10 Artists We’re Most Excited to See at Summer Smash 2025

June 20–22 | SeatGeek Stadium, Chicago, IL

It’s the seventh year of Lyrical Lemonade’s Summer Smash, and the lineup feels like something out of hip-hop fan fiction. Future is headlining. Don Toliver and Yeat are forming a duo (?!). And Young Thug is making a long-awaited comeback that’ll probably go down in festival history. This is one of those “don’t miss it” kind of years.

We went through the lineup and picked 10 sets we think will be the talk of the weekend. Whether you’re here for the hits, the chaos, or the surprises, these are the artists you’ll want to catch.

Young Thug

Young Thug hasn’t performed live in years, and after all the legal noise, he’s finally back. His first post-jail performance is going down in Chicago, and there’s no doubt the energy is going to be off the charts.

Thug’s catalog is deep, weird, beautiful, and just plain fun. From “Lifestyle” to “Hot” to his newer features with Lil Baby and Carti, there’s so much he could pull from. Expect surprises. Expect emotion. Expect a crowd that knows every single word.

Don Toliver & Yeat (World Debut as a Duo)

This is brand new territory. Don Toliver and Yeat teaming up for a full joint set is not something we had on our 2025 bingo card. It’s an odd pairing on paper—Don’s smooth, Yeat’s chaos—but that’s exactly why we want to see how it plays out.

Don brings the melodies, the vibes. Yeat brings the alien energy and viral slang. If they’ve got unreleased music together (which, let’s be honest, they probably do), this set could be the birth of something big—or at least weird and fun.

Future

Few artists can command a festival stage like Future. He’s a headliner in every sense—hits for days, that hypnotic voice, and a catalog that spans club anthems to heartbreak bangers.

You know the crowd’s going to go feral the second “March Madness” drops. Or “Mask Off.” Or anything from DS2. Future doesn’t need much to own a stage. Just hand him a mic, hit play, and let the crowd go off.

Sexyy Red

Sexyy Red is pure fun. Her music’s blunt, her delivery is bold, and she has that wild charisma that makes everything feel like a party. She’s not afraid to get a little messy with it, and fans love her for that.

If you’ve seen any clips of her live shows, you already know: this is not a chill set. It’s a twerk-a-thon, a scream-along, a good time.

Lil Yachty

Yachty’s been on a wild evolution the last few years. From colorful trap kid to psychedelic rocker to full-on experimental weirdo, he’s doing whatever he wants—and it’s working.

He still knows how to bring the hits (“Minnesota,” “Broccoli,” “iSpy”), but if we’re lucky, he’ll throw in some Let’s Start Here material or one of those moody guitar-heavy tracks. His stage presence has only gotten better with age.

Saba

Saba is one of Chicago’s finest, and this hometown set is going to feel special. He’s not the flashiest artist on the lineup, but he’s one of the most thoughtful. His bars hit home, and his live band usually brings a whole other level.

If you want something more grounded after the high-octane chaos, this is the set to hit. It’ll still be lively, but in that “hold-your-chest-and-nod-your-head” kinda way.

Ski Mask the Slump God

Ski Mask is pure adrenaline. His flow is rapid-fire, his beats slap, and he moves like he’s powered by energy drinks and anime references. If you’re trying to rage, this one’s non-negotiable.

He’s been quiet on the release front lately, so there’s hope we’ll get some new material too. Either way, expect pits, weird dance moves, and a whole lot of yelling.

NLE Choppa

Choppa’s energy is unmatched. He’s the kind of performer who’s jumping into the crowd before the first chorus even hits. His songs are rowdy, catchy, and built for live shows.

He’s also leaned more into wellness and spirituality recently, which makes for an interesting contrast—he might start his set with yoga and end it with “Shotta Flow.” We’re here for all of it.

TiaCorine

TiaCorine brings that offbeat, genre-bending vibe that breaks up the lineup in the best way. She’s playful, unpredictable, and low-key one of the most stylish artists out right now.

Her songs can flip between cute and chaotic in the same breath, and she knows how to work a crowd. It’s gonna feel like a glitchy anime rave..

Chance the Rapper

Chance showing up as a “special set” feels like a wink to the city. He’s been quieter in recent years, but when he shows out in Chicago, it’s always love. His early stuff still hits like nostalgia, and Coloring Book will always be a crowd favorite.

What makes this set exciting is the mystery. Will he bring out guests? New music? A full-band gospel explosion? Whatever it is, it’ll be something personal—and something the city shows up for.

See you in Chicago. Bring water. Leave the weak shoes at home.