More than music: fans say the farewell festival of J. Cole Dreamville – Essence

When the Dreamville festival began awarded by Grammy Emcee, it was more than a musical fete. The event was a project and a love letter to North Carolina, where the rapper grew up.

The two -day, multi -stage event was an enormous draw for music fans around the world. Last yr, 104,000 people attendedrepresenting all 50 states and lots of countries.

For five years, pilgrim fans to Raleigh in North Carolina, transforming this capital in the south right into a huge celebration of creativity, community and hip-hop. In December 2024 Cole announced that the 2025 festival could be his last.

In the depths of 2025, amongst the mega Superstars Lil Wayne, The Hot Boys and Big Tymers, 21 Savage, Erykah Badu, Glorilla and Wale, along with colleagues from the Dreamville Ari Lennox, Earthgang and others labels.

When the sun was lasting at the Dreamville festival for the last time, we asked Dreamers, from OGS to the first timers to take into consideration what this concert meant for them. This compilation of votes is a thanks, farewell and ODA with the artist who began all this, J. Cole.

“It seems to be a family meeting,” says Shannon Burnett, from North Carolina and a 4-time Dreamville participant. “This is a gathering. It’s like a family here. So it seems that you are in a large family meeting. It allows me to be social, meet new people, hear new artists, and just connect me more.”

Burnett said that there have been several unforgettable moments, noting that USher provided one of the best performances at night and that the high-energy T-Pain set was fully committed.

Similarly, Jonathan Zona, a longtime fan, noticed that “being here has a lot of meaning to me. I am a big fan. I was a fan of J. Cole, since I was JIT. You look at people who look like you who have passed, so being here is a dream.”

“Every song he created had an influence on me.” 2face and “Side Stock – it’s my hymns. For me it is a goat. It will always be in my heart,” the wife continued.

Fayetteville, NC, Anastasia Mevane, attended the Dreamville Festival five times and shared that the festival presented the very needed headlights in North Carolina. “North Karolina is not necessarily known for the great, popular music scene, but Dreamville presented light in North Carolina, which I really love. So that’s why I come and support every year.” Mevane expressed gratitude for what the rapper has done for his family state up to now. “Thank you for giving North Carolina, because you didn’t really have to. But we appreciate what you do especially for two six. In this way you represent Fayetteville!”

Another fan considered the festival as a “safe space” to build up with the community. It is nice for culture, “says Da’mek Johnson.” I’m a bit sad that that is the last one because I got here last yr. This is barely my second. “

Michelle Sawyer, a longtime resident of Raleigh, participated in every Dreamville festival. Her thoughts? “We have something really big here that matters.”

Sawyer wondered how Dreamville Festival modified Raleigh’s perception as the destination of music, noticing that while festivals akin to Coachella and Broccoli Fest often come to mind, Dreamville placed Raleigh on the map. “Nobody thought about Raleigh to Dreamville. So many people recommend from different states, and all hotels in the center of Raleigh are sold out; that’s yes, yes, we can have something really big that counts.”

Sahr Sebba, Dreamville Newbiewieho, traveled with Seattle, Washington State, said: “I went to high school in Jacksonville, North Carolina, and a kid from my youth group put him. Since then I have been a fan.”

For Raleigh, Amanda Wesson, he says it’s a very good look of the city. “Raleigh is a bit of Bougie. So it was nice to have such an opportunity for Raleigh, and the hip-hop community was represented and could have attracted crowds from around the world at all. It brought a lot of money to the city. It was nice to have something like that in our yard. And Raleigh’s good appearance at all.”

However, the rapper has a gracious community on the entire board for bringing such a festival to North Carolina. Many say that the state wouldn’t have thought if it wasn’t for Dreamville. “My heart breaks that this is the last round,” says Jaconna Brooker, a festival participant. “Thank you for bringing this unbelievable culture and climate to your family state. For being faithful to yourself, your craftsmanship, and most importantly, for giving new artists a chance.”

However, history may not end. While 2025 is the last Dreamville festival, event organizers and manager Raleigh City announced plans to get well and alter the event in the future. What a brand new iteration will appear to be, remains to be unknown. But for hundreds of fans who’ve filled Dorothea Dix Park for the previous couple of years, hope is that the essence of Dreamville is alive.