Dreamville

Dreamville Fest Is Honoring Hip-Hop’s Anniversary In A Free Event With Ari Lennox, Timbaland, And More

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Dreamville Music Festival is kicking off tomorrow (March 31) in Raleigh, North Carolina. They have also just announced a special free event that will honor 50 years of hip-hop, titled “50 And Forever,” and led by Amazon Music and the NC Department Of Natural And Cultural Resources.

With panels that feature artists like Ari Lennox, Timbaland, 9th Wonder, and other local performers, and beat-making classes, the all-day party will be hosted at the CAM Raleigh art museum. Additionally, there will be livestreams and other artists honored, including J. Cole (who runs Dreamville), Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, Jeezy, Busta Rhymes, Method Man, Jadakiss, DJ Drama, Jodeci, Free Marie, and Kenny Burns, according to Variety.

“We’ll have an array of panels as well as a beat-making class,” Nasira Abdur-Razzaq, the event coordinator for CAM Raleigh, said per ABC 11. “There’ll be different interviews with different artists. You’ll have a chance to interact as well as a car show that’s going to be happening across the street. We like the idea of culture and art and music all combining together, which is why this is so important for CAM to be collaborating with Dreamville. So, we just look forward to having everyone here.”

According to the news channel, the events kick off at noon local time and will run until 11 p.m. — with the last panel happening at 8 p.m. Those who wish to go do not also need a festival ticket to attend, giving everyone in the community a chance to experience the festivities.

Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

JID And Lute’s ‘Ma Boy’ Video From ‘Creed III’ Is A 3-Minute Punchline Drill

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In a lot of ways, Dreamville was the perfect record company to produce the soundtrack for Creed III. Much like the label’s founder, J. Cole, and the film’s protagonist, the rappers represented on Dreamville’s roster could best be described as underdogs. Like Adonis Creed, they work hard at their craft; the recording session for Revenge Of The Dreamers III could be seen as one big sparring session in which the rappers tested their skills against each other.

And in the new video for “Ma Boy,” featuring JID and Lute, neither rapper pulls a single punch — they go hard all the way through the three-minute rap drill. Thematically, “Ma Boy” mirrors one of the film’s primary dynamics: the fractured relationship between Donnie and his former friend Dame, who returns after an 18-year prison stint to challenge the junior Creed via survivor’s guilt. JID, who’s a huge movie buff, opens the track with a perspective that almost sounds Dame-like, while Lute answers with a lyrical counterpoint from Donnie’s.

Dreamville isn’t stopping with the Creed III soundtrack this year; a few weeks ago, they announced the lineup for this year’s Dreamville Fest featuring Drake and Usher.

Watch JID and Lute’s “Ma Boy” video up top.

J. Cole Re-Imagined A Dr. Dre Classic On An Epic ‘Creed III’ Soundtrack Cut

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On the heels of the Dreamville Festival 2023 announcement, J. Cole and his Dreamville Records roster are showing no signs of letting up. The two-day music festival’s lineup features some of the biggest current acts in music, including headliners Drake, Usher, and Burna Boy. Now, the Fayetteville, North Carolina native is taking it back on his latest musical release off of the Creed III soundtrack.

With the film, now in theaters, starring Michael B. Jordan (in the role of Adonis Creed) and Jonathan Majors (as Damian Anderson), each track on the project executive produced by Cole is live across streaming platforms. However, fans are paying close attention to the track, “Adonis Interlude (The Montage)” by the rapper. Unlike the two previously released singles “Blood, Sweat, & Tears” and “Ma Boy,” J. Cole’s song pulls inspiration from a hip-hop pioneer as he re-imagines Dr. Dre’s 1999 song, “The Watcher,” off his album 2001.

“Adonis Interlude (The Montage)” catches up listeners with the fictional character’s journey throughout the trilogy as he prepares for his toughest opponent yet, his former childhood friend, Damion. Avoiding spoilers, the song is a clever musical assist to the epic sports film.

Check out J. Cole’s “Adonis Interlude” above. To listen to Dr. Dre’s “The Watcher,” continue below.