{"id":2363,"date":"2026-06-14T00:31:00","date_gmt":"2026-06-13T23:31:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/14\/summer-smash-2026-day-1-best-moments\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T00:31:00","modified_gmt":"2026-06-13T23:31:00","slug":"summer-smash-2026-day-1-best-moments","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/14\/summer-smash-2026-day-1-best-moments\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Smash 2026 Day 1: Best Moments"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/rb-hip-hop\/summer-smash-2026-lineup-lil-uzi-vert-playboi-carti-north-west-1236221930\/\">Summer Smash 2026 <\/a>kicked off on Friday (June 12) at the grounds surrounding Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The festival, created by SPKRBX\u00a0and Lyrical Lemonade, has build a reputation as one of the premier rap-heavy fests in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t50,000 fans filled the festival grounds for day one, which was a picture perfect, sunny, 80-degree day about 15 miles outside of Chicago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tIt was an eclectic group on day one, which included vets like Riff Raff along with newcomers like Molly Santana, Nettspend and Pradabagshawty continuing to prove why they could be leaders of the next generation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/chief-keef\">Chief Keef<\/a> and G Herbo displayed their connection with Chicago as drill pioneers and trailblazers for the 2010s in the city. <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/sexyy-red\">Sexyy Red <\/a>made America Sexyy again, and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/music\/music-news\/north-west-first-solo-music-festival-summer-smash-2026-1236272487\/\">North West hit the stage<\/a> for her festival debut with a 15-minute set inside the tent.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/artist\/lil-uzi-vert\">Lil Uzi Vert<\/a> delivered as the night one headliner, showcasing a rock star ability many of his peers think they have, but only a few actually hold at the moment. There were plenty of Chicago sports luminaries sprinkled throughout the crowd, with Chicago Bears teammates Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in attendance.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNight two will find headlining performances from Skrillex, Yung Lean and Baby Keem, while Lil Baby and Playboi Carti will hold down Sunday to bring the festival across the finish line.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tWith day two well underway, here were our top five moments from day one of Summer Smash 2026.<\/p>\n<div id=\"pmc-gallery-vertical\">\n<div class=\"c-gallery-vertical-loader u-gallery-app-shell-loader\">\n<ul class=\"pmc-fallback-list-items lrv-a-unstyle-list lrv-u-margin-t-2\">\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Lil Uzi Vert Teases Unreleased Music &amp; New Album<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tLil Uzi Vert didn\u2019t want to leave the stage shortly after 11 p.m. CT and attempted to stretch out their headlining set as much as they could. Before closing up shop, Uzi left fans with a teaser about his next LP. \u201cNew album on the way,\u201d Uzi said. \u201cI gotta get home and take care of my baby monkey.\u201d An unreleased Uzi song played as fans left the Seatgeek Stadium grounds, which found the Philly rapper debuting a British accent on the track. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Sexyy Red Crashes Chief Keef\u2019s Set<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tSexyy Red doesn\u2019t play when it comes to Chief Keef, as she loves her some Sosa. Big Sexyy performed at the main stage just before Sosa and the St. Louis rapper crashed Chief Keef\u2019s set. They performed their Mike Will Made-It-produced \u201cDAMN SHORTY\u201d collaboration as Sexyy twerked on Sosa, and the chemistry was evident. Maybe they are more than friends?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Molly Santana, the New Hannah Montana<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tMolly Santana followed North West with a set inside Summer Smash\u2019s tent stage. She built off her <em>ICEMAN<\/em> momentum by performing the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/_6ixx__\/status\/2065802565019746728\">live debut of her \u201cRan to Atlanta\u201d collaboration<\/a> with Future and Drake alongside a giant panda. Molly continues to elevate, and her new single \u201cCan\u2019t Touch This\u201d finds her dabbling more in ATL trap than her typical rage rap sound.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>North West\u2019s Festival Debut<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tNorth West, aka Ms. Westy, made her festival debut with an official slot inside the tent at Summer Smash 2026. Rocking teal blue hair, massive sunglasses and a Balenciaga top, North packed out the stage as fans were curious at what kind of performance the 12-year-old was going to deliver.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\t<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/yzyupdates\/status\/2065593309821583692\">She passed the test<\/a> while running through cuts from her<em> N0rth4evr <\/em>EP and<em> Vultures\u2019 <\/em>\u201cTalking,\u201d where North teamed up with her father, Ye. Even Lil Wayne\u2019s son, Lil Novi, crashed the set for a rap royalty family tree moment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item-wrap lrv-u-margin-b-2\">\n<article class=\"pmc-fallback-list-item\">\n<h2>Chief Keef Comes Home &amp; Brings the City With Him<\/h2>\n<p>\t<!