Who's Who of Dreamville: What You Need to Know About Each Artist

Imagine if Willy Wonka emailed golden tickets in 2019, not to random people, but to similar candy-makers in preparation of creating a new candy. Dreamville Records sent out dozens of gold graphics, inviting collaborators and media personnel to recording sessions for the roster’s upcoming project, Revenge of the Dreamers III. Normally, compilations aren’t anything to get out of bed for, but Dreamville is a different kind of beast entirely, quickly on its way to becoming one of hip-hop’s most important labels.

What separates Dreamville from its contemporaries is that it contains a trove of artists cut from the same cloth and community. With a roster of eight artists, the label has made a concerted effort to develop talent into sensible stars instead of chasing after viral names. Revenge of the Dreamers III is the third installment in the running series (Revenge of the Dreamers dropped in 2014 and Revenge of the Dreamers II released in 2015) and it looks like this is the iteration that’ll shake the culture awake and wipe the crust out of its eyes. Here’s a rundown on Dreamville’s roster of eclectic talents, in alphabetical order.

Sometimes, modern R&B music ends up sounding like evidence tapes for exorcisms. Many of the biggest hits from the last few years are made up of disembodied whispers and chants, minimalism, and forced attempts to massage the eardrums instead of sending chills down the spine. It sounds good in a neck beard and beanie-hat-in-summer kind of way, but it isn't always memorable. Ari Lennox is the antithesis to this, with deeply soulful music that pays homage to the earnestness of 90s R&B, while pushing a modern ferocity. The 27-year-old vocalist officially joined Dreamville in 2015 and appeared on Revenge of the Dreamers II’s “Backseat” with label-mate Cozz. She released her debut EP Pho the following year and carved her own distinct lane, as the nostalgic project showcased her wall-shaking vocals and confident sexuality. Last year, she released five sultry singles, including the smooth yet powerful “Whipped Cream” and the hazy “Grampa,” and appeared on the Creed II soundtrack with Cole on “Shea Butter Baby.”

Bas predates most of Dreamville Records roster in terms of having a relationship with J. Cole. In an interview with DJ Vlad, the 31-year-old rapper revealed that he knew Cole since the latter attended St. John’s University in the late 2000s. Bas learned much of what he knows about the game of hip-hop from him as well. Bas’ style comes from a similar atmosphere as his label-head, often tying together energetic, conscious rhymes with a nice ear for melody—not quite R&B, but definitely not rap. For Revenge of the Dreamers III, Bas will undoubtedly offer a reprieve for listeners looking for Cole’s energy, but with a different flavor. Bas’ expanding palette of lyrical devices sucks you in, but it’s his energy that’ll keep you listening.

The 25-year-old beating heart of Dreamville Records is Cozz, a Los Angeles native with a knack for crafting songs about maturation and the problems that come with it. He comes from a similar thematic cloth as Cole: rappers who like to explore humanity instead of riches. Where they differ is in the smoothness. Cozz’s music carries soul, but is purposefully jagged. It’s a story being told in passing, not by an experienced bard. His unique style caught J. Cole’s ear early, after a friend managed to show him the video for Cozz’s breakout single “Dreams.” Shortly after, Cozz was brought on board, and since then he’s captivated with four projects that grab the listener and bring them into his world.

EarthGang is an eclectic rap duo who lazily get compared to Big Boi and André 3000, but the comparison fails to recognize the interplay between the rappers’ styles. Big Boi and André have opposite styles that happen to mesh together well; Earth Gang’s Johnny Venus and WowGr8 (aka Doctur Dot) have styles that are similar and build off each other. The world was first introduced to their artistry through Shallow Graves for Toys in 2013 and its playful lyricism earned the duo praise as some of hip-hop’s sharpest rising tongues. Over the years (Torba followed in 2015, and Rags and Robots released within a three-month window in 2017), EarthGang has consistently built on their sound palette, experimenting with ideas and aesthetics weird enough to incite curiosity. Their unpredictability make them an exciting wild card for the upcoming compilation.

At the top of Dreamville is J. Cole, the Germany-born, Fayetteville, NC-raised rap paragon. He’s dropped a series of albums that test the mettle of listeners' thinking, from the introspective Cole World: The Sideline Story in 2011 to last year’s drug abuse and mental health-PSA, KOD. The 33-year-old rapper founded the label in 2007 while creating one of his early works, The Come Up. Seven years later, Cole announced that the imprint signed a distribution deal with Interscope Records. Cole’s classic lyricist style is inspired by those who came before him in rap’s Golden Age, but it isn’t obsessed with staying in those stylistic conventions. On the upcoming project, Cole’s inclusion will bring an element of familiarity that ties all eight voices together. It looks like he'll be steering the ship on this one.

28-year-old Atlanta native J.I.D is the label’s fiery ball of energy that keeps everyone on their Ps and Qs. As comfortable as he sounds outdoing Cole on “Off Deez,” it’s hard to believe that he just signed to Dreamville Records in 2017. He dropped his first mixtape Cakewalk in 2010 and released four more before The Never Story in 2017. By the time he made it to Dreamville, J.I.D was already polished; he knew what kind of artist he was, what kind he wasn’t, and how to maneuver the industry. His 2018 album, DiCaprio 2, is his best work yet. His energy is almost like a sadistic movie villain, as he guides listeners down winding pathways throughout the album. On Revenge of the Dreamers III, J.I.D. will bring the energy that adds more pep into Dreamville’s already large step.

Lute might be Dreamville Records’ best kept secret. The 29-year-old rapper specializes in hard-hitting, boom-bap, nostalgic verses. Instead of sounding dated, though, Lute comes across determined and comfortable within his aesthetic. Perhaps that’s why, in 2012, J. Cole did his research after hearing about the rapper through the grapevine in Florida and decided to give him a shot. He was officially announced to Dreamville’s roster in 2015 and appeared on Revenge of the Dreamers II that year. In 2017, he released his studio album debut West1996 pt. 2. Originally set to be released as a free mixtape and sequel to West1996, the album dug deep into the five-year period of its constitution, acting as both a journal and send-off to a life of uncertainty in rap. His inclusion in Revenge of the Dreamers III will be the first glimpse into his current life circumstances and might finally bring him into the spotlight.

This will make three Revenge of the Dreamers installments that Omen will appear on, yet, of Dreamville’s intimate cast of artists, he’s perhaps the least recognizable. It’s probably because he’s only released his debut album Elephant Eyes—a project about personal growth—in 2015, and has been relatively quiet since (musically at least, on Twitter he’s about as conversational as Joe Budden). The 35-year-old rapper’s delivery resides somewhere between a chant and a whisper, and it drips with the kind of charismatic energy usually reserved for viral party anthems. Of the label, Omen brings a unique mix of the label-standard lyrical supremacy and a sensual, jazzy element that makes his music appropriate for all occasions. Listen to “48 Laws” and it will tell you everything you need to know about his artistry.