Gillie Da Kid had to angrily kick everyone out of his boxing event this weekend due to an alleged shooting against police outside, but it turns out that this was a huge misunderstanding that made him all the more irate. “Shout out to everybody that supported us tonight,” Gillie began his video response to the matter. “Shout out to everybody that tuned into the pay-per-view. But I also want to say this, man. The Wilmington police is the worst f***ing police district in the f***ing country.” He claimed that he paid police and security $14,000, yet their captain had to ask him to control the crowd outside the venue that didn’t have tickets, who were apparently very rowdy.
Furthermore, Gillie Da Kid didn’t understand why this had to be his job, but he followed through anyway because the captain suggested that the police would have to use force as an alternative. “Five minutes later, y’all macing motherf***ers,” he ranted against the police. When Gillie heard that people were allegedly shooting at police outside, the Million Dollaz Worth Of Game cohost was shocked and kicked everybody out. But then, the police said that people were shouting at them, not shooting. “You made me kick all of these motherf***ers out the stands ’cause some n***as was outside shouting at the f***ing police?!” he asked indignantly.
This was a really rough situation for almost everyone involved, as the non-ticketed crowd and police cost a lot of people money, time, and peace. For Gillie Da Kid in particular, this situation might’ve hit home for him due to his condemnation of gun violence, but to hear that it was all a miscommunication afterwards was clearly a massive blow.
Hopefully he can avoid these types of situations in the future for his next events, as this is the last thing that he wants to promote or condone. Gillie Da Kid (or King, rather) has a brazen sense of humor, but you certainly do not want to be on the receiving end of one of his scathing rants. What should’ve been a great event seemingly fell victim to poor planning on behalf of security staff.
This week, Bhad Bhabie took to Instagram to announce that she was officially single. She accused Alabama Barker of stealing her man Le Vaughn, with whom she welcomed her first child a few months ago. Barker denied these allegations, insisting that she didn’t know about Le Vaughn’s relationship with Bhad Bhabie and even accusing him of throwing a bottle at her. “His behavior was not only reckless but also deeply concerning,” Barker alleged. “It’s troubling to see that despite his actions, [Bhad Bhabie] continues to defend him even after I had told her what he had done.”
Bhad Bhabie later hopped online to explain the whole story, revealing that it all started with an alleged physical altercation between her and Le Vaughn. She claims that after an argument allegedly turned physical, she called up Chief Keef. Upon finding out about this, Le Vaughn allegedly “busted [her] lip” and “accidentally slammed [her] hand in the door.” Bhad Bhabie ultimately decided to stay at Chief Keef’s house for the night and returned home to find Le Vaughn packing up his things.
He then proceeded to stay at a hotel for a couple of weeks, when he allegedly met Barker. Bhad Bhabie claims she didn’t find out about this until she and Le Vaughn had gotten back together, but when she confronted them both about it, neither of them told her the truth. For this reason, she said she decided to end her friendship with Barker and break up with Le Vaughn. Recently, however, she shared a clip of herself and Le Vaughn in a car together listening to one of her upcoming tracks.
For now, it remains unclear whether or not they’re back together. Regardless, social media users are fed up. Barker, on the other hand, praised Bhad Bhabie during a recent chat with fans on Instagram Live and called the situation a “smart” marketing strategy.
Remy Ma and Papoose haven’t said much about the actual cheating allegations against each other, but they are surely taking sides in not so subtle ways. For example, the former recenetly seemed to shout out her alleged lover, battle rapper Eazy The Block Captain, during a recent performance for “LOX & Friends” in New York City. Maybe the East Coast femcee did not mean this in this context at all, but try as she might, fans will still run with this narrative. As for Pap, Remy accused him of cheating on her with boxer Claressa Shields, who now wants to fight Remy for reasons that don’t have much to do with the rapper himself.
“At this point the girl leaked my number,” Claressa Shields said of Remy Ma, Eazy The Block Captain, and the Papoose drama. “So at this point, you can give me a dollar and I’ll put my hand over her. It don’t have nothing to do with whatever else. It’s just that part alone. That part there is where it’s like, I’m a businesswoman. Don’t leak my number. Why would you do that? I mean, drama sells. I’m not in that beef. My smoke with her is posting my number. So people like, ‘Oh, she wants to fight her over a dude, whatever,’ stop it. Stop it. That is so beneath me.”
