On Sunday night, April 6, 2025, Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh, North Carolina, pulsed with bittersweet energy as J. Cole took the stage for the final Dreamville Festival.
The fifth and last installment of the artist-led event—born from Cole’s vision to unite his Dreamville community—drew thousands of fans from across the globe, all eager to witness the farewell of a cultural cornerstone.
The air crackled with anticipation as the Fayetteville native, draped in a custom red Dreamville jersey, stepped into the spotlight, his set designed as a tribute to his journey, complete with a stage mimicking his old Queens apartment, affectionately dubbed Mohammad’s Crib.
The night reached its emotional peak when Cole, mid-set, surprised the crowd by bringing out Erykah Badu for a historic performance of TOO DEEP FOR THE INTRO.
The track, a fan favorite from his 2010 mixtape FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, samples Badu’s soulful classic DIDN’T CHA KNOW, making this a full-circle moment that felt predestined.
As Badu’s earthy voice intertwined with Cole’s introspective bars, the audience erupted, their cheers echoing through the park. The duo’s chemistry was palpable—Cole’s grounded delivery met Badu’s ethereal presence, creating a seamless blend of hip-hop and soul that honored their shared musical lineage.
It was a fitting climax to a festival that had always been about family, legacy, and authenticity.
As fireworks lit up the Raleigh skyline to close the show, Cole lingered on stage, soaking in the love from a crowd that had grown with him over the years.
Backstage, he and Badu shared a quiet moment of mutual respect, a nod to the torch-passing that Dreamville had embodied since 2019. For fans, it wasn’t just the end of a festival—it was the end of an era.