PHILADELPHIA — For the first time, both Made in America headliners are women.
SZA and Lizzo will be the top attractions this Labor Day weekend, in Philadelphia when Jay-Z’s annual music festival returns to the Ben Franklin Parkway.
The lineup for the festival, which takes place Sept. 2 and 3, brings together two of the biggest acts in pop music, both of whom have previously played the festival, but not as headliners.
They’ll be joined on the multistage fest by acts that include Los Angeles R&B star Miguel, Nigerian singers Tems, hip-hop producer Metro Boomin, Disney star-turned-singer Coco Jones, Atlanta rapper Latto, rapper and recent Taylor Swift collaborator Ice Spice, and rapper-producer Lil Yachty.
Made in America will also include a pairing of 1990s hit-making rappers Cam’ron and Mase, that is being billed as “a special joint set.”
SZA, who was born Solána Imani Rowe and grew up in Essex County in North Jersey, played the fest in 2016, a year before the release of her debut album, "Ctrl."
That album turned the R&B singer-songwriter into a star, and built anticipation for its follow-up, "SOS," which was released last December to considerable acclaim. It’s also a commercial blockbuster, having spent 10 weeks on top of the Billboard album charts.
SZA’s SOS Tour was scheduled to play a sold-out Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia in March, but that show was postponed at the last minute and is now scheduled for Sept. 26. September, therefore, will now be a double SZA month in Philadelphia.
Lizzo played MIA in 2019, the breakout year for the rapper, singer and flautist whose given name is Melissa Jefferson and who rose to stardom out of the Minneapolis music scene.
That was the year that turned Lizzo into a superstar. She saw her 2017 single “Truth Hurts” become a viral sensation two years after its release, and she also put out her breakthrough album, "Cuz I Love You."
When she played MIA that year, Beyoncé and Jay-Z watched her from the side of the stage. In 2022, she released her fourth album, "Special," which included several credits from Philadelphia-born producer Pop Wansel. Lizzo last performed in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center in September 2022.
Several women have previously headlined MIA, including Beyoncé (twice), Rihanna, Nicki Minaj and Cardi B, but they have never before topped the bill on both nights of the festival. Male headliners at the fest, which originally included significant rock and EDM elements but has evolved into a hip-hop and R&B event, have included Jay-Z (also twice), Kanye West, The Weeknd, Coldplay and Kings of Leon.
This year’s MIA lineup also features Coi Laray, Doechii, Lola Brooke, Paris Texas, Tia Corine, Eem Triplin, Flau-jae Johnson, Tanerélle and Weston Easton. At this point there are no plans to add more acts to the bill.
Last year, Made in America transformed into a Latin dance party when Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny closed out Sunday night atop a bill that included Dominican rapper Chimbala and Mexican American band Fuerza Regida. Rapper Tyler, the Creator was the Saturday headliner.
This will be the 11th edition of Made in America. The festival debuted in 2012, when Jay-Z and Pearl Jam headlined. It wasn’t staged in 2020, due to the pandemic.
Tickets are on sale at madeinamericafest.com.
