Mark your calendars and prepare for another legendary weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina! J. Cole has officially announced the 2025 edition of his annual Dreamville Festival, returning to its roots at Dorothea Dix Park on April 5th and 6th, 2025. While the lineup remains under wraps, the hype is already building as fans gear up for presale tickets, set to launch on December 11th at 9 AM ET via dreamvillefest.com. So be sure to cop yours before they sell out!
A Homecoming Celebration
For its fifth iteration, the Dreamville Festival continues to celebrate Cole’s hometown pride, offering an unforgettable weekend of music, culture, and unity. With past lineups featuring heavyweights like Drake, Usher, and Burna Boy, expectations are sky-high for the 2025 roster. Whether you’re vibing with GA or indulging in a VIP package, this festival promises to be a can’t-miss event.
Unlocking The Vault: J. Cole & Kendrick Lamar Collabs
As if the festival announcement wasn’t enough, J. Cole recently dropped a major surprise for fans of real hip-hop. In the latest episode of his audio series, Inevitable, Cole played two unreleased collaborations with none other than Kendrick Lamar—“Temptation” and “Shock the World”.
Recorded in 2010, these tracks transport listeners back to a pivotal era when Cole and Kendrick were rising stars carving out their places in the industry. With “Temptation”, Cole describes this track as “insane,” showcasing their raw chemistry and lyrical skillsets. In addition to, “Shock the World” featuring BJ The Chicago Kid, adding soulful vocals to the mix. These gems were initially created during studio sessions in L.A., where Cole and Kendrick exchanged beats and ideas. “I played him the beat for ‘HiiiPoWeR,’” Cole shared, reminiscing about their early camaraderie.
A Moment For The Culture
Kendrick’s reaction to the tracks? Pure admiration. Cole revealed, “He was like, ‘Bro, you sleeping on yourself’”. It was a humbling and motivational moment that has stayed with him ever since. While these tracks remain unreleased, their emergence in Inevitable highlights J. Cole’s commitment to revisiting his roots and sharing untold stories from his journey. Fans are already speculating whether these collaborations will hit streaming platforms, especially after Cole’s recent uploads of The Come Up and The Warm Up.
The Countdown Begins
As the Dreamville Festival approaches, anticipation continues to grow—not just for the live performances, but for the possibility of more surprises from Cole’s vault. Will “Temptation” and “Shock the World” finally get an official release? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, Dreamville devotees can start planning their road trips and playlists. Whether you’re there for the festival vibes or dreaming of a live rendition of those Kendrick collabs, one thing’s for sure: Dreamville Festival 2025 is set to be unforgettable!
