Bringing hip-hop’s best and brightest together for 10 years, Rolling Loud always brings spectacle and surprises. The first full day of Rolling Loud California 2024 was a sold out celebration of rap music of all kinds, featuring dozens of vital acts and headlined by the Queen of Rap.
Rolling Loud California’s Friday was “Pink Friday,” dedicated to headliner Nicki Minaj, and named after her albums Pink Friday and Pink Friday 2. The Queen closed the day with a bang, performing career-defining classics with top tier production value and showmanship. Nicki’s legion of Barbz were mesmerized under the pink lights, while the Queen did her thing on the only Los Angeles date on her “Pink Friday 2 Tour.”
To celebrate “Pink Friday,” the festival offered limited edition merch, exclusive on-site activations, and other exciting opportunities focused around Nicki’s recent album. Fans flocked to Bunny’s Bae Bar where they could get their hair done in Nicki’s most iconic hairstyles, add pink gems to their makeup looks, and get ready for a pink-filled night.
Nicki led a festival day that showcased a litany of the most exciting women in rap. Sexyy Red took the Ethika Stage in the afternoon, leading shout-a-longs of her famous songs and launching her presidential campaign. Saweetie was the guest of honor in a Cali-centric joint performance by YG & Tyga (which also celebrated the 10th anniversary of YG’s classic album My Krazy Life).
Rising stars like Lay Bankzand Anycia made their presence felt as well, each of them performing at Rolling Loud for the first time.
Other highlights from the first full day of Rolling Loud California included the Rolling Loud debut of Canadian R&B star PartyNextDoor, who played songs from his upcoming album and a massive hit that many might not know he penned (Rihanna’s “Work)”). Rolling Loud’s home state of Florida was well-represented, with heavy-hitters like Luh Tyler and BLP Kosher putting on for the Sunshine State scene. In a Rolling Loud first, teenaged sensation Chino Pacas performed regional Mexican music for the diverse crowd.
Check below for photos of some of the most memorable moments from the festival below and stay tuned for the rest of the weekend, featuring Post Malone and Future x Metro Boomin, among others, and be sure to follow Rolling Loud on Instagram for even more highlights.