The best moments from Camp Flog Gnaw 2025

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Look, living in LA, we get all sorts of drama, but a little rain usually isn’t a big deal. Still, last week’s storm really threw a wrench into things at Tyler, the Creator’s festival at Dodger Stadium. It wasn’t just a drizzle – things got seriously soggy, and everyone had to figure out what to do when the whole area became basically unpassable.

Honestly, the festival getting pushed back a week was a bit of a headache. Some of my favorite artists like Sombr, Tems, and Clairo had to cancel, though we did get Kali Uchis as a welcome addition. It meant a lot of us with nonrefundable flights had to scramble to make plans for the extra week in L.A. But once we finally got inside Dodger Stadium, everything really fell into place. It was an amazing weekend, and I want to share some of the best performances!

Timothée Chalamet’s ‘Marty Supreme’ blimp makes an appearance

Timothée Chalamet recently shared a funny, 18-minute video promoting his new film, “Marty Supreme.” The video is a mock marketing meeting where Chalamet jokingly suggests wild advertising ideas, such as painting the Statue of Liberty orange. In one scene from the Zoom meeting, he proposes flying a blimp over a festival and dropping branded ping-pong balls on the crowd.

Just before Tyler, the Creator took the stage, a bright orange blimp with “Marty Supreme” written on it appeared above Dodger Stadium, exactly as Timothée Chalamet had predicted. Festival attendees stopped what they were doing to point and watch the unusual sight.

But thankfully, no raining ping-pong balls made an appearance. (Cerys Davies)

Geese fly high

Each generation seems to have its defining rock band, and for Gen Z (or perhaps even Gen Alpha), that band might be Geese. Fronted by singer Cameron Winter, this New York-based group played at Flog Gnaw just a day after a show in Brooklyn. Winter explained to the audience they immediately flew to California after finishing a tour because they didn’t want to stop performing. Geese’s music blends angular, energetic guitar work with a strangely beautiful quality, creating a vibe that makes people want to both dance and jump around. They clearly follow in the footsteps of iconic New York bands like the Strokes, Television, and the Velvet Underground. However, this performance also showcased a noticeable influence from Los Angeles, particularly in Emily Green’s guitar playing, reminiscent of John Frusciante, and in Winter’s dramatic, emotional delivery, which evoked a bit of Jim Morrison.

Happy 10th anniversary to Mac Miller’s “GO:OD AM”

Amidst the many booths and attractions at the festival, the album cover for Mac Miller’s “GO:OD AM” – featuring his recognizable face – was a striking sight. Photographer Brick Stowell hosted a small exhibit to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the album and honor the late rapper. While waiting to enter, fans swapped stories about listening to Miller’s music and fondly remembered seeing him perform at Camp Flog Gnaw in years past. The exhibit itself was understated, featuring a handful of large prints chosen by Stowell. The photos showed Miller smiling, playing guitar, and spending time with friends. The album played quietly in the background, and some visitors relaxed on couches, eyes closed. The tent offered a calm, respectful atmosphere, a stark contrast to the festival’s usual energy. (C.D.)

Kali Uchis mixed red-hot seduction with ICE-cold activism

Kali Uchis surprised everyone at the festival with a wildly creative performance, despite being a late addition to the schedule. She didn’t just sing – she created a whole dreamlike world. She performed her song “All I Can Say” from inside a giant teacup, encouraging couples to kiss, and sang “Heaven Is a Home” while perched on the back of a motorcycle driven by a woman in a striking outfit. The stage design included a massive bed with pink satin sheets. Uchis is known for her imaginative music, but she also used her platform to address important issues. She shared a video about her family’s struggles as immigrants working multiple jobs, emphasizing the vital contributions of immigrants to the country. Before leaving the stage, she spoke out against ICE and their human rights violations, highlighting the fear within her community.

