Playboi Carti has recently captured the spotlight, particularly after an entertaining display of his signature YVL handshake during the Rolling Loud Festival. This famous moment unfolded as actor-comedian Owen Wilson, along with online personalities Kai Cenat and Dabo, showcased the unique gesture to an enthusiastic audience at the festival held at Hollywood Park Grounds in Inglewood, California, on March 15 and 16, 2025.
Owen Wilson participated in the YVL handshake while mingling with the crowd, while Cenat and Dabo engaged fans from the stage, amplifying the electrifying atmosphere of the concert.
Understanding the YVL Handshake
The YVL handshake consists of a distinctive three-finger motion utilizing the thumb, index, and middle finger. This hand sign not only is a representation of Playboi Carti but also symbolizes his record label and rap collective, Opium, which includes other artists like Ken Carson, Destroy Lonely, and the duo Homixide Gang.
Carti closed out the weekend as a headliner at this year’s Rolling Loud California, introducing his new music to dedicated fans.
A Closer Look at the YVL Gesture
The term YVL stands for Young Vamp Life, a nod to Carti’s vampiric persona that saturates his musical and social media presence. The YVL handshake enhances this identity by incorporating a twist-and-roll motion with the three extended fingers, creating a fascinating visual signature. It should be noted that some sources liken the gesture to the Serbian Nationalist Hand Symbol.
In a 2017 interview with Complex, Playboi Carti discussed the influence of the 1987 cult classic film, The Lost Boys, on his vampiric image. This movie features characters battling a gang of vampires in a California coastal town, which undoubtedly inspired Carti’s aesthetic and artistic vision:
“I paused the movie and played my music over top of it and it looked so crazy. I thought, ‘Damn, I wanna look like this.’ That’s me, that’s Playboi Carti, a vampire on a dirt bike. Flying. Laughing and sh*t. The fangs, my grills. Long hair, dreads. Rock star sh*t. You know what I’m saying? It’s fire,” he shared back then.
This persona is often complemented by YVL-themed jewelry, such as the chain he donned during his latest album launch, I Am Music. Additionally, fans have even created an AI-generated album titled Project YVL as a tribute to this unique cultural phenomenon.
Check out the performance here!
The 2025 Rolling Loud California event was streamed live on platforms like Twitch and TikTok, featuring Playboi Carti performing tracks from his newly released album, I Am Music, which debuted on March 14, 2025. This album serves as a sequel to his previous project, Whole Lotta Red.
During his set, Carti collaborated with frequent partner The Weeknd and later welcomed streamers Kai Cenat and Dabo to the stage. Notably, he even presented each of them with a YVL chain, solidifying their connection to the YVL community.
Aside from Carti, the festival also featured notable performances from artists such as A$AP Rocky and Peso Pluma, along with other emerging talents like Cash Cobain, Sexyy Red, Lazer Dim 700, OsamaSon, Skaiwater, Ken Carson, and Nettspend.