AceShowbiz - Ken Carson took center stage at Rolling Loud Orlando on May 10, delivering a high-energy performance that marked the launch of his new project, The Xperiment.

The festival faced a last-minute shuffle when NBA YoungBoy withdrew from his headlining slot on Thursday, May 7. Organizers considered replacements like Rod Wave and YEAT, but ultimately selected Ken Carson to close out the event on Sunday night.

This choice aligned well with the festival’s lineup, as fellow Opium label artists Destroy Lonely and Playboi Carti had already performed on Saturday, May 9, bringing much of the label's fanbase to the festival grounds throughout the weekend.

Ken Carson, whose album More Chaos topped the Billboard 200 last year, capitalized on the prime headlining slot to officially begin the rollout of The Xperiment. The Atlanta native took the stage around 9 p.m. ET, kicking off with an unreleased track from his forthcoming LP that ignited the crowd with its intense, rage-filled production.

The 26-year-old artist maintained high energy throughout the first 13 songs, blending new material with fan favorites. Among these was an anticipated unreleased snippet titled "Grow Apart." As a headliner, Ken Carson made a point to engage not only his core fans but also newer listeners unfamiliar with his full catalog.

Star power amplified the set as several guest artists joined him. First up was Lil Tecca, whose recent success in 2025 made him a natural fit for the main stage. The duo collaborated on tracks "Tic Tac Toe" and "500lbs," seamlessly blending their styles and commanding the crowd’s attention.

Following that, Destroy Lonely appeared to perform alongside Ken Carson on "The Acronym" and "Singapore." Notably, their mentor Playboi Carti was absent during "Singapore," jokingly commenting from backstage, "That's my song, too."

The weekend also saw Young Thug making his presence felt despite not having a scheduled set. Spotted enjoying Popeyes near the festival earlier in the weekend, Thug popped up during Ken Carson's performance to join him on the track "Yuck" from UY SCUTI. He then energized the crowd solo with his hit "Digits."

Saving the best for last, Playboi Carti closed the star-studded guest lineup. Ditching his typical YSL suit, Carti opted for a 2Pac t-shirt, leather pants, and clean white high-top Air Force Ones. Together with Ken Carson, they debuted two fresh collaborations: the dynamic "ARP," featuring Carti's distinct deep voice flow, and "Cover My Ears," which channels the signature Whole Lotta Red sound that has defined their rock-star personas.

Ken Carson also teased fans with brief snippets of unreleased tracks "Boil" and "Stars," before wrapping up his set with a new song influenced by 2hollis' "Girl." In a moment of vulnerability, Ken Carson addressed critics who pigeonhole his style, rapping, "No matter what I make, they gon' call it rage."

As the weekend drew to a close, the impact of Ken Carson's performance was clear. One fan emerged from the intense crowd, describing the experience as, "the greatest set of my life," capturing the euphoric energy that permeated the festival.

Ken Carson made history with his first No. 1 album last year, and his recent international tour stops have been met with enthusiastic crowds. If he continues to build momentum with The Xperiment, rap could soon recognize him as a new niche superstar impossible to ignore on the mainstream stage.

The Rolling Loud Orlando weekend demonstrated the strength of the Opium label’s roster and the rising influence of Ken Carson as he harnesses this pivotal moment in his career.