The last day of the biggest hip-hop festival in Asia got off to a rocky start when the organizer announced just hours before festival gates opened that the final headliner and huge draw for hip-hop fans, Playboi Carti, would not be playing. At 11:30am, less than four hours before the final day of the festival would begin, the organizers announced on social media that the star would not be playing.
”Unfortunately, Playboi Carti is unable to perform tonight due to travel issues. We made some calls and Yeat will now be joining the lineup for his first ever Rolling Loud performance.”
For fans who bought tickets just to see the headliner, it was a blow. Some have been openly calling for a refund, others are claiming baselessly that the addition of Playboi Carti was a scam. It comes as little surprise to fans who know Playboi Carti has delayed his own Antagonist tour three times.
“Extremely pissed. We came all the way from India to see Carti. We don’t think Yeat is worth it. He’s not a replacement for Carti. But that’s Carti being Carti,” a 24 year old festival goer from India told BK. Another, John Paul, said, “In regard to the Playboi Carti incident, I’m very depressed at this time. I think I need to recoup my energy. Playboi Carti, I think you’ve let a lot of people down.”
Others were excited by the addition of Yeat, who has had viral success on Tiktok and Billboard hits.
This incident follows earlier woes, with social media darling Tyla also unable to make Rolling Loud, which the organizers announced only one day prior to her set on Friday.
The previous night saw breakout performances from Wiz Khalifa and a quite late Lil Wayne, but Thailand also held its own with Twopee Southside and the ever-popular Thaitanium playing early in the evening.
The layout and lack of activities have been a sticking point for many visitors. “[The entry/exit procedure] is bad, right? That’s the worst part. Why wouldn’t you make it convenient to people. That’s the bad part.” Ingress and egress were a problem for last year’s festival at this venue, and the organizers made efforts to provide signs for free water sans water and with people selling B50 cool towels nearby.
On that note, the festival announced via images at the event last night that Rolling Loud would be coming back to Thailand Nov 14-16, 2025, and the venue has yet to be set.
Still, the final Sunday of the festival featured big names in hip-hop like Gunna, Nav, and Ski Mask the Slump God who brought hard hitting tunes to a hot crowd. Early in the day saw Maleigh Zan performing a lyrically racy set, and fans of Thai hip-hop rocked up at the Amazing Thailand stage for Chonburi Flow.
CL out of South Korea brought a strong show, and one fan of Uneek managed to jump the barrier and get on stage. Ski Mask the Slump God, though, put on one of the heaviest performances of the night and brought some real mosh energy. Ken Carson, on the other hand, played to a relatively dark stage and barely came down the runway.
It was still a packed house for the final show of the festival. After Gunna, as the crowd waited for a late show from Yeat, they were chanting, “Fuck Carti”. The atmosphere remained positive as the final acts came to the stage, and Yeat entered to a wild if impatient crowd—even if he wasn’t on the billboard.