We’ll see how the hip-hop world reacts to this presumed Eazy The Block Captain shoutout. We know that some corners are taking this more seriously than others, as Fat Joe recently lamented his inability to solve the issues between his two good friends Remy Ma and Papoose. We can’t imagine what other individuals now find themselves stuck in the middle of this debacle.
Meanwhile, Papoose himself slightly pushed back against Joey Crack’s remarks, even if it was more of a fact-check than a direct opposition. As for Remy Ma, she remains relatively quiet about it all, but we’re sure that the near future’s developments will eventually result in a stronger statement. For now, some fans will take this perceived shoutout as gospel even if nothing really indicates a confession.
Recently, Ray J and Lil Woody joined YouTuber Lah Mike for a new episode of his series, 20 Versus. As expected, this resulted in several wild moments. At one point in the episode, Ray J even made some shocking claims about Diddy’s legal battle. This took viewers by surprise, considering what he’s said about the Bad Boy founder in recent months. “Listen, I’ve been to a lot of Diddy parties, and ain’t none of them had no dirty sh*t happening at them,” he alleged. “All this happening with Diddy is a conspiracy y’all.”
“It’s all about he say, she say. So I say this, as we narrow it down to what’s what and what’s not, I’ve said sh*t, people have said sh*t, but when you really think about it, there’s no facts to none of this sh*t,” he added. “So what we thinking about now is they tearing down the community, bro. Creating false narratives for sh*t that never happened dog.”
Ray J Discusses Diddy Case In New Episode Of 20 Versus
Just last month, Ray J appeared in TMZ‘s documentary streaming on Tubi, The Downfall of Diddy: Inside the Freak-Offs. He accused the mogul’s peers of begging for his silence. “They wanna tell me about certain things that happened with them and Diddy,” he alleged at the time. “I don’t even know why I just said it. But I said it so, so what.”
In the doc, he also claims that celebrities could be paying alleged victims to keep quiet. “I’m hearing about artists paying victims to keep their name out of it,” he alleged. “People do catch and kills all day…For the regular world, somebody has the truth, somebody pays you to keep it quiet, and hopefully, that money that you got paid secures your happiness while you watch the lie continue to succeed.” Ray J also previously said that he thinks Diddy deserves a “public whipping” for his alleged crimes and called his assault of Cassie “demonic.”
Joe Budden has been known for his interesting relationship with Drake and has shared strong opinions on the “God’s Plan” emcee’s career. In a Dec. 19 episode of “The Joe Budden Podcast,” the rapper-turned-media personality disclosed that he felt Drake’s “Family Matters” had aged very well after listening back to it recently.
The Joe Budden Podcast often has pretty hot takes about Drake given its titular host, but no one can say that they don’t give due credit… Albeit a little late in some fans’ eyes. Moreover, the cohort was discussing the Lil Wayne and Kendrick LamarSuper Bowl situation during a recent episode, and they eventually circled around to how Drizzy might have had more shots in the tank had Kendrick Lamar not won the battle. Budden even assessed that “Family Matters” “ends the rest of y’all” in a rap beef, referring to other MCs. While he thought the Kendrick diss track was hard on impact, that’s even more clear in hindsight.
Still, it doesn’t change the notion that Kendrick Lamar’s “meet the grahams” and “Not Like Us” completely knocked the wind out of Drake’s “Family Matters.” The Joe Budden Podcast‘s conversation around this begins at around the 3:15-minute mark of the Twitter clip below. There’s still a debate over who “won” the beef, especially with the 6ix God’s UMG and Spotify petition in consideration. That’s another aspect that the podcast recently discussed with a wide range of interpretations.
What’s more is that pretty much everything that Kendrick Lamar and Drake do will have folks reaching for disses and looking back on how their battle aged. A perfect recent example is the Compton lyricist’s feature on SZA’s SOS deluxe LANA, specifically on the track “30 For 30.” A lot of fans drew connections between some of his bars on the record and potential references to the OVO mogul, but it’s not clear cut enough to really make heads or tails of. After all, so many bars on there could be interpreted in so many different ways that a sole conclusion feels limited.
