Telepeer

From Regional Mexican to hip-hop: Peso Pluma makes history at Rolling Loud California 2025

March 16, 2025

Rolling Loud California 2025 wasted no time making history.

As the festival’s first night unfolded on March 15, Peso Pluma took center stage, shattering tradition as the first regional Mexican artist to ever headline the global hip-hop-centric festival. With the weight of an entire genre on his shoulders and thousands of fans in the crowd, his set marked a defining moment—not just for him, but for the festival’s evolution.

Traditionally a hip-hop-focused event, Rolling Loud had included a few Regional Mexican acts previously such as Fuerza Regida and Chino Pacas, but this year marked a historic first: a non-hip-hop artist headlined the festival. Peso Pluma’s captivating performance not only underscored the growing influence of regional Mexican music in mainstream culture but also cemented his position as a dynamic force bridging musical boundaries

Gelo performs during day one of the Rolling Loud hip-hop music festival at Hollywood Park in Inglewood on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

1 of 36

Gelo performs during day one of the Rolling Loud hip-hop music festival at Hollywood Park in Inglewood on Sunday, March 16, 2025. (Photo by Trevor Stamp, Contributing Photographer)

Expand

From the moment Peso Pluma took the stage with his seven-piece band, featuring horns and violin—core elements of a traditional corridos ensemble—the atmosphere at Hollywood Park shifted. The crowd, tightly packed and even a few folks waving red, white, and green flags, chanted his name in unison. Peso performed a mix of his biggest hits, including “Rubicon,” “La Bebe,” and “Lady Gaga,” all while showcasing the same dramatic presence that had defined his Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival set in 2024. However, this performance was more than just a replay; it was a masterful refinement that elevated the energy to new heights

Halfway through, Peso surprised the crowd by bringing out Ty Dolla $ign and Rich The Kid to perform “Carnival,” the track from Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign’s Vultures 1. The audience erupted into a frenzy, with small moshes forming and fans jumping wildly. The energy was so high that the trio ran the track back for a second round, a testament to the crowd’s hunger for the moment. Peso also welcomed El Alfa for “PLEBADA” and Eladio Carrión for “77,” further bridging Latin music’s presence within the Rolling Loud ecosystem.

This moment felt particularly full circle considering that just last year, Kanye and Ty Dolla $ign had opened Rolling Loud when it expanded to a four-day festival, using the platform to debut Vultures 1. Peso’s inclusion as a headliner this year wasn’t just a major step for regional Mexican music—it was a direct reflection of the festival’s evolving identity.

Following Peso’s historic performance, A$AP Rocky closed out the night, albeit an hour late. The delay mirrored a trend on the main stage, as multiple artists ran behind schedule. However, Rocky made up for lost time with a dramatic entrance—descending from a black helicopter attached to a crane while performing an unreleased track, rumored to be called “All Black (Stole YA Flow).” He was eventually lowered onto the stage to continue a high-energy, fast-paced set featuring “A$AP Forever,” “RIOT (Rowdy Pipe’n),”and “Tailor Swif.”

Rocky also had a few surprises up his sleeve, bringing out Skepta for “Praise the Lord (Da Shine),” and “Your Honor,” a track recalling his recent trial for gun assault charges, which he was acquitted of. In a heartfelt moment, he paused the performance to address the crowd: “I’m so happy to see y’all right now, y’all don’t even understand. It was real hectic recently.”

The set was celebratory, marking his first major performance since his acquittal. He embraced the moment with his signature charisma, taking time to dedicate the show to immigrants and victims of the recent California wildfires.

“I would like to dedicate this show to anybody that was affected by those fires,” Rocky shared in a moment between songs. “To anybody that was affected by the immigration laws. My heart goes out to you.”

Beyond the headliners, the festival’s earlier sets packed a nice punch. Former basketball star-turned-rapper Gelo made his Rolling Loud debut on the GoPuff Stage, delivering an energetic set that solidified his transition into music. Ski Mask The Slump God followed, arriving late but making up for it with his usual high-intensity performance and hits like “Take A Step Back” and “Faucet Failure.”

Meanwhile, Sexyy Red returned to the main stage for her second consecutive year, playing fan favorites like “SkeeYee” and “Pound Town” while also debuting her new collaboration with Bruno Mars, “Fat, Juicy & Wet”—already being touted as this year’s “strip club anthem.”

Rolling Loud wasn’t just about the music. This year’s festival featured an array of attractions, including immersive brand activations and the return of the festival’s iconic Ferris wheel, offering fans a panoramic view of the festival grounds. Food vendors lined the pathways, serving everything from street tacos and loaded fries to gourmet burgers, ensuring that attendees had the fuel to keep their energy up all night.

Day 1 of Rolling Loud California 2025 was a showcase of cultural shifts within music, where regional Mexican sounds stood shoulder to shoulder with hip-hop heavyweights.

Rolling Loud Festival 2025

When: March 15-16

Where: Hollywood Park, 1001 S. Stadium Drive, Inglewood

From Regional Mexican to hip-hop: Peso Pluma makes history at Rolling Loud California 2025 Orange County Register

News Details

From Regional Mexican to hip-hop: Peso Pluma makes history at Rolling Loud California 2025

Rolling Loud Festival 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS