Kendrick Lamar

Jermaine Dupri Clowns ‘Secretive’ Artists For Ruining Their Career Momentum

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Jermaine Dupri has seen it all and done it all. He’s made stars from scratch, elevated stars to superstars, and helped fallen superstars regained their groove. He gets it. The producer has taken a step back in the last few years, barring his brief appearance during the 2023 Super Bowl Halftime Show. That said, he has some thoughts on the current generation of artists. Jermaine Dupri has nothing but respect for the talent and artistry of the current wave. He just feels like the way they’re rolling out their music is proving to be a hindrance.

Jermaine Dupri fired off two tweets with this sentiment on October 22. The first was brief. “Hits don’t allow you to be secretive,” he wrote. The second, however, saw the producer expand on his issues with the “secretive” approach. “N**gas all extra secretive on dey IG like they coming with that killa,” he wrote. “Y’all done let these none going out executives trick you.” Dupri believes that artists should follow a more traditional rollout when it comes to building anticipation for new releases. Rappers and singers are doing less, and the numbers support the producer’s claims.

Read More: Jermaine Dupri Believes Modern R&B Singers Can’t Compete With The ’90s

Jermaine Dupri Criticized Current Music Executives

There has also been frustration on the part of fans. 2024 has seen artists like Kendrick Lamar, Playboi Carti and Frank Ocean tease new music. Some have dropped new songs, but have yet to announce plans for a release date. The timing of Jermaine Dupri’s tweets led some to speculate as to whether he meant to refer to Lamar, in particular. The Compton rapper released an interview with Harper’s Bazaar the day before, in which he still refused to reveal info about new music. Some in the comment section felt Dupri was out of touch. Others, meanwhile, agreed with his sentiments.

This is not the first time Jermaine Dupri has criticized the current state of the music business. The producer went semi-viral for his take on AI music back in February. “I don’t even know why people are excited because… it’s fake,” he said during an Atlanta conference. “It takes away from what you actually feel… AI comes in and it’s like washing away all of this.” To be fair, Dupri is putting his money were his mouth is. He recently launched a partnership with Create Music Group to focus on developing a new crop of artists.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Drags Kendrick Lamar For Talking To Non-Hip Hop Publications

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DJ Akademiks Drags Kendrick Lamar For Talking To Non-Hip Hop Publications

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Kendrick Lamar has spoken. The rapper came of hiding to speak with SZA for a profile with Harper’s Bazaar. The profile shed light on Lamar’s feelings towards his recent feud with Drake, as well as his plans for the future. It was well-received by fans, who appreciated the camaraderie between Lamar and SZA, as well as some of the rapper’s observations about life. One person who did not appreciate the interview, however, was DJ Akademiks. The hip hop personality took Lamar to task during his October 22 stream. His reasoning? He believed Lamar was being a hypocrite.

DJ Akademiks did not mince words when it came to his feelings about K. Dot. He feels the rapper has tricked fans into thinking he’s an advocate for the culture. While, at the same time, granting interview to publications outside of the culture. “A guy who claims he’s standing on morals and principles, but every time we see his actions, it seems like it’s not the truth,” Ak asserted. “A guy who says he’s only for the culture, but as soon as he gets an opportunity to go get on a platform that’s non-cultural, he runs to it.”

Read More: TDE Punch Delivers Hot Take On Hip-Hop Journalism After Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s Interview

DJ Akademiks Claims K. Dot ‘Used’ Hip Hop Culture

The hip hop personality also pointed to Kendrick Lamar’s hypocrisy with regards to Colin Kaepernick. He noted that Dot stood with the former NFL star, only to turn around accept the headlining gig for the next Super Bowl Halftime Show. “He’s playing with y’all,” DJ Akademiks insisted. Ak even took it a step further by pointing out that Lamar labeled Drake a colonizer during their feud. Despite the fact that Drake has, in Ak’s opinion, made more of an effort to connect with hip hop personalities. “At least Drake tried to tap in with me, Kai [Cenat]…”

DJ Akademiks proceeded to get more worked up as the stream continued. He pointed to hip hop media figures like DJHed and Elliott Wilson, and the fact that they championed Lamar throughout the feud. Yet, when it came time to give an interview, Lamar chose to go with Harper’s Bazaar. “I told y’all this before,” Ak stated. “Kendrick used the culture, gained the Infinity Stones. And he’s still talking that Mr. Morale sh*t.” DJ Akademiks, despite being a Drake supporter, claimed that Lamar has more power than Drizzy at this point. This is partially where his frustration stems from. He feels like Dot has turned his back on hip hop now that he’s proven victorious.

Read More: DJ Akademiks Slammed By His Own Followers For Constantly Sneak Dissing Kendrick Lamar

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Kendrick Lamar Explaining What ‘Not Like Us’ Means To Him Might As Well Be More Shots Fired At Drake

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While Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss song “Not Like Us” has been a massive hit since their dust up this spring, fans have been wrestling with the meaning of its titular phrase all along. Obviously Drake is “not like us,” but just who is “us,” and what are they like? In explaining the title of his hit, K. Dot might as well have fired more shots at his onetime rival.

In an interview with his former TDE labelmate SZA for Harper’s Bazaar, Kendrick was asked to explain “what does ‘Not Like Us’ mean to you?”

“Not like us is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent,” he replied. When asked what kind of man that is, he elaborated, “This man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something. He’s not pandering. He’s a man who can recognize his mistakes and not be afraid to share the mistakes and can dig deep down into fear-based ideologies or experiences to be able to express them without feeling like he’s less of a man.”

All of which implies that he doesn’t think Drake is that kind of person. One day, someone’s got to get the real story on just what transpired between the two rappers that Kendrick was willing to go on such a terror campaign against the Canadian.

Young Thug Attempts To End The Feud Between His ‘Brothers’ Drake, Future, And Metro Boomin From Behind Bars

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From a fiery “tweeters and deleters” call out from Drake to Metro Boomin’s chart-topping response, the pair’s animosity curated an eventful summer for rap fans. Although hip-hop heads enjoyed seeing the back-and-forth spat between the two eventually others joined the feud (both willingly and unintentionally).

Now, Young Thug has inserted himself as the voice of reason. Yesterday (October 18), the “Dope Boy” rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) to call for an end to the rap war. Despite having his hands fuel with the YSL RICO trial, Young Thug penned a message for unity from behind bars.

“Drake, Future, and Metro Boomin we all bruddas,” he wrote. “Music ain’t the same without us collabin.”

Fans chimed in with mixed reactions. Many praised Young Thug for stepping in to mend their relationships.

“Goat squashing beefs behind bars the streets need him,” wrote one user.

“Thugger has spoken! Future and Drake can’t beef. They have too much chemistry and too many hits. The culture is better when they collab,” penned another.

On the other hand, many supporters believe that their feud has gone too far after Metro Boomin accused Drake of being a pedophile.

Still, Future seems to agree with Young Thug’s sentiments. Followers noticed that shortly after the message was uploaded, Future reposted Young Thug’s message. As of today, it doesn’t appear that Metro Boomin or Drake have responded to the Young Thug’s post.

Kendrick Lamar Praised Doechii’s Debut Mixtape, Calling It ‘The Hardest Out’ In A Rare Social Media Post

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Kendrick Lamar is famously social media averse, but every so often, he does pop up on the apps when he feels something is important enough to speak on. Apparently, Doechii’s debut mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, is one of those things. The Compton rapper reposted Doechii’s mixtape cover from her post on his Instagram Story, giving his assessment in a simple, three-word caption: “The hardest out.” Kendrick Lamar and Doechii were briefly labelmates on Top Dawg Entertainment.

Kendrick isn’t the only one showing appreciation for Doechii’s multifaceted rap skills. Pop star Katy Perry tapped the Florida rapper for a single from her new album, 143, “I’m His, He’s Mine,” debuting the song during her performance at the 2024 MTV VMAs as she was honored with a Video Vanguard Award. Meanwhile, Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal Tour has been receiving rave reviews on social media for its elaborate staging and polished performance, which she had plenty of opportunity to practice when she opened for Doja Cat’s Scarlet Tour last year.

In addition to giving editorial praise to Doechii on Instagram, Kendrick Lamar also gave her more exposure via his PgLang agency, which cast her in its latest short film for Cash App’s “This Is Money” campaign. In “The Barbershop,” Doechii explains how to make use of interest to ensure that her money is working for her.

You can listen to Alligator Bites Never Heal here, courtesy of Top Dawg Entertainment.

Kendrick Lamar Breaks Instagram Silence To Praise TDE Star Doechii

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Doechii is having a moment. The TDE rapper dropped one of the most acclaimed albums of the year, Alligator Bites Never Heal, in August. She’s since become the most buzzed-about artist on the label, which is saying a lot for a roster packed with generational talent. Doechii has been making music for a minute, but Alligator Bites has truly been her coming out party. And Kendrick Lamar, of all people, has taken notice. The mysterious member of the Big Three broke his social media silence to heap praise on Doechii via Instagram.

The K. Dot embargo was lifted on October 17. The Compton rapper posted a screenshot of Doechii’s album along with an alligator emoji. It was the caption that came with the emoji, however, that turned heads. Lamar dubbed Doechii “the hardest out” period. For a rapper who has dominated the game in 2024, that’s quite the praise. It’s also further proof that Lamar is a TDE supporter through and through, despite no longer being on the label.

Read More: ScHoolboy Q Gives Doechii Her Flowers For Her New Mixtape

Doechii Dubbed Lamar ‘The Greatest’ In Return

Doechii returned the praise to Kendrick Lamar on her own Instagram profile. She reposted Dot’s caption and added: “Thank you Dot, you the greatest.” The exchange may seem like a moderate deal on its face, but it’s a big deal based on Doechii’s previous comments. The TDE signee went on The Joe Budden Pod and admitted that Lamar is at the top of her dream collaborator list. Budden asked if she expected a Dot guest verse for her album, given the TDE connection, but she clarified that she did not expect anything. She also claimed that wants to refine her artistry further before working with a rapper of Lamar’s level.

“That’s the goal,” Doechii explained. “Eventually I’m gonna ask Top [Dawg] if he could ask Kendrick, or ask Kendrick myself and see what comes from that. But I’ma be real. I don’t think I have the record right now for that opportunity. I think I would have to come a certain way and I don’t think I’m ready for that.” Lamar’s co-sign is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to locking up a feature from the rapper in the future. We can only hope we don’t have to wait to long to hear Dot and Doechii team up.

Read More: Doechii Surprises Fans By Unveiling Her New Male Alter Ego Richardo

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F1 Team Uses Unreleased Kendrick Lamar Snippet In New Promo Video

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The world is still waiting on Kendrick Lamar to drop new music. The Compton set the world on fire with “Not Like Us” and its accompanying video. Those who watched closely, though, know that Dot played a snippet of an unreleased song at the beginning of the video. The snippet was wildly catchy, and featured a sample of a classic 80s single. It’s been months without any update on the snippet, but that didn’t stop the Mercedes F1 team from using it to their advantage. The team weaved the snippet into a social media promo for their drivers.

The video, which was posted on Instagram, sees the Mercedes F1 team in action while Lamar raps. It’s a pretty slick melding of sight and sound. It may seem a bit random, combining racing with rap, but there’s actually a precedent with regards to Kendrick Lamar. Lewis Hamilton, the star driver on Mercedes, posed for a photoshoot in on October 14. The photoshoot saw the driver pose sitting down, front of a white and red flag. It was a striking pose on its own merits, but what really caught fans off guard is the tribute that was being paid to Kendrick Lamar.

Read More: Charlamagne Tha God Explains Why Drake Never Truly Lost To Kendrick Lamar

Kendrick Lamar Teased The Song In His Last Video

Hamilton’s pose and color scheme was a direct reference to Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement video. The Compton rapper confirmed he was playing the 2025 Halftime Show by posing with a football and sitting in front of a white and red flag. The irony is that Lewis Hamilton was actually linked to Kendrick Lamar’s opponent, Drake, during the start of the beef.

Read More: Ab-Soul May Have Dissed Drake’s Associate, Chubbs, During A New Funk Flex Freestyle

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Ayesha Curry Poses With Drake Affiliate After “Meet The Grahams” Reference

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Kendrick Lamar really put a dent in Drake’s reputation with “Meet the Grahams.” Other disses were more popular, and easier to replay, but the Alchemist-produced single was brutal. Lamar presented a scathing indictment of Drake’s persona and his vices to the world. He also warned famous celebrities to stay away from the 6 God moving forward. These celebs including LeBron James, Steph Curry and their respective families. Which is what makes the recent public appearance by Steph’s wife, Ayesha Curry, so surprising.

Ayesha Curry appeared on the Instagram Story of OVO Mark, a veteran Drake affiliate. The two are seen sitting on the front steps of a house and sipping drinks together. DJ Akademiks took note of this link up and used it to illustrate the fact that Lamar’s advice fell on deaf ears. “OVO Mark with Ayesha Curry,” Ak wrote in the caption. “‘Steph keep the family away’ aging like milk.” Ayesha Curry’s appearance in a bit of a surprise, but those who have kept up with Steph Curry’s comments know that he never turned his back on Drake during the beef.

Read More: Steve Kerr Uses Steph Curry’s “Night Night” To Diss Donald Trump At DNC

Ayesha Curry And Steph Curry Continue To Support Drake

Steph Curry voiced his annoyance with another Kendrick Lamar diss, “Not Like Us,” during one of the U.S. Olympic Games. He also sang the praises of the 6 God during an interview with GQ. “I’m a big Drake guy. I’ve been for a long time,” he asserted. “I think obviously you know what it is for the rap industry to have that, but I still rock with Drake. Absolutely. Absolutely.” Curry and his former Warriors teammate, Kevin Durant, have continued to show their support for Drake post-battle. Ironically, the NBA star that Drake was closest with, LeBron James, has done the opposite.

LeBron James gushed about “Not Like Us” during the aforementioned video of Curry dismissing the song. He also appeared in the audience during Lamar’s “Pop Out” show on Juneteenth. Drake appears to have taken notice of this lack of support. He unfollowed James on Instagram, along with Lamar and several other celebs on October 1. That friendship seems severed, but the mutual admiration between Drizzy and the Curry family seems very much intact.

Read More: LeBron James Warms Up To Drake Music After Being Unfollowed On IG

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SZA Seemingly Indicates A New Kendrick Lamar Album Is Coming Soon

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Kendrick Lamar has had a massive 2024 thanks to his feud with Drake, especially his No. 1 hit diss track “Not Like Us.” Naturally, the situation has fans wondering if Lamar has a new album on the way, to follow 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Well, some people close to him might just be indicating that he indeed does have a project in the queue.

On October 7, Devin Malik, a Top Dawg Entertainment-affiliated producer who has worked with Lamar, tweeted a celebratory clip of Lamar rapping “Not Like Us” and wrote, “mood cause new k dot album otwwww.” Yesterday (October 13), SZA shared the tweet on her Instagram Story, seemingly indicating she either also knows of a forthcoming Lamar album or is just excited about the prospect.

Adding credence to the rumor is a report from last week, which indicated Lamar is currently organizing a “tour of major stadiums,” which would suggest he’d be touring in support of a new project. The same report claimed Lamar turned down an invitation to headline Coachella in 2025.

Meanwhile, J. Cole recently addressed dipping out of his beef with Lamar on the new song “Port Antonio,” rapping in part, I pulled the plug because I’ve seen where that was ’bout to go / They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow.”

Top5 Claims He’s Still Doing “Research” To Take Down Kendrick Lamar

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Top5 is a Drake ride or die. The Toronto artist was recently released from prison, and the first thing he did was thank Champagne Papi. “Shoutout big bro @champagnepapi for the Lawyer Fees & Gary Grill for being the best lawyer in Toronto,” he wrote on Instagram. Top5 has no problem heaping praise on Drizzy. The one thing he seemingly loves more, though, is going after Drake’s enemy, Kendrick Lamar. Top5 has made some extremely bold statements about Kung Fu Kenny over the last few weeks. And he continued to do so on October 10.

Top5 posted footage of him watching the music video for Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” He uploaded the brief clip to his Instagram Story with the caption: “Still doing my homework.” The specificity of the homework is not made clear, nor is Top5’s intent. Given how much he seemingly hates Lamar, though, the update is not surprising. The Toronto artist recently threatened Lamar with violence during an appearance on Late Night With Liyah Mai. He made it clear that K. Dot is not safe in his neck of the woods. “Tell him come to Toronto. Swiss cheese,” he asserted.

Read More: Top5 Flaunts Luxury Watches After Allegedly Beating Murder Case With Drake’s Support

Top5 Previously Threatened To Shoot Kendrick Lamar

The threats didn’t stop there. Top5 went into detail with Mai as to how he plans to take down Kendrick Lamar if he ever sees him. “I’ll get the low, put on my Nike tech black,” he claimed. He then, inexplicably, claimed that Lamar’s peer, YG, would help him out. “Tell YG get us a driver, put the window down and get some fresh air.” It was all very aggressive, especially for a beef that has only played out on record. Top5 also included producer Metro Boomin in his offer. Metro, of course, collaborated with Lamar on the song “Like That.”

Hopefully Top5 doesn’t attend 21 Savage’s upcoming birthday party. Drake was invited to the party along with Metro Boomin, marking the first major event that both artists have attended since things popped off. Drake has seemingly made light of this fact on social media. Top5, presumably, will be too busy watching Kendrick Lamar music videos to accompany the 6 God. It’ll be fascinating to see if his research on K. Dot will actually result in some sort of diss record.

Read More: Drake Called Out For Top5 Support By Alleged Murder Victim’s Family

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