Raleigh, North Carolina was on lockdown this weekend as J. Cole, Dreamville and countless other hip hop heavy weights came into town for Dreamville Fest 2023.
Day one of the two-day event held at Dorothea Dix Park featured performances from Usher, Lil Durk, City Girls, Ari Lennox, Sean Paul, Earthgang, Victony, Key Glock and SIR. Drake headlined day two of the festival with an epic set that saw him perform some of his biggest hits, including Sicko Mode, God’s Plan, Started From The Bottom, Headlines and more.
J. Cole then paused the concert to give Drake his flowers. ‘I’m such a fan, and I feel like I’m speaking for all of us when I say this bro, we’re all f-cking wowed, amazed, blown-away by your greatness bro,” Cole said. “It gives a n-gga chills to see you do this at the highest level non-stop and constantly serve us, and bless us with the f-cking soundtrack to our lives bro, I’m f-cking blown-away by your greatness bro.’
The two hugged on stage and Drizzy continued his show-stealing set by bringing out the likes of 21 Savage, GloRilla, Lil Uzi Vert and Lil Wayne for special performances.
The Certified Lover Boy closed out his set with a performance of Whitney Houston’s I’ll Always Love You, which he dedicated to J. Cole.
“We won’t be here because of this man. I really want you to show your love and appreciation tonight,” Drake told the packed crowd. “Ima play this next song, and if you love this man like I love this man, you’d sing as loud as you can.”
Drake and J. Cole have a commendable relationship that stretches as far back as the beginning of both their professional rap careers. J. Cole has always been appreciative of his peers (Drake, Kendrick Lamar) despite internet trolls constant attempts to pit them against each other. In his 2021 freestyle over Drake’s Pipe Down beat, the Fayetteville rapper spoke about the debates and where he stands in the hierarchy. “Some people say that I’m running third, they threw the bronze at me, behind Drake and Dot yeah those n-ggas are superstars to me,” he raps.
Drake addressed the lyrics the following day at the opening night of J. Cole’s The Off-Season Tour in Miami. “I gotta say this ‘cause I don’t always wanna have a heartfelt moment when we’re on stage together,” Drake said. “You know, you did that ‘Pipe Down’ freestyle the other day. You was sayin’ in the freestyle that they gave you the bronze or whatever, me and Kendrick [Lamar]…I just want you to understand something. You are genuinely, without a doubt, one of the greatest rappers to ever touch a mic.”
He continued, “I just want to let you know, there’s way too many people in the world that think and know that Cole is in the top position,” “I love you with all my heart, you’re my brother, one of my favorite artists. Always appreciate you having me out here.”
Watch some fan captured clips from Drake’s Dreamville Festival set below.
