Wale and J. Cole Are the Clear Winners of Rolling Loud NYC Day Two
J. Cole and a few others including Wale unleashed their greatest hits during Rolling Loud NYC's second day. During Wale's set, he brought out Q-Tip who performed "Vivrant Thing."
Rolling Loud New York City's second day at Citi Field in Queens provided an opportunity for rap’s biggest acts to present exactly why they’re household names.
There was an air of reflection rabid throughout Citi Field as specific acts hit their respective stages. Wale and J. Cole specifically stuck out amongst the other names that appeared on Friday merely due to the hold they have on hip-hop’s more lyrical fans.
Before the looming storm hit, Wale graced the Audiomack stage with his presence and shared a few singles that have garnered traction over the years including “Pole Dancer,” “ Sue Me,” “On Chill,” and “MY PYT.” He also performed his Grammy-nominated hit “Lotus Flower Bomb.” His stage presence throughout his entire performance was energetic, but it was during the latter part of his set where he truly shined. The D.C. rapper also went back in his past and shared “Bad,” an undeniable smash hit.
He then decided to roll out his newest single “Poke It Out.” Since the track samples Q-Tip’s “Vivrant Thing” it was no surprise that the A Tribe Called Quest rapper appeared on stage and unleashed a few verses from his 1999 single. This was an old school meets new school moment in the flesh, and it was a sight to see.
Closing out with “No Hands,” Waka Flocka Flame’s Atlanta trap anthem which arrived in 2010 was a smart move.
An additional highlight of the evening includes Lil Yachty’s presence on the Audiomack stage. He was directly followed by Miami’s City Girls, the duo comprised of JT and Yung Miami performed a few of their largest tracks “I’ll Take Your Man”, “Pussy Talk,” “Act Up,” and more.
By the later parts of the festival, a torrential downpour and harsh winds were on the horizon. Fans had to decide if their allegiance was with Dreamville founder or Atlanta’s Playboi Carti. For those who chose to stick beside J. Cole, he dug deep into his catalog and shared some lyrically-focused hits that won fans over years ago. He didn’t disappoint.
He began his set at the DeLeon stage on a strong note and unleashed The Off-Season intro track “95. s o u t h.” Even with the rain pouring haphazardly and technical difficulties, J. Cole unleashed his Forest Hills Drive staple “Wet Dreamz,” the Cole World: The Sideline Story cut “Work Out” and Born Sinner favorite “Power Trip.” The North Carolina bred rapper also gave some of his Dreamville family a chance to shine, he brought out Lute, JID, and Bas.
It appeared that fans also enjoyed Playboi Carti’s set over at the Audiomack stage. But, it’s evident that J. Cole was the clear winner of day two of Rolling Loud. Before his set wrapped he shared that those who are aspiring to reach success should never lose their hunger, a profound word of advice.