Tyler, the Creator’s heartfelt thank you

Tyler, the Creator wasn’t going to let a little rain ruin the Flog Gnaw festival, and he seemed especially energetic as the event’s host. Dressed in a red leather suit reminiscent of Eddie Murphy’s stand-up attire, he kicked off his performance with songs like “Big Poe” and “Sugar on My Tongue” – the same tracks that start his recent, surprise hip-house album, “Don’t Tap the Glass.” He also played songs from last year’s album, “Chromakopia,” which has been nominated for Album of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards. Interestingly, “Don’t Tap the Glass” is competing against albums by The Cure and Wet Leg in the alternative music category.

Tyler’s stage looked like a New York City subway station, even featuring a train car he playfully moved across. During “Don’t You Worry Baby,” he performed with a roller-skating dancer, and for “Noid,” he acted out frustrations with paparazzi with the help of two people filming. As the show went on, Tyler began performing shortened versions of his songs, sticking to just a verse or chorus to fit in more of his hits like “Earfquake,” “Wusyaname,” and “See You Again.” He thanked the audience for their understanding about the festival being rescheduled, acknowledging it wasn’t perfect, and for supporting Flog Gnaw for eleven years. He clearly has a strong and genuine connection with his fans. (M.W.)

Ca7riel & Paco Amoroso’s roller coaster of a set

After winning five Latin Grammys earlier this month, Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso performed a surprising and energetic set at the CFA. The crowd started small, as people were still leaving Tyler, the Creator’s performance. But as the Argentine rappers, wearing Versace, played their popular songs like “Dumbai” and “Sheesh,” a large and enthusiastic crowd quickly gathered and began dancing.

Just months after their popular Tiny Desk performance, the unpredictable duo Ca7riel and Paco Amoroso showed off their versatility. Their live show jumps wildly between styles – one minute it’s a high-energy EDM rave with lasers and fog, the next it’s Ca7riel unleashing a punk-fueled shout, and then they’re playfully singing a body-positive anthem about self-love. You never know what they’ll do next, and that’s exactly what makes them so captivating. (C.D.)

Clipse turn in a triumphant set

2023 was a huge year for the rap duo Clipse, made up of Pusha T and Malice. After a 16-year hiatus, they released the album “Let God Sort Em Out” and celebrated with a popular reunion tour and some memorable interviews. Their performance at NPR’s Tiny Desk went viral, earning over 3.5 million views by November, and they received four Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. It made perfect sense that they were asked to return to the Camp Flog Gnaw festival, having previously performed there in 2023.

The Clipse kicked off their performance with the hard-hitting track “Chains and Whips,” a song full of sharp lyrics explaining why they’re on a different level than most current rappers. They didn’t waste any time, quickly moving through songs from their new album, including the heartfelt “Birds Don’t Sing,” which they dedicated to their parents. Later, Tyler, the Creator joined them on stage for a performance of “P.O.V.” right after finishing his own energetic set.

The Clipse delighted longtime fans by performing hits like “Mr. Me Too” and “What Happened to That Boy.” During their performance of “Grindin,” a video montage of Black individuals step dancing, dancing freely, and playfully mimicking the song’s beat on lunch tables was shown on the large screens.

The Clipse’s performance proved exactly why they’ve remained successful for over two decades and show no signs of slowing down, much like their hit song, “Let God Sort Em Out.” — Kailyn Brown

Childish Gambino’s fast-paced, fan-voted retrospective

Childish Gambino’s concert felt like a fast-paced journey through his music. Before taking the stage, Donald Glover let fans choose the songs he’d perform. He packed as much as possible into his one-hour set, playing everything from his popular songs like “Redbone” and a brief portion of “This is America,” to his cover of Outkast’s “Prototype” and the track “Les” from 2011. He often played just the first verse and chorus of each song, moving quickly to the next, which created an energetic and exciting performance.

During the show, Donald Glover, wearing a shimmering tank top, shared a personal story with the audience. It was his first performance since unexpectedly canceling his world tour last year. He revealed he’d suffered a stroke while on stage in Louisiana, and later discovered he had a heart defect requiring surgery. As he spoke, a stunning drone light show illuminated the sky, displaying images of a heart and other moving designs.

Throughout his health struggles, he kept focusing on not letting people down and jokingly admitted he was still trying to emulate Jamie Foxx, which the audience enjoyed. For the rest of the show, he was clearly grateful to be there, often saying he wasn’t sure he’d be able to perform. He seemed completely dedicated to bringing joy to the crowd through his music.