Meanwhile, with more Drake music coming soon, we’re sure that this practice will continue for the rest of his and Kendrick Lamar’s careers. Their new moves provide more context and retrospective knowledge regarding their diss tracks, so reevaluations and less reactionary assessments will unsurprisingly follow suit. But nothing will change the impact of when “Family Matters” and “meet the grahams” dropped within minutes of each other.
Believe it or not, d4vd, Houston, Texas singer-songwriter, has not put out a debut album yet. He’s been in the industry for about three years now, but he’s held back from putting out a true LP. The “Romantic Homicide” artist does have a collection of EPs (Petals to Thorns, The Lost Petals, etc.) and whole slew of singles. But it seems he’s inching slightly closer to pulling the trigger with this new record, “Where’d it Go Wrong?” which hit streaming platforms this weekend.
According to Genius, it will be titled Withered, and a 2025 release looks to be the most realistic expectation right now. With that said, a specific day has yet to be revealed. But this song should tide fans over for a bit as it’s one of d4vd’s most personal ones to date. Part of the reason why is because according to Hypebeast, the 19-year-old Darkroom signee recorded this track at his childhood home in his closet. In terms of the equipment, he went back to his stripped back and raw roots by using BandLab and his iPhone. D4vd shared with the outlet how much it meant to him to lay down this single in this fashion. “This song reminded me why I’ve always loved making music on my own.” The passion is certainly there on all fronts, so make sure you check it out below.
And I don’t really want your love no more, I swear, ’cause I don’t need it And I don’t mean to be conceited But I’m the reason you’re still breathin’ I’ll stop picking up your calls, ’cause you won’t stop screamin’ Is it love or lust? I can tell you’re feenin’ And I don’t wanna hurt your feelings
As far as musical year wind downs go, Spotify has Wrapped and Apple Music has Replay. At Uproxx’s we have our Best Albums and Best Songs list. Still, annually the most discussed curated collection tends to come from former president Barack Obama. Yesterday (December 21), Obama shared his Favorite Music of 2024 playlist and in typical fashion users online are divided.
Last year’s list featured a plethora of rap and R&B goodies. This year’s collection spreads the love among country, reggaeton, pop, Afrobeats, and indie rock. Atop the list is Kendrick Lamar’s most recent No. 1 hit “Squabble Up.” Bangers from Billie Eilish, Beyoncé, Fontaines D.C., Shaboozey, and Karol G also made the cut.
See the full list below.
Kendrick Lamar – “Squabble Up”
Billie Eilish – “Lunch”
Rema – “Yayo”
Tyla, Gunna & Skillibeng – “Jump”
Central Cee & Lil Baby – “Band4band”
Ezra Collective & Yazmin Lacey – “God Gave Me Feet for Dancing”
The Red Clay Strays – “Ramblin’”
Fontaines D.C. – “Favourite”
Asake & Travis Scott – “Active”
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Bonny Light Horseman – “Old Dutch”
Rae Khalil – “Is It Worth It”
Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em”
Jordan Adetunji – “Kehlani”
Artemas – “I Like the Way You Kiss Me”
Johnny Blue Skies – “Scooter Blues”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Leon Bridges – “Peaceful Place”
Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby”
Waxahatchee & MJ Lenderman – “Right Back to It”
Myles Smith – “Stargazing”
Jack White – “That’s How I’m Feeling”
Moses Sumney – “Gold Coast”
Karol G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
FloyyMenor & Cris MJ – “Gata Only”
The Air Jordan 4 RM “Chrome” is the latest addition to Jordan Brand’s lineup, designed exclusively for women. First, the sleek colorway combines clean white uppers with bold chrome accents for a modern look. The shiny metallic finish on the overlays adds a futuristic vibe. Next, the subtle grid pattern on the chrome panels gives the shoe a unique texture. To enhance comfort, the sneaker features a padded collar and tongue. Meanwhile, the lightweight midsole provides cushioning for all-day wear. The translucent rubber outsole complements the design while ensuring durability. Small details like the silver Jumpman logo on the heel elevate the premium aesthetic.
Transitioning to versatility, the “Chrome” colorway is perfect for both casual wear and special occasions. The mix of metallic and neutral tones makes it easy to style. On-foot photos reveal just how striking the chrome details look under different lighting. Finally, as a women’s exclusive, this Air Jordan 4 RM stands out in its elegance and contemporary appeal. With its bold design and luxe touches, the “Chrome” colorway is set to turn heads. Fans can expect this release to be a must-have for sneaker enthusiasts and fashion lovers alike.
These sneakers feature a seafoam outsole paired with a light midsole, including a Nike Air unit for extra comfort. Additionally, the uppers are crafted from white leather, combined with chrome overlays creating a shiny look. Sail laces and a matching tongue complete the simple color palette. The tongues showcase black Jordan Brand logos, while the heels display “Nike Air” branding in chrome grey, providing a subtle yet bold contrast to the overall design.
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Sneaker Bar Detroit reports that the Air Jordan 4 RM “Chrome” will be released in the spring of 2025. Also, the retail price of the sneakers will be $150 when they are released.
2024 was a big year for hip-hop. Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s viral lyrical battle thrust the genre into the spotlight, for one, leaving even non-hip-hop-heads with no choice but to weigh in. On top of this, Diddy’s arrest, his long list of disturbing allegations, and mansion raids also went mainstream. This marked the start of what will likely be a long and complex legal battle.
He’s far from the only hip-hop artist to make headlines for their legal issues this year, however. Lil Durk was also arrested for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy and remains behind bars facing a hefty sentence if convicted. Young Thug, on the other hand, saw the chaotic YSL trial come to an end and was finally released. Check out a breakdown of these moments, and a few more of the biggest hip-hop moments of the year down below.
Kendrick Lamar performs during the 60th Annual Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden. Usp Entertainment 60th Annual Grammy Awards. Robert Deutsch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In March of this year, Future and Metro Boomin unleashed their eagerly anticipated collaborative album, We Don’t Trust You. The project boasts various high-profile features, including a verse from Kendrick Lamar on “Like That.” In it, K. Dot disses both Drake and J Cole, shutting down the latter’s “First Person Shooter” claim that they make up the “big three.” This ignited what would become an explosive and viral lyrical battle between Kendrick and Drake, who responded a few weeks later with his track “Push Ups.” Ultimately, the two of them went back and forth for a while until things reached an ugly peak.
Drake dropped “Family Matters” in May, accusing Kendrick of domestic violence and more. Kendrick responded within the hour with “Meet The Grahams,” addressing Drake’s son directly and leaving fans in shambles. Less than 24 hours later, Kendrick put the final nail in the coffin by releasing “Not Like Us.” In it, he alleges that Drake and his OVO crew are sexual predators. This quickly became a massive hit, which Kendrick later performed at his LA “Pop Out” show surrounded by peers. This feud has been dominating headlines for some time now and continues to even months later. Several of the rappers’ peers have jumped into the mix too, making for a feud that’s sure to be discussed for years to come.
Diddy’s Disturbing Allegations, Home Raids, And Arrest
Feb 4, 2018; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Recording artist P. Diddy a/k/a Sean Combs prior to the game between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium. Brad Rempel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In November 2023, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie filed a lawsuit against the Bad Boy founder, which contained countless disturbing allegations. She accused him of sexual assault, abuse, and much more. Almost immediately, they settled, but this was far from the end of his legal issues. Diddy went on to be hit with several other lawsuits from individuals making similarly shocking allegations against him. In March of this year, his mansions in LA and Miami were raided by federal agents.
In September, the mogul was arrested in NYC, where he remains behind bars for charges related to alleged sex trafficking, racketeering, and more. An unsealed federal indictment shows that authorities accuse him of forcing people to participate in drug-fueled sex parties called “freak offs,” using blackmail to silence his alleged victims, and much more. Diddy is currently awaiting a trial which is expected to begin in May 2025. He’s maintained his innocence, denying all allegations aside from the 2016 assault of Cassie captured by hotel surveillance cameras.
