No joke: 50 Cent to replace Chris Brown at Dreamville Fest 2024

Brown was set to headline the first day of the festival, alongside SZA. In addition, rapper Hunxho was announced as a replacement for Muni Long, who could no longer perform at the event.

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The announcement initially caused some confusion as many thought it was an April Fool's Day joke, but Dreamville spokesman Trey Hicks told WRAL the lineup change is "definitely real."

"50 Cent and Hunxho are replacing Chris Brown and Muni Long who can no longer perform due to unforeseen circumstances," Hicks confirmed Monday morning.

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The Dreamville Festival is planned April 6-7 at Dix Park in Raleigh. Some tickets still remain for the event.

SZA, 50 Cent, J.I.D., Lil Yachty, Schoolboy Q, Sexxy Rd, Jeremih, Earthgang, Teezo Touchdown, Amaarae, Lute, Luh Tyler and Domani are set to perform on Saturday, April 6.

J. Cole and Nicki Minaj are headliners for April 7. Other performances that day will include Rema, Jeezy, Monica, Rae Sremmurd, Key Glock, Bas, Hunxho, Cozz, Omen, Tiacorine and Chase Shakur.

"I woke up and I noticed that they posted the change. It is April 1st, so my first thought was like, you know, maybe it's a prank or April Fool's joke," festival ticket holder Toni Cooper said Monday. Cooper is planning to drive up from South Carolina for the event.

Cooper was "bummed out" to hear Brown was no longer on the bill.

"It's just short notice for people to make arrangements if they do decide to sell their tickets and everything, so it was kind of shocking that it happened," Cooper said.

Sharie Taylor of Franklin County also thought the announcement was an April Fool's Day joke.

"I was like, '50 Cent?' I am 26-years-old, so Chris Brown is like a little more nostalgic for me than 50 Cent was," Taylor said. "I was really just kind of disappointed...I was like, 'I want to see Chris Brown.'"

While Taylor said she will still enjoy the festival, "the vibe will definitely be different."

Henry Gilmore of Kings Mountain, N.C., said he isn't selling his ticket, but some of his friends are, in light of the new lineup.

"If I were to see the lineup today, I wouldn't buy a ticket," Gilmore said.