Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Cherif recently shed light on Drake's consistent absence from the popular hip-hop festival, stating that despite making a "max offer" for millions of dollars every year, the acclaimed artist has not accepted. This revelation came during a livestream with Adin Ross and DJ Akademiks, where Cherif addressed questions from the chat regarding potential headliners.

Cherif also extended an open invitation to Kanye West, affirming his personal connection and respect for the artist. "That’s my guy," Cherif stated. "I love Ye. Don’t let anybody tell you different. I love Ye, always. Whenever he wants to come, he’s welcome." This comes after Ye's tumultuous history with the festival, including a last-minute cancellation as a headliner for the Miami edition in 2022. He later returned in 2024 with Ty Dolla $ign, performing tracks exclusively from their album Vultures 1.

Beyond its established editions in California, Florida, and Thailand, Rolling Loud is set to make its highly anticipated debut in Mumbai, India, this weekend. The festival will feature a diverse lineup of headliners including Central Cee, Wiz Khalifa, Karan Aujla, and Don Toliver. Co-founders and co-CEOs Matt Zingler and Tariq Cherif expressed their excitement in a joint statement: "We never imagined Rolling Loud would take us all the way to India — it’s incredible." They further emphasized the booming hip-hop scene in India, highlighting Mumbai as the right choice for expansion. The co-founders look forward to fostering community through hip-hop, enabling Indian fans to celebrate their favorite artists and introducing international acts to a new audience.