Soundstorm 2025: Cardi B, Davido, Tyla, Pitbull, & More Bring the Heat at Festival’s Most Blazing Edition Yet

MDLBeast Soundstorm 2025 saw the annual extravaganza turn up the heat for its most scorching edition yet.

Housed in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the festival has become a firm fixture on the global music calendar since its arrival in 2019 and continues to function as quite the magnet to the region for revellers worldwide.

And with just cause.

From its fusion of Pop, Dance, and Urban superstars to its spotlight on homegrown talent to its technical prowess with its Guinness World Record-breaking stage (the towering, Big Beast), Soundstorm is turning up the volume on the Middle East’s status as a leader in innovation within the entertainment sphere and beyond.

For its latest iteration, the three-day extravaganza boasted a breathtaking transformation of its grounds, with a mise-en-scene that mirrored an immersive City of Beats.

Buzzing, boisterous, and defined by unforgettable showings, Soundstorm upped the ante in the most reverberating way.

Join us below, as we tally the top sets from some of music’s most notable names.

Cardi B

While the femcee has been omnipresent on social media feeds with the push for her chart-topping album ‘Am I The Drama,’ her Soundstorm showing attracted the attention of the global masses for an especially notable reason. For, it arrived just weeks after she gave birth to her fourth child. Yes, weeks.

In the lead-up to the performance, the Diamond-selling rapper promised a seismic spectacle. And she did not disappoint

Unquestionably, the belle of the ball, Belcalis delivered a showing that brought the heat and heart in equal measure.

Backed by a troop of dancers, she took command of the stage with slick choreography, charisma aplenty, and a sharp sense of humor that captivated the capacity crowd.

Cardi unleashed an unrelenting arsenal of hits, both known and new. Indeed, she thrilled with fan-favourites such as ‘I Like It’ and ‘Bodak Yellow,’ as well as gems from her freshly unwrapped sophomore set like ’ErrTime,’ ‘Outside,’ and scathing BIA blast, ‘Pretty & Petty.’

Notably, she embraced the region’s customs, from her fluorescent pink Gaurav Gupta ensemble to omitting expletives. Both of which landed well locally.

With relatability being the central engine of her ascent, the superstar fittingly wrapped the set with a hearty embrace of the audience. Cementing her title as the People’s Champion and reaffirming Soundstorm as the one-of-one destination for such epic moments.

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Tyla

The South African stage blazer lived up to her billing with a potent performance on the Park Stage.

A firm fixture on the festival circuit this summer, she seemingly saved the best till last, because she brought a revitalised energy like never before.

The star has made her musical mantra clear from the onset: it’s all about the turn-up; a sentiment her adoring fans echoed with chants of “Tyla, We Wanna Party!”

And oh, did she take heed to their request.

Her pulsating set brought bass, bounce, and bops.

Kicking off her performance with recent single ‘Is It,’ Tyla thrilled with a flavoursome assortment of AfroPop and Amapiano-driven anthems.

Club-themed throughout, the 23-year-old danced up a storm, made a splash with the likes of ‘Water,’ and sparkled with her latest viral hit, ‘Chanel.’

A gem of a set and a clear standout.

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Davido

The Afrobeats royal brought Lagos to Riyadh with a fire-fuelled performance.

A torch-bearer for a genre that has set the world ablaze, the seasoned star reminded that he is a force multiplier of any and every lineup that he graces.

From the second he hit the Park Stage, Davido had the masses in the palm of his hand.

Powering through a collection of classics like ‘Dami Duro’ and ‘If,’ the Nigerian supernova also offered up newer numbers such as ‘Unavailable,’ ‘Feel,’ and ‘With You.’

Perhaps most impressive was how consistent his energy was throughout.

Live renditions of fresh gems were delivered with the same hearty helping of pepper and spice that stirred showings of beloved fan favourites.

The result? A thoroughly fulfilling offering from a superstar at the top of his game.

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Benson Boone

At just 23, the Pop-Rocker boasts a showmanship well beyond his years.

For most, Boone is still most defined by his breakthrough smash, the 8x Platinum ‘Beautiful Things.’ But he continues to remind that he has more magic in the canon. Both musically and, especially, as a performer.

The Freddie Mercury comparisons have been plentiful, but to watch the Washington native in action makes it abundantly apparent that it’s not hyperbole by any stretch.

The theatrical showing was rich in charisma, palpable emotion, and vocal dexterity.

An incredible performance, and one that functioned as a trailer of sorts to what could be one of music’s most colossal careers.

Pitbull

As party starters go, few can rival Pitbull. And, with his Soundstorm 2025 showing, Mr. 305 highlighted why.

Armed with a stacked arsenal of infectious dancefloor jams, he dominated the Big Beast stage with the length and breadth of his performance.

A global vendor of good times and good vibes, the rapper spotlighted his sonic versatility, gliding between hits of the Reggaeton, Dance, and Pop varieties. ‘Don’t Stop The Party’ served as the musical memorandum for the set at large, and that’s exactly how it played out. Decades of hits defined the showing; from ‘Feel This Moment’ to ‘International Love’ to ‘Hotel Room Service.’ A fitting toast to his longevity and consistency.

Cheered on by a crowd rocking custom bald caps and his signature shades (That Grape Juice included), there was an air of tongue-in-cheek to the performance. Yet, one thing was for sure: Pitbull takes his party-sparking agenda seriously.

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With its 2025 instalment, MDLBEAST Soundstorm established itself as one of the world’s most must-see musical extravaganzas.

Anchored by an eclectic, diverse array of talent, the festival united artists and music lovers from across the globe for a unique, inimitable experience.

Most exciting? Soundstorm continues to grow year after year, not just in size and spectacle, but in influence, cementing its place within the global music village beyond traditional Western hubs.

This year saw Cardi B, Tyla, Davido, Pitbull, Post Malone, and more show out in a major way, igniting serious excitement for what future editions have in store.

For the latest on MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2026, click here.

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[Photo Credit: MDLBEAST / Jack Kimber Photography]