Young Thug attends a dinner celebrating his album “Punk” on October 25, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
In May 2022, Young Thug and various other YSL affiliates were arrested as part of a 56-count indictment. Authorities accused the Atlanta rapper of leading a criminal street gang, and he was facing serious time behind bars if convicted. Following a long and chaotic trial, however, Young Thug finally decided to accept a plea deal and was released In October of this year. As part of the deal, he’ll spend 15 years on probation and can’t communicate with any alleged gang members or YSL affiliates, on top of various other release conditions.
Following over two years in prison, however, Young Thug and his supporters were thrilled with the verdict. Immediately, social media users praised his lawyer Brian Steel for his work and began to anticipate what’s next for Young Thug. This is still unclear, though he has since been spotted in the studio alongside peers like Travis Scott, Lil Baby, and Future.
Lil Durk’s Arrest For Alleged Murder-For-Hire
Rapper Lil Durk performs during Morehouse & Spelman College Homecoming 2023 at Morehouse College on October 25, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/WireImage)
In October of this year, Lil Durk was arrested in Florida for alleged murder-for-hire conspiracy. His arrest took place hours after five alleged OTF affiliates were arrested. Authorities believe they were allegedly paid to carry out the murder of Quando Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 murder of King Von. In 2022, Quando Rondo and his cousin Lul Pab were targeted in a shooting at a Los Angeles gas station. Quando Rondo walked away unscathed while Lul Pab succumbed to his injuries.
In December, he was linked to yet another alleged murder-for-hire, this time concerning the 2022 death of Stephon Mack. Authorities believe his fatal shooting was allegedly carried out in retaliation for the 2021 murder of Durk’s brother Dontay “DThang” Banks. They accuse the rapper of offering payments to eliminate witnesses, but he’s not been formally charged for this. Durk remains behind bars in LA for his alleged crimes, and reportedly, could face a life sentence if convicted. Per U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricia Donahue’s orders, he will await trial in custody. His trial has been scheduled to begin on January 7 of next year. According to ABC7, however, it’s “expected to be postponed.”
Rich Homie Quan performs during the inaugural 2024 Gazebo Festival at Waterfront Park on May 25, 2024 in Louisville, Kentucky. (Photo by Stephen J. Cohen/Getty Images)
Hip-hop fans said goodbye to several artists in 2024, and while they’re no longer with us, they certainly won’t be forgotten. In September of this year, for example, Rich Homie Quan passed away at the age of 34 in Atlanta. The Fulton County Medical Examiner soon ruled his death an accidental overdose. According to TMZ, various substances including fentanyl, alprazolam, codeine, and promethazine were in his system at the time of death. After his passing, Quan’s father Corey Lamar revealed that he had an entire full-length album on the way when he died. In October, his estate unveiled his first posthumous album, Forever Goin In, featuring 35 tracks worth of previously unreleased material.
In June, 26-year-old 1017 signee Enchanting also passed away unexpectedly after it was revealed that she’d been placed on life support. The tragic and untimely loss hit the hip-hop community hard and left her supporters devastated. The Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that she too died of an accidental overdose. Reportedly, oxycodone and benzodiazepines were found in the young artist’s system. “She lived her life with grace and blessed so many with friendship, laughter and love,” the Texas rapper’s family fondly recalled in a statement.
Weeks after Enchanting’s passing, Jacksonville rapper Julio Foolio passed away after a shooting at his 26th birthday party. Five suspects were later identified and four were taken into custody. The state of Florida plans to seek the death penalty for three of them. Other notable hip-hop figures who passed away in 2024 include Rico Wade, Ka, DJ Mister Cee, Fatman Scoop, DJ Clark Kent, and more.
Killer Mike Gets Arrested After Grammys Sweep
Killer Mike performs during the 2024 The Thing Festival at Remlinger Farms on August 10, 2024 in Carnation, Washington. (Photo by Astrida Valigorsky/WireImage)
In February of this year, Killer Mike took home various Grammys for his sixth studio album, MICHAEL. He won an award for Best Rap Album, as well as Best Rap Song and Rap Performance for his track with Andre 3000, Future, and Eryn Allen Kane, “SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS.” The impressive sweep came as a surprise to many and led to plenty of debate amongst social media users.
