Rolling Loud Co-Founder Says Drake's Been 'Ducking' Offers to Headline

Tariq Cherif says that Drake hasn't wanted to headline Rolling Loud despite being given some special offers.

Cherif, who co-founded Rolling Loud in 2015 with Matt Zingler, recently appeared on Big Boy's Neighborhood to promote the upcoming Rolling Loud LA. During his interview, Big Boy asked if there's been an artist that the music festival hasn't yet landed.

"I’ll say it. I don’t care," Cherif replied. "I feel like Drake’s ducking us."

"I got no beef with Drake," he continued. “I like Drake, I feel like he’s a great artist. We’ve been trying to book him forever. We even offered Drake three nights of Drake once. They were like, 'You need to make a special.' Like, 'All right, three nights of Drake.' He’d be the headliner for three nights."

Cherif concluded by mentioning a "certain festival" in Europe that has pulled the idea, although he didn't clarify the event's name.

Drake has popped up at multiple festivals throughout the years, including Dreamville Fest, Camp Flog Gnaw (which went amiss), and his own OVO Fest, but Cherif has spoken about wanting The Boy to perform Rolling Loud before.

In an October 2023 appearance on Power 106 Los Angeles, Tariq named Drake, Jay-Z, Eminem, Bad Bunny, and Peso Pluma as his dream Rolling Loud lineup. In March, Pluma will co-headline Rolling Loud LA with A$AP Rocky and Playboi Carti.

Around the 10:40 mark of the video below, Tariq said he's set up a private Rolling Loud stream link for Drake, who supports the festival and offered to "one day make it work" for a performance.

Owen Wilson and Matt Rife are set to star in a Rolling Loud comedy film set at the hip-hop festival, which just held its 10th anniversary in Miami in December.