-- do not apply CSS styles to this element! --><\/p>\n<div class=\"pmc-not-a-paywall\">\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tChief Keef returned to Chicago for his first performance in the area surrounding the city at Summer Smash 2024 as a special guest, and this year Sosa was back with his own set as the penultimate performer on the main stage.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paragraph larva \/\/ lrv-u-margin-lr-auto  lrv-a-font-body-m   \">\n\tHe brought the city outside with him. No, actually, there might have been 100 people on stage with Sosa. The Chicago drill pioneer ran through the classics like \u201cFaneto,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t Like\u201d and \u201cLove Sosa,\u201d and had some special guests help power his memorable set, including fellow Chitown native G Herbo and Sexyy Red.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\t<a target=\"_blank\" class=\"c-logo lrv-a-unstyle-link u-display-inline-flex lrv-u-width-100p  u-max-width-100 u-height-26 u-max-width-130px@mobile-max u-margin-t-040@mobile-max\" href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/\" title=\"Billboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" style=\"height:100%;width:100%\" viewbox=\"0 0 455.133 94.711\"><path d=\"M70.107 28.859h21.318V93.69H70.107zM95.834 3.51h21.312v90.18H95.834zm25.723 0h21.312v90.18h-21.312zm250.711 32.035v-6.686h-21.315V93.69h21.315V62.792c0-7.949 4.154-12.237 11.728-12.237h2.522V28.229c-6.432.253-11.1 2.271-14.25 7.316M80.764 0c-6.822 0-12.359 5.535-12.359 12.361s5.537 12.363 12.359 12.363c6.828 0 12.361-5.537 12.361-12.363S87.592 0 80.764 0m244.457 33.795c-2.996-3.268-9.967-5.965-15.26-5.965-16.098 0-27.646 10.613-30.473 26.389-3.082-15.135-16.273-26.78-32.359-26.78-16.24 0-29.537 11.781-32.444 27.2-2.822-16.026-15.428-26.648-31.061-26.648-5.801 0-10.596 1.262-14.76 4.16V3.521h-21.312V93.7h20.938v-5.93c5.045 4.668 10.467 6.812 17.154 6.812 14.398 0 26.52-11.271 29.113-26.807 3.055 15.203 16.169 26.76 32.373 26.76 16.065 0 28.949-11.312 32.228-26.125 2.711 16.18 15.531 26.301 30.854 26.301 5.293 0 11.099-1.771 15.009-4.668V93.7h21.312V65.327q.002-1.745-.031-3.406.033-1.66.031-3.405V28.969h-21.312zM181.355 73.948c-6.826 0-12.359-5.535-12.359-12.363 0-6.824 5.533-12.358 12.359-12.358 6.824 0 12.359 5.534 12.359 12.358.001 6.828-5.534 12.363-12.359 12.363m65.774-.99c-6.822 0-12.361-5.539-12.361-12.363s5.539-12.358 12.361-12.358c6.824 0 12.359 5.535 12.359 12.358.001 6.823-5.532 12.363-12.359 12.363m64.047.392c-6.826 0-12.354-5.539-12.354-12.363s5.527-12.358 12.354-12.358c6.832 0 12.359 5.535 12.359 12.358.001 6.824-5.527 12.363-12.359 12.363M433.815 3.5v28.631c-4.156-2.9-8.949-4.16-14.757-4.16-17.782 0-31.654 13.746-31.654 33.55 0 18.664 13.368 33.043 29.642 33.043 6.68 0 12.103-2.146 17.152-6.811v5.928h20.938V3.5zm-12.553 70.288c-6.817 0-12.354-5.539-12.354-12.358 0-6.828 5.535-12.365 12.354-12.365 6.828 0 12.363 5.537 12.363 12.365 0 6.819-5.535 12.358-12.363 12.358M36.072 27.99c-5.803 0-10.594 1.262-14.76 4.16V3.521H0V93.7h20.936v-5.93c5.045 4.668 10.469 6.812 17.156 6.812 16.268 0 29.637-14.383 29.637-33.047 0-19.797-13.874-33.545-31.657-33.545m-2.269 45.958c-6.824 0-12.359-5.535-12.359-12.363 0-6.824 5.535-12.358 12.359-12.358 6.826 0 12.359 5.534 12.359 12.358 0 6.828-5.533 12.363-12.359 12.363\"\/><\/svg>\t\t<span class=\"lrv-a-screen-reader-only\"\/><br \/>\n\t<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-tagline  a-font-accent-l@desktop u-font-size-1205 a-font-accent-xs@mobile-max u-font-size-15@mobile-max u-line-height-22px@mobile-max lrv-u-text-align-center@mobile-max u-letter-spacing-0030@mobile-max lrv-u-padding-t-025 lrv-u-margin-a-00 u-padding-t-0125@mobile-max u-padding-b-0063@mobile-max\">Get weekly rundowns straight to your inbox<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" class=\"c-link  lrv-a-unstyle-button lrv-u-cursor-pointer lrv-u-display-inline-flex lrv-u-background-color-brand-primary lrv-u-background-color-black:hover lrv-u-color-black lrv-u-color-brand-primary:hover u-padding-lr-0.875 u-padding-tb-10 lrv-u-flex-shrink-0 u-align-items-center a-font-basic-fancy-xs u-margin-t-0.188 u-margin-b-0188 u-margin-b-040@mobile-max\" href=\"https:\/\/preferences.mail.billboard.com\/preferences\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><br \/>\n\tSign Up<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/lists\/summer-smash-2026-day-1-chief-keef-north-west-lil-uzi-vert\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Summer Smash 2026 kicked off on Friday (June 12) at the grounds surrounding Seatgeek Stadium in Bridgeview, Illinois. The festival, created by SPKRBX\u00a0and Lyrical Lemonade, has build a reputation as one of the premier rap-heavy fests in the U.S. 50,000 fans filled the festival grounds for day one, which was a picture perfect, sunny, 80-degree [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2364,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/chief-keef-summer-smash-credit-saul-sosa-billboard-1800.jpg?w=1024","fifu_image_alt":"","jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"jnews_override_counter":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[566,3459,3298,944,4116,534],"class_list":["post-2363","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-music","tag-day","tag-genre-hiphop","tag-moments","tag-music-news","tag-smash","tag-summer"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2363"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2363\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2363"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2363"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thehotedit.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2363"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}