Shortly after his big wins, however, footage of him being led out of the ceremony in handcuffs hit the internet. Reportedly, he’d been booked for misdemeanor battery after an alleged altercation with a security guard who refused to let him in the venue. He later addressed the debacle on The View. “All of my heroes have been in handcuffs,” he said at the time. “[Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Medgar Evers]. I walked out with the same dignity and respect that I walked in with, and I would implore people to just take that from it. Don’t dwell on the bad stuff.”
Drake performs onstage during “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert” at State Farm Arena on December 9, 2022 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Months after Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s heated feud reached its peak, the latter made one of his most controversial moves yet by taking legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. In a pre-action petition filed in November, he accused the companies of artificially boosting Kendrick’s diss track “Not Like Us” using bots and payola. “UMG did not rely on chance, or even ordinary business practices,” the filing alleges in part, per Billboard. “It instead launched a campaign to manipulate and saturate the streaming services and airwaves.” Drake also accuses UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, deceptive business practices, and false advertising.
Unsurprisingly, this sparked a major debate among fans and peers. Some believe he has a real chance of exposing alleged corruption in the music industry. Others think the petition makes him look jealous of Kendrick’s success. Hours after it was filed, UMG released a statement denying the allegations. “The suggestion that UMG would do anything to undermine any of its artists is offensive and untrue,” it reads. “We employ the highest ethical practices in our marketing and promotional campaigns. No amount of contrived and absurd legal arguments in this pre-action submission can mask the fact that fans choose the music they want to hear.”
Jay-Z Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 13-Year-Old With Diddy
Nov 24, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Recording artist Jay-Z walks on the field before the game between the Washington Commanders and the Dallas Cowboys at Northwest Stadium. Peter Casey / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In December, an anonymous woman amended a lawsuit she’d filed against Diddy in October, adding new allegations against Jay-Z. She alleges that they both sexually assaulted her at a party in 2000 when she was 13 years old. The woman is being represented by Tony Buzbee, a Houston-based lawyer already representing several of Diddy’s accusers. The Roc Nation founder quickly fired back amid the allegations. He even hit Buzbee with some of his own in a lengthy statement.
In it, he accuses Buzbee of blackmail, being a “fraud,” and more. Jay-Z and his attorney Alex Spiro sued Buzbee for alleged extortion before he was named in the anonymous woman’s lawsuit. They allege that he came to them and “threatened to unleash entirely fabricated and malicious allegations of sexual assault” if they didn’t comply with his demands.
Dr. Dre Finally Secures Star On Hollywood Walk Of Fame
Feb 5, 2023; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Dr. Dre accepts the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award during the 65th Annual Grammy Awards at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 5, 2023. Robert Hanashiro / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In March, Dr. Dre was honored for his invaluable contributions to hip-hop with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Friends and collaborators like Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Jimmy Iovine, Eminem, and more were in attendance to celebrate and hear the producer’s heartfelt speech. In it, the Compton native reflected on his career, making a living doing what he loves, and more.
“Over the course of my career, I’ve had the privilege of finding and nurturing new talent as well as pushing the boundaries in hip-hop both in content and substance,” he said in part. “But I’m most proud of elevating the sound and clarity of how we experience hip-hop. Getting that thing right is one of my greatest achievements. I love that this honor is unique to Los Angeles and brings fans from all over the world to connect with their favorite artists. I’ll be here forever.”
Kendrick Lamar Surprise-Drops GNX
Apr 23, 2017; Indio, CA, USA; Kendrick Lamar performs during the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival at Empire Polo Club. Zoe Meyers / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
In November, Kendrick Lamar took the world by surprise by dropping an entire album without warning, GNX. Rumors that he had something up his sleeve had been circulating for months before the release. It left his supporters in shambles regardless and has since been a major success.
It sold a whopping 319K album-equivalent units in its first week, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 album chart. It’s the fifth No. 1 album of Kendrick’s career and the sixth-biggest debut week for an album in 2024. Shortly after the release, the Compton rapper also unveiled a reference-packed music video for “squabble up,” paying homage to the West Coast.