The rapper left with a final message, “You have one life, so live your life as you want.” (C.D.)

Blood Orange puts CFG in a trance

After the heartwarming friendship between Geezer (Kevin Abstract and Dominic Fike), Blood Orange continued the positive vibes on the main stage. While their music often sounds sad, the band’s performance was surprisingly energetic. Even during songs about difficult emotions like loss and loneliness – such as the powerful “Charcoal Baby” – Dev Hynes managed to get the whole audience jumping.

Blood Orange recently returned to the festival after releasing his album, “Essex Honey,” saying he loved performing there last year. He and his band effortlessly switched between instruments – playing cello, keyboards, synthesizers, drums, and both electric and acoustic guitars. This created a unique sound, seamlessly mixing dark electronic music with his distinctive high vocals, feel-good jazz, and 80s synth-pop. The performance, enhanced by fog and pink lighting, felt like one unified, dreamy experience. (C.D.)

Helicopters, a megaphone and pink hair curlers: ASAP Rocky keeps Flog Gnaw classic

Just as ASAP Rocky was about to perform as the festival’s final act, a helicopter began flying overhead, shining a spotlight on the audience. At the same time, the stage screens showed a fake news broadcast ‘searching’ for the Sunday headliner and claiming he hadn’t released his album. In a surprising entrance, ASAP Rocky appeared on his own hovering helicopter, holding a megaphone and wearing pink hair rollers.

The rapper, 37, openly said he intended to incite excitement in the crowd, and he frequently checked on the tightly packed audience. Soon after, around a dozen people wearing hoodies and carrying upside-down American flags joined him, forming a mosh pit as he rapped. He performed a mix of his classic songs like “L$D” and “Potato Salad” (with a guest appearance from Tyler, the Creator) and newer hits such as “Praise the Lord (Da Shine)” and “Sundress,” sticking to his strengths: a stylish stage presence and impressive lyrical skill. (C.D.)

T-Pain knows your knees hurt

T-Pain jokingly exclaimed, “I’m getting old!” during his performance on Sunday night. He explained that he was worried about finishing the set, and when he saw how large the stage was, his knees actually buckled.

At 41, he’s definitely an established performer at Flog Gnaw, and still moves surprisingly well. His performance was one of the most popular of the entire weekend, and it’s easy to see why.

Recent performances, like his incredibly popular Tiny Desk concert and energetic Coachella set, have confirmed what many already knew: Pain is a gifted musician with a natural talent for creating catchy melodies and interesting chords. His smooth R&B vocals, often enhanced with digital effects, weren’t a way to mask anything – they were actually ahead of their time and a deliberate artistic choice.

As a big fan of music from that era, I remember Flog Gnaw being a totally different vibe – these kids hadn’t been beaten down by all the Auto-Tune stuff that dominated the 2000s. For them, Odd Future’s music, especially Earl Sweatshirt, felt like a pure, amazing time for hip-hop. It came up during a tough time – right after the recession, when Obama was first giving everyone hope – and Earl just dropped hit after hit. He was so clever, so aware of what he was doing, and clearly a master of his art. His songs still feel special today, honestly – they cut through all the negativity and cynicism you see in music now.

This album feels truly deserved – listening to songs like “Bartender” makes you miss the simple pleasure of chatting with a friendly bartender (even if you’re ordering a non-alcoholic drink these days!). Tracks like “Up Down” and “Can’t Believe It” evoke a nostalgic feeling, like looking through old photos from a fun night. For younger listeners, it perfectly captures the carefree spirit of a relatable online culture.

Beyond a short segment where Pain referenced controversial collaborations with Chris Brown, Kanye West, and R. Kelly—effectively criticizing the problematic figures in R&B—his performance was a string of hits, cleverly presented within the context of the genre’s history. He tapped into what R&B does best: evoking nostalgic feelings, even if those memories are tied to wild nights—like spilling tequila while dressed to impress at a Hollywood club in 2008. (A.B.)

