here.
3. Kai Ca$h & Niko Brim
Native New Yorkers Kai Ca$h and Niko Brim kicked off the Dreamville Pageant with their high-energy set, and it really felt like we had been witnessing Hip-Hop’s newest younger superstars within the making. Backstage, the energetic duo shared the trials of their time as artists and the place they intend to go from there.
“I used to take this capability I’ve flippantly, and I child you not, I didn’t take it significantly till my teen years,” Kai started. “In truth, you do get discouraged as a result of the music enterprise will not be simple. Particularly while you don’t see issues working expeditiously, however I simply saved the give attention to what’s subsequent.”
Niko Brim, who has been across the music business all his life through his mother and father Misa Hylton and Jojo Brim, added, “I’ve seen so much due to my mother and father and their perception in my items, however having a brother from one other like Kai actually makes this journey simpler than it seems to be.”
Niko shared that his first monitor was with Kai, and so they recorded the “Cease Being Grasping” freestyle at his residence studio. With Kai main the best way as an artist, Niko stated that his brother impressed him to maintain going.
“When Kai began making strikes and contemplating all I’ve seen in my upbringing, it made sense for me to fall in line and get critical about it too and I thank him for giving me a lane and making this simple for me,” Niko stated.
Kai Ca$h is at present getting ready to drop his new album Ca$h Guidelines, later this month. Niko Brim says he has loads of music he’s engaged on and desires everybody to remain tuned.
Study extra about Kai Ca$h right here.
Study extra about Niko Brim right here.
4. Lute
Lute is a mainstay of the Dreamville roster and the Charlotte rapper has saved lively on the scene regardless of having final dropped a full-length challenge, the superb Gold Mouf, in 2021. We simply had a couple of minutes with Lute but in that point, we bought to study extra concerning the artist.
“It’s all the time love to come back to Raleigh, and despite the fact that I’m a Charlotte boy residing two hours west, that is residence for me,” Lute stated. “I admire the Dreamville followers as a result of with out them, I wouldn’t be doing any of this proper now.”
Regardless of simply being two hours aside, Lute defined the distinction between the North Carolina cities to our outsider’s ears.
“In Charlotte, it was powerful making it as a result of we didn’t have a lot of a Hip-Hop scene after I first began, however now it’s beginning to change,” Lute shared. “I come from the Weblog Period and that’s how I bought my first challenge West1996 pt. 2 out through the weblog web site,s and it simply makes me admire how far I got here on this sport.”
In a reflective second, Lute shared that his private journey proper now’s greater than music, though he’s clear that placing one thing out this 12 months is a aim.
“I’ve been specializing in my psychological well being journey loopy and I’ve been via so much. I will be sincere and say that issues are wanting up for me and I received’t hold the followers ready for an excessive amount of longer,” Lute stated.
Study extra about Lute right here.
5. Omen
Omen is likely one of the senior members of the Dreamville roster, and the Chicago native’s reserved nature is a complete 180 from his passionate presence onstage. We caught up with Omen as he made his strategy to his trailer to study what’s subsequent for the rapper and producer.
“It’s all the time wonderful to get in entrance of all these individuals who know your music and assist the Dreamville motion the best way they do. It’s humbling, really,” Omen started. “This journey may not all the time go the best way you envision, however the likelihood to specific that, it feels particular.”
Omen’s lone studio album, Elephant Eyes, isn’t out there on DSPs in the meanwhile. Nevertheless, Omen has saved lively through the years, showing on a number of Dreamville tasks and producing for J. Cole amongst others. As he prepares his upcoming album, Granny’s Home Once more, Omen is taking it again to his earlier days in Chicago.
“I would like this album to deliver people into my world, arising in Chicago and the way I was at my grandmother’s home simply dreaming about what I’m doing at present,” Omen shared. “I put quite a lot of work into this challenge, and I believe individuals who preferred Elephant Eyes and something I did through the years will hear one thing they by no means heard earlier than from me.”
In closing, we requested Omen how he retains himself grounded as a public determine who, by all appearances, would moderately simply play the background.
“Such as you stated to me earlier than we spoke, I are typically introverted and hold to myself and permit my music to do most of my speaking,” Omen stated. “Nevertheless, I would like my new album and performances to point out that I’ve layers, and perhaps I’ll encourage somebody alongside the best way as a result of music positively bought me via so much.”
Study extra about Omen right here.
6. TRAP DICKEY
TRAP DICKEY might need been considered one of our quickest interviews, but additionally considered one of our favorites. The South Carolina native’s persona is greater than life, however what was stunning is how a lot of a scholar of Hip-Hop he’s.
“Folks hear my music and the accent and doubtless suppose it’s only one factor however I got here up freestyling and listening to the greats like Nas, Busta Rhymes, Jay-Z, DMX, you identify them, I used to be on it,” TRAP started. “You gotta return to the previous methods of rapping and faucet into that nation soul. That comes from being round grandma; all of it comes out within the music.”
TRAP DICKEY says that his upcoming album, The Preacher’s Grandson, will showcase him in a light-weight few have heard to this point.
“I been grinding a very long time and issues are paying off, however I believe this album gonna present the followers about how I got here up, how I grew on this sport, and the place I’m going subsequent, ” TRAP stated.
Study extra about TRAP DICKEY right here.
7. Turk
Final however not least, Turk, one of many unique Scorching Boyz members, gave us a couple of moments of his time and a few gems alongside the best way. Turk’s progress as an artist, husband, and stable human being got here throughout in our chat with the New Orleans native.
“I really feel so blessed and honored to be on that Dreamville stage with my unique household,” Turk started. “Folks know the story, they know the historical past and the controversies and what I finished been via, however we’re nonetheless right here and it feels good to be collectively once more.”
He continued, “We needed to let that delight and ego stuff go. Brothers crumble on a regular basis however since we patched it up in November, we out right here promoting out arenas and reveals all around the world, and that feels proper.”
Turk stated that now, as a married man who has reformed his life, his upcoming musical journey will mirror that progress.
“Seeing as I’ve bought my spouse in my nook, my new musical outlook is all about progress, growth, being a household man, being a pacesetter in my neighborhood,” Turk shared. “I would like individuals to know via my story which you could undergo some issues that’s arduous however you ain’t gotta keep there. Have a look at me, and naturally, you retain God within the entrance, it’s all doable.”
Study extra about Turk right here.