Armani Caesar, Lakeyah, and Kaash Paige Shine at Rolling Loud
Miami’s annual Rolling Loud music festival might be regarded by some as a male-dominated event, with the majority of the headlining artists over the years being men, as well as the general lineup. At this year’s Rolling Loud festival, popular male artists such as A$AP Rocky, Travis Scott, and Post Malone were the main headliners, along with other huge performances from Jack Harlow, Lil Uzi Vert, Gucci Mane, and Tyga. In spite of men making up the majority of the festival, female artists were able to hold their own this year, refusing to back down despite being such a small minority of the overall performances.
Though mainstream female talents like Megan Thee Stallion, Latto, and Flo Milli had their moments of truth on the Rolling Loud stage, lesser-known and upcoming artists made big waves as well. Three particular female artists that made their mark this year in Miami were Griselda’s Armani Caesar, Quality Control’s Lakeyah, and Roc Nation’s Kaash Paige. Throughout each one of their performances, they brought an authentic presence and unique energy to audiences.
When Armani Caesar took the stage at Rolling Loud, she exhibited Junior Mafia-era realness as she brought classic New York City hip-hop all the way to Miami, Florida for fans to enjoy. Performing songs from her album, THE LIZ, Caesar captivated those around her with the same confidence and grace seen in New York rap legends like Lil’ Kim and Foxy Brown. In addition to this, guest appearances were made by her Griselda label mates Conway and Westside Gunn, both of whom she collaborated with on her most recent album.
In the middle of Caesar’s set, she also paid her respects to recently passed rap legend, Biz Markie, who is mentioned in her song, “Mac 10s for Everybody.” During her performance of the song, she plays the iconic “Just a Friend” for a couple of seconds before continuing with her verse.
The “female goat,” better known by her stage name Lakeyah, was perhaps one of the most quality acts at the festival. Despite being relatively new on the rap scene, Lakeyah had an amazing stage presence, one with high energy and a good amount of crowd control. Though only 19 years of age, she comes off so seasoned that she may appear more experienced and well-versed in her craft than peers who might be older in age. While performing songs like “From the Bottom,” “Female Goat,” “Big FlexHer,” and “Basic” she commanded the stage with every lyric and motion, making her powerful to watch. Her attitude and zesty spirit put her in the same bracket as women who came before her like Eve and Nicki Minaj.
Lakeyah’s set was nothing short of greatness.
During her set at Rolling Loud, Dallas-native Kaash Paige exemplified what it means to have fun. As opposed to other artists, who exude more chaotic and upbeat energy, Kaash Paige brought more of a nonchalant and calming to her performance, bringing peace to what looked like a very fast-paced environment. Though many would find being on stage in front of thousands of people to be a nerve-wracking experience, Kaash Paige was able to avoid this by being in somewhat of a meditative state. Her vibe and style made the atmosphere of the Rolling Loud stage far more personal and relatable to the audience as if her act was taking place at a small, local venue rather than one for the masses.
Kaash Paige’s performance serves as a friendly reminder that having fun as an entertainer should be your number one priority if nothing else matters.