Festival a dream come true for fans

Terence Poole calls himself a “huge” J. Cole fan. He’s been listening to the rapper since his mix tape days, and was in the audience at the 2015 Crown Coliseum concert when Cole introduced surprise special guests Drake and Jay Z.

So when he heard that Cole would be headlining the first-ever Dreamville Festival in Raleigh, Poole wasted no time scoring tickets.

“I said, ‘I have to support this, regardless of where it’s at,’'' Poole said. “I’m excited to see him and the rest of the artists he’s bringing.”

Saturday’s Dreamville Festival, featuring a lineup of nearly 20 rappers and hip-hop artists, had been shaping up to be one of the year’s most anticipated music events. On Wednesday, organizers announced the event had been canceled.

Support such as Poole's is common in Fayetteville, the city where Cole grew up and which is a reference point for some of his songs.

Cole, 33, is a graduate of Terry Sanford High School, where he played on the basketball team. Some of his earliest performances were on Fayetteville stages.

Relocating to New York, Cole released the mixtapes “The Come Up” and “The Warm Up” and performed on Jay Z’s album “The Blueprint 3.” His debut studio album, “Cole World: The Sideline Story,” was released in 2001 and debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

While his career has taken him all over the world, Cole has stayed connected to Fayetteville through his Dreamville Foundation, which gives school supplies and other materials to needy students. The title of Cole’s 2104 album, “2014 Forest Hills Drive,” is the address of the Fayetteville house where he grew up.

Cole’s most recent album, “KOD,” was released this year and became Cole’s fifth No. 1 album.

When the Dreamville Festival was announced in April, some local fans expressed disappointment that the event would not be held in Fayetteville, but in Raleigh’s Dorthea Dix Park.

Festival organizers said Fayetteville was considered, but Raleigh was ultimately chosen because of its infrastructure and “centralized” location.

“Our team has been working behind the scenes on this event for over two years,” read a statement provided by Dreamville at the time. “We’ve explored hundreds of potential locations up and down North Carolina, including J. Cole’s hometown of Fayetteville, and are excited about the opportunities and possibilities that our new home of Dorothea Dix Park in Raleigh creates for the long-term success of the event.”

Since the initial announcement, organizers have released few details about the festival, other than the lineup.

Along with Cole, the festival’s headliner and “curator,” the lineup included SZA, Nelly, Big Sean, Young Thug, Rich The Kid, Teyana Taylor, Davido Bas, J.I.D, Rapsody, Cozz, Saba, Earthgang, Ari Lennox, Omen,YBN Cordae, Lute and King Mez.

Fayetteville fans say they are excited about the entire lineup, but especially about the headliner. And they don’t mind the drive to Raleigh — and the $109 general admission ticket price — it entails.

Ana Holtzclaw had planned on going to the festival with her husband, Justin. It’s Justin’s 27th birthday and she said this party should be “one for the books.

“His music is still refreshing and new and keeps up with the times in a way,” Holtzclaw said. “It sounds like he gives a lesson within his words. I like that about his music — it’s not meaningless.”

Holtzclaw said she also appreciates the work Cole does with his Dreamville charity.

“He’s very involved in the community, and he comes back,” she said. “He’s a huge artist that everybody knows and he continues to come back. He remembers all the people involved in where he grew up.”

Antonia Williams had planned on attending the concert with her boyfriend, Poole, and another friend, Fidel Benton. She said Poole introduced her to Cole’s music.

Williams said she likes how Cole addresses serious concerns in his songs.

“People dealing with depression and anxiety and people who use drugs to deal with it,” she said. “His albums really speak to the youth. His lyrics aren’t just words, he’s sending a message that we can all relate to in these days and times.”

Poole, who is 26 and a Fayetteville State University graduate, said he is also looking forward to artists including Ari Lennox, SZA and Nelly.

But mostly, Poole wants to see J. Cole. He said he’ll have memories of the 2015 Crown Coliseum concert running through his mind.

“It was amazing. People who missed that concert missed an experience,” Poole said. “Of course, I was yelling at the top of my lungs.”

Staff writer Rodger Mullen can be reached at rmullen@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3561.

• Where: Dorothea Dix Park, 2105 Umstead Drive, Raleigh

• When: Saturday. Festival gates open at noon.

• Tickets: General admission tickets start at $109. VIP packages start at $240.

• Need to know: No weapons, selfie sticks, outside food or beverages, chairs, pets except service animals, laser pointers and other items allowed. An "airport-style" search will be conducted upon entry. A full list of prohibited and allowed items is on the Dreamville website.

No re-entry is allowed without buying another ticket. Children 3 1/2 feet tall and shorter will be admitted free with a paying adult. Water stations will be available; guests can bring an empty, reusable water container and one factory-sealed bottle of water.

• Information: Dreamvillefest.com

Dreamville Festival