How a Florida party duo built the world's biggest hip hop festival
In short: What began as high school parties in Hollywood, Florida, evolved into a global hip hop phenomenon. Founded by childhood friends Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, Rolling Loud has expanded from local Miami events to a massive international brand spanning North America, Asia, Europe, and Australia.
Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif, childhood friends since primary school, established Rolling Loud. By high school, they were already organizing parties that focused on Southern and Midwestern rap. Their professional journey began in 2010 with an after-party for Rick Ross, eventually leading them to host monthly Miami events in 2013 featuring rising stars like Travis Scott and Kendrick Lamar.
Since its official launch in February 2015 at Miami's Soho Studios, the festival has seen explosive growth. In 2019, attendance in Miami reached an estimated 210,000 people. The brand has since expanded globally, establishing presence in locations such as Sydney, Australia; Toronto, Canada; and various cities in Europe, including the Netherlands and Portugal. In 2023, the festival even made its debut in Thailand.
However, the festival's massive scale has not been without controversy. While Billboard has called it the "be-all of hip-hop festivals," other outlets have noted its complexity. NPR described the event as a "hotbed for arrests," and The New York Times reported that certain editions have been connected to violence. In 2019, the Miami edition was described as being "plagued by chaos," and a 2022 lawsuit alleged that Travis Scott's 2019 performance contributed to crowd injuries and suffocation.
Despite these challenges, Rolling Loud continues to diversify. The brand has moved into film production, with a movie slated for 2026, and has engaged in various social initiatives, such as partnering with the Black Music Action Coalition and providing disaster relief to Haiti.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Rolling Loud
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