Doechii, the classroom disciplinarian of your dreams

Doechii’s energetic Sunday night performance felt like a rap lesson, but a wildly unconventional one. She was like a teacher you’d unexpectedly run into at the grocery store, pushing a cart full of alcohol and sharing a mischievous look.

SZA’s performance was incredible – her rapping skills and stage presence are truly captivating. It made me question how some artists still manage to perform relying heavily on pre-recorded tracks. From the powerful opening of “Stanka Pooh,” with its striking lyrics about loss and social justice, to the energetic dance vibes of “Alter Ego” and the playfully provocative “Spooky Coochie,” she consistently showcased the full extent of her carefully developed talent.

Doechii is a remarkably talented performer – a playful, energetic dancer with excellent comedic timing and surprisingly strong vocals. By the time she performed deeper cuts like “Boom Bap” and the popular track “Catfish,” she firmly established herself as one of the most exciting and skilled rappers currently working.

She chose not to perform “Anxiety,” a song that didn’t fit the powerful energy of the show. But after her performance on Sunday night, she can confidently put any personal struggles behind her. (A.B.)

Zack Fox brings us to the (f)unction with globetrotting set

Within the first 15 minutes of Zack Fox’s 90-minute DJ set, playfully called “Zack’s Big Nasty & Booty Shake,” people in the crowd were already starting to sweat and take off clothes because they were getting warm, despite anticipating a chilly evening.

Wearing leather sandals with white socks, an Atlanta Falcons apron, and using a grill as his DJ booth (while cooking, naturally), the performer – a rapper, comedian, and actor – really got the crowd going. Known for his energetic shows, he played a diverse mix of music from around the world, including Brazilian Baile funk, Chicago house, Baltimore club, New Orleans bounce, soul, gospel, Detroit techno, and, fittingly, Atlanta rap, as he’s a local. He reminded the audience, “Dance music is Black music,” while keeping everyone moving. He also led the crowd in chants supporting Palestine and protesting ICE.

Of course, a cookout isn’t complete without great people! Fox invited a fantastic group of dancers, including a grandmother in a church hat who surprised everyone with a backflip, and the well-known ballroom dancer, Pack Rat. As Fox seamlessly mixed songs by artists like Khia, KW Griff, and Frankie Beverly and Maze, the dancers showed off their moves – voguing, shuffling, and doing line dances. Even Janelle James, who plays Principal Coleman on “Abbott Elementary,” joined in and danced along with Fox during his performance.

He finished his performance with the gospel song “We Lift Our Hands in the Sanctuary” by Kurt Carr. He playfully extended the song several times, repeating the lines “Yes! Yes, Lord, for the rest of our days” to keep the energy going. (K.B.)

Ying and yang rappers, Larry June and 2Chainz, show us the finer things in life

Larry June, a relaxed rapper from the Bay Area who focuses on healthy living and smart money choices, and 2Chainz, a well-known Atlanta rapper famous for clever songs like “Birthday Song,” might seem like an odd pairing. However, when they performed their collaborative album, “Life is Beautiful,” they clicked perfectly. The big audience showed just how special the event was, as it was one of the few times they’ve performed the album since its release in February.

The concert had a similar feel to the movie “Life is Beautiful,” with relaxing, jazz-influenced music provided by The Alchemist. The stage design featured imagery of the ocean and yachts, creating a luxurious atmosphere as they performed songs like “Colossal,” “Generation,” “I Been,” and “Bad Choices.” Sadly, The Alchemist couldn’t be there because he was on tour with DJ Premier.

As the rappers performed, the backdrop transformed to show scenes from their hometowns. Larry June, dressed comfortably in a sweatsuit, played mellow songs like “Smoothies in 1991” and “Watering My Plants.” Meanwhile, 2Chainz, sporting a leather outfit, energized the crowd with hits such as “I’m Different” and “Watch Out.”

The pair ended the performance with the peaceful flute piece “Life is Beautiful,” a gentle reminder to appreciate life’s simple joys, celebrate small accomplishments, and savor every moment. (K.B.)

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2025-11-25 00:33