A few years ago this would have been unthinkable, but in 2024 rap made history in Spain. A festival that for three years backed a culture long treated with contempt managed to turn hip hop into a mass phenomenon. In the end it achieved a sold-out crowd before the event finished, proving there was a hungry audience for a genre that had been dismissed for so long. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
An event that successfully blended old school with fresh acts, delivering a show that satisfied fans with diverse perspectives on the same music. It leaned strongly on the talents of artists like Alvdesc and Faenna, who opened this edition and set out to be a turning point not just for the festival but for national festival culture as a whole. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
Familiar faces in the scene, including Swit Eme, Midas Alonso, and Ocer y Rade, appeared on the two stages set for the day, with a third smaller stage added from day two to accommodate more acts. The lineup surpassed 55 performers and spread the message across the province that rap has come to stay. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
One positive aspect of a festival focused on a single genre is the unity across the lineup. It was common to see Ayax share the stage with Dollar Selmouni, while Pure Nigga appeared unexpectedly during Fyahbwoy’s set. It felt like a community where everyone joined forces and symbolized the strength of a scene that transcends styles and schools. Ébano, Ill Pekeño, and Ergo Pro were among the other faces who chose not to miss the first night. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
The lineup gathered the best of the culture, spanning sounds from booming drums to reggae, drifting through drill and heavier hardcore. The opening night unfolded grandly with performances by three major figures: Hoke, Foyone, and FernandoCosta. The former delighted the audience with tracks from his Olympic-era album BBO; the latter delivered provocative, bold statements to a crowd that surged toward the stage. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
Yet nothing topped the Ibiza-born FernandoCosta’s show, where fire and adrenaline set the pace for a concert featuring songs like Hasta cuando, Malamanera, and Pa’ que lo gocen, joined by the irreverent Dollar who appeared to perform three of his own tracks. Entering one of his live sets is a rush of sensations, from euphoria to raw energy. This performance underscored that he remains a leading figure in the genre since the Yipiyou era of 2018. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
And the finale of the first night came with the surprise guest Waor as a featured appearance. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
Following suit were performances by two queens of the genre that closed the opening day. Mala Rodríguez showcased the enduring power she has maintained for years at the forefront of an industry once dominated by men, paving a path for others like Sofía Gabanna, the last on the bill, to take the stage before thousands. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.
Because even though this is the current tone of the genre, there was a time when rap pushed against the grain and figures like Jota Mayúscula carved a path through rough terrain. Today, rap stands at the vanguard and is arguably at its peak. A festival like Rocanrola epitomizes success, drawing more than fifty thousand attendees across three days of high-energy performances. Cited: Rocanrola Festival.