J. Cole is keeping his word about the festival remaining in Raleigh, even as he moves forward with plans to revamp it under a new name.
The moment was captured and shared on Instagram by @eclecticone_me. After a fan purchased a CD in the parking lot of Crabtree Valley Mall, Cole revealed that the Dreamville Festival is set to return, possibly under a new name, after a fan asked about its future. He turned the question back to the crowd, asking whether he should keep the Dreamville branding or make a change. One fan, seen in the video purchasing Cole’s album, said he should stick with the Dreamville name, while another, who was filming the interaction, said she’d need some time to think about it.
The impromptu exchange took place during Cole’s unexpected pit stop at Raleigh’s Crabtree Valley Mall, following his appearance at a listening party at The Sip Room, a local winery and hangout spot in his hometown of Fayetteville, North Carolina.
The Dreamville Festival officially launched on April 6, 2019, at Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh and was an immediate success, drawing roughly 40,000 attendees in its first year, according to The Raleigh News & Observer. Since then, the festival has steadily grown into North Carolina’s premier music event.
Last year’s two-day festival, held April 5–6, welcomed more than 104,000 attendees and featured a stacked lineup, including Lil Wayne, Ludacris, Wale, Keyshia Cole, Erykah Badu, GloRilla, 21 Savage, Coco Jones, PartyNextDoor, and more.
The 41-year-old rapper previously announced plans to revamp the festival while keeping it rooted in the Oak City, steering it in a new direction due to behind-the-scenes developments. Raleigh city officials have also emphasized maintaining continuity while supporting the festival’s economic, hospitality, and tourism growth.
“We’re going to continue on the same path that’s been successful for us,” Raleigh City Manager Marshall Adams-Davis told The News & Observer last year, adding that the city remains focused on delivering what fans want.
The good news: Cole is standing by his word to keep the festival in Raleigh, regardless of what name it ultimately goes by – solidifying its place as a standout, premier event alongside major festivals like Coachella, Lollapalooza Chicago, Austin City Limits Music Festival, and Essence Music Festival.
And yes, he seemed genuinely excited once he finally got that CD transaction to go through on his phone.
