J. Cole's Music Festival, Dreamville Fest, Sets 2025 as Final Year

J. Cole's Dreamville Fest, the hip-hop festival that transformed a patch of North Carolina into a haven for music and community, is taking its final bow. After four years of electrifying performances and a cultural impact that rippled far beyond the stage.

"April 5 & 6, 2025 will be the Fifth & Final Dreamville Fest 🌻," the festival announced Tuesday on its official Instagram account, adding, "What a ride it’s been… We can’t thank y’all enough for all the memories we’ve shared."

April 5 & 6, 2025 will be the Fifth & Final Dreamville Fest 🌻 What a ride it's been... We can't thank y'all enough for all the memories we've shared. pic.twitter.com/F5iVeb8mIO

— Dreamville Fest (@Dreamvillefest) December 10, 2024

"From the very beginning," the festival organizers added, "the idea behind the fest was creating a place where our fans, the Dreamville community, could spend time together, a place where they could see themselves reflected, a place to share in experiences."

I love yall for real yall don’t know how hard and how much work it takes to bring yall this event but just know yall make it more than worth it every year. I can be here all day if I have to name everyone that works they ass off for this but we gon celebrate this one. Love ❤️

— Ibrahim H. (@KingOfQueenz) December 10, 2024

That sense of shared experience extends to the artists and organizers. J. Cole's manager, Ibrahim Hamad, expressed his gratitude Tuesday on Twitter: "I love y'all for real y'all don’t know how hard and how much work it takes to bring all this event…But just know y'all make it more than worth it every year."

Dreamville Fest has not only enriched the cultural landscape of North Carolina but also injected a significant economic boost into Wake County. In 2023 alone, the festival generated a staggering $145 million, solidifying its position as a major contributor to the state's economy.

Presale tickets go on sale Wednesday at 9 a.m. EST, with fans able to snag early access by texting DREAMVILLE to 68624.

Jane Doe Alleges Jay-Z, Diddy Sexually Assaulted Her After 2000 VMAs

 

Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs

Kanye West, Sean "Diddy" Combs, and Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter attend an event together. Combs and Carter have been named in a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault in an amended complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.

Hip-hop mogul Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit alleging he and Sean "Diddy" Combs sexually assaulted a then-thirteen-year-old girl at an afterparty following the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards. The allegations were added in an amended complaint filed Sunday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe, initially filed her lawsuit against Combs in October, accusing him of sexual assault, racketeering, and other misconduct. In the updated filing, Doe claims that Carter, along with Combs, assaulted her in a bedroom at a party she attended after consuming a drink that left her feeling disoriented. The lawsuit alleges that a female celebrity witnessed the attack.

According to the amended complaint, Doe alleges she was incapacitated after consuming a drink provided at the party, leaving her vulnerable to assault. She accuses Carter and Combs of exploiting her incapacitated state to carry out the alleged assault. The complaint also claims that Combs’ associates were involved in facilitating the incident by isolating her from others at the event.

The lawsuit alleges that Doe’s attorneys reached out to Carter for mediation before filing the amendment. Carter reportedly responded by calling the mediation request a “blackmail attempt” and criticized Doe’s attorney, Tony Buzbee, for what he described as a pattern of “theatrics.”

“No sir, it had the opposite effect! It made me want to expose you for the fraud you are in a VERY public fashion,” Carter said in a statement released Sunday. “These allegations are so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one. Whomever would commit such a crime against a minor should be locked away, would you not agree?”

Carter also expressed concern for the impact of the allegations on his family. “My wife and I will have to sit our children down, one of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people,” Carter said. “I mourn yet another loss of innocence.”

Combs, who has denied all allegations in multiple lawsuits filed against him in recent months, has faced significant scrutiny. His legal team has described the claims as “shameless publicity stunts.” While Doe’s initial lawsuit against Combs included allegations of sexual assault and racketeering, the amended complaint introducing Carter marks the first time another high-profile celebrity has been implicated alongside him.

Doe’s amended lawsuit also accuses Carter of engaging in a campaign of intimidation and harassment to dissuade her from filing the updated complaint. The specifics of this alleged campaign include claims that Carter used intermediaries to pressure her into dropping her case, though these claims have not been independently verified.

Buzbee, who represents the plaintiff, said in a statement Saturday, “The pleading speaks for itself. This is a very serious matter that will be litigated in court.”

Carter’s statement further criticized the lawsuit, emphasizing his willingness to fight the allegations. “These alleged victims would deserve real justice if that were the case,” he said. “But this… is not justice.”

Lizzo Cleared of Multiple Harassment Claims in Stylist's Lawsuit

Lizzo, dressed as "LizzOzempic" for Halloween in a playful nod to a 'South Park' parody. The pop star recently secured a legal victory in a harassment lawsuit. (Photo via Lizzo's official Instagram)

A California judge dismissed several claims in a harassment and discrimination lawsuit against pop star Lizzo by her former stylist, Asha Daniels, in a significant legal victory for the Grammy-winning artist.

Daniels, who worked as a wardrobe assistant on Lizzo's 2023 "Big Grrrl Big Tour," filed the lawsuit in September 2023. She alleged a "sexualized, racially charged, and illegal work environment," accusing her manager, Amanda Nomura, of physical and verbal abuse.

However, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha ruled on Monday, that many of Daniels' claims fell outside U.S. jurisdiction, as the alleged misconduct primarily took place during the European leg of the tour. "These allegations do not establish plausibly that any portion of plaintiff's claim arose from work performed in the United States or qualifying territories," the judge wrote in his ruling. Additionally, the judge found Daniels lacked sufficient evidence to support her claim for unpaid overtime.

Lizzo's attorney, Doug Weinstein, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing Lizzo's determination to fight the accusations. "There's a reason that Lizzo continues to fight long after most public figures would have settled—because these allegations are false and can't be allowed to stand," Weinstein said.

Daniels' lawsuit also described alleged derogatory remarks and wrongful termination for refusing to follow what she called "demeaning" instructions. Specific details of these instructions were not made public. The lawsuit further claimed that members of Lizzo's team made disparaging comments about the singer and other dancers.

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A post shared by Lizzo (@lizzobeeating)

Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, has consistently denied the allegations. "Usually I choose not to respond to false allegations, but these are as unbelievable as they sound and too outrageous not to address," Lizzo said in a social media post.

The case is separate from another lawsuit filed in August 2023 by three former backup dancers who have accused Lizzo of sexual harassment and creating a hostile work environment. That case remains ongoing.

While Judge Aenlle-Rocha dismissed several claims against Lizzo, her touring company, Big Grrrl Big Touring, Inc., still faces other claims in Daniels' lawsuit. Additional legal proceedings are expected to address these remaining claims, along with the pending lawsuit by the backup dancers.