ROLLING LOUD FESTIVAL
NEW YORK, OCT. 12-13
The first-ever New York edition of hip-hop festival Rolling Loud paid
tribute to the city’s homegrown stars: Wu-Tang Clan performed its
debut 36 Chambers on night one; Jim Jones and Action Bronson each
took the stage on day two; and, later that evening, A$AP Rocky closed
out the festival with his first hometown show since his summer incarcer-
ation in Sweden. In between, 2019 breakouts Blueface, Lil Tecca, DaBaby
and Megan Thee Stallion shared the bill at Queens’ Citi Field with
heavy hitters like Travis Scott, Meek Mill, Fat Joe and Lil Uzi Vert. The
weekend was not without drama: A letter from the NYPD citing safety
concerns forced five artists, including Brooklyn native Pop Smoke, off
the bill; Trippie Redd called out sick; New York vet DMX withdrew to
enter rehab; and Wu-Tang leader RZA missed his flight. Thankfully, two
big names were wrangled to fill Saturday slots: “Trap Queen” king Fetty
Wap and the affable “Esskeetit” goofball of next-gen hip-hop, Lil Pump.
—JOHN NORRIS
Scene
Rolling Loud
co-founders
Tariq Cherif (left)
and Matt Zingler
on Oct. 13.
Day two performers
Tyla Yaweh (left) and
Machine Gun Kelly. Saweetie (center) took the stage on Oct. 13, after also rocking the festival’s
Bay Area edition in September.24 BILLBOARD • OCTOBER 19, 2019