Amid a mix of reactions, both positive and negative, to the release of this year’s Slope Day headliner, I thought it would be interesting to look back upon Slope Day performers of the past. After cherry-picking 10 different past artists and some of their most famous songs, I leave it up to you to decide if the grass is truly greener on the other side, or, in this case, in another time.
1. Snoop Dogg: “Gin and Juice”
Snoop Dogg headlined the festival in 2005, and after consulting with my parents, I’ve decided “Gin and Juice” is the most representative of what I assume the vibe would’ve been: “laid back.”
2. Kendrick Lamar: “HUMBLE.”
What do we think was more hype: Superbowl LIX or Slope Day 2013? Though Lamar’s album DAMN., to which this song belongs, wasn’t released until 2017, I can’t help but include it. It’s just that good.
3. Drake: “Wants and Needs (feat. Lil Baby)”
It feels a little evil to put Kendrick Lamar and Drake, the 2010 headliner, right next to each other in this list, but I digress. I’m not much of a Drake girl (who is?), so I consulted my sister for this one.
4. Kanye West: “Gold Digger (feat. Jamie Foxx)”
Obviously, Kanye West is no longer the guy he was when he headlined Slope Day in 2004, so I decided on a throwback track. Singing this song out the car window with my friends when I was way too young to know what a gold digger was is too much of a core memory.
5. Ludacris: “My Chick Bad (feat. Nicki Minaj)”
My mom might be the biggest Ludacris fan in existence (she exclusively calls him Luda), so I know she would’ve tried to find a way to be at 2014 Slope Day. I can’t say I blame her.
6. Nelly: “Hot in Herre”
Nelly, who headlined in 2011, was another one of my childhood favorites, but I really connected with this song when I saw it used in an edit of Andrew Garfield’s character in The Social Network.
7. Gym Class Heroes: “Cupid's Chokehold / Breakfast in America”
As I say every time I play this song on the radio: Did you know the drummer went to Cornell? I’m sure he enjoyed returning to play Slope Day in 2008, and I’m sure I would’ve enjoyed being in attendance.
8. Pussy Cat Dolls: “Don't Cha (feat. Busta Rhymes)”
Imagine if Katseye played Slope Day now. That’s probably how it felt in 2009 when the Pussy Cat Dolls headlined, except the music was actually good.
9. A Boogie with da Hoodie: “Look Back at It”
Of course, I had to include Slope Day’s only two-time headliner. A Boogie played in 2021 (virtually) and in 2024 (live). He must really love our vibe.
10. Gunna: “fukumean”
It would be a crime to make this list without mentioning 2025, the one year which constitutes the entirety of the “Controversies” section of Slope Day’s Wikipedia page. Though Gunna was not the original headliner (if you know, you know), he really pulled through, along with Louis the Child.
11. The Chainsmokers and Daya: “Don't Let Me Down”
Finally, I have to give a shoutout to our 2026 performers, The Chainsmokers and Daya. You gotta admit, this song has a little kick to it.
After that recap, I’m still not sure what my perfect Slope Day would look like. Every year has had its ups and downs, and ultimately, everyone’s going to have different takes on the performers. Comparison is the thief of joy, or so I’m told, and listening in on conversations across campus, I find that people not only compare this year's lineup to past Cornell lineups, but also to headliners at other schools. “Did you know Yale got Zara Larsson?” has become an oft-heard adage. Yet, to tell you the truth, when I attended Princeton’s Lawnparties this past weekend, headlined by Fetty Wap, I heard a couple disgruntled Princetonians saying, “Dude, Cornell got The Chainsmokers.” Regardless of if you’re pleased or not, here’s to hoping The Chainsmokers are gonna knock all our little Cornell socks off.
You can access the playlist here.
‘Solar Flare’ is a weekly playlist column where Sun contributors spotlight a slice of musical taste with the campus community. It runs every Monday.
Abigail Winsett is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a contributor for the Arts & Culture department and can be reached at agw66@cornell.edu.
