Kendrick Lamar’s recent ‘Pop Out’ concert in Los Angeles has become the talk of the town, uniting the city in a historic three-hour show. The event, held on Juneteenth, saw Kendrick bringing together various factions, including Bloods, Crips, and celebrities, in a display of unity that fans have humorously dubbed “Gangchella” or “Goonteenth.” The concert, streamed on Amazon Music’s Twitch and Prime Video channels, was a sold-out spectacle that shut down the city and the internet alike.
The show kicked off with DJ HED, who brought out a slew of West Coast artists, including Remble, Ray Vaughn, and Westside Boogie, among others. The energy was further elevated by Mustard, who took over with a star-studded lineup featuring Blxst, Ty Dolla $, and Roddy Rich. Mustard also paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle, a moment that resonated deeply with the West Coast crowd.
Kendrick Lamar then took the stage, opening his set with his Drake diss track “Euphoria.” The setlist was a journey through Kendrick’s career, featuring songs that have subtly or overtly taken shots at Drake over the years. Kendrick reminded the crowd of the losses Los Angeles has endured, including Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant, and emphasized the need for unity.
The highlight of the night was Kendrick reuniting with his TDE brothers—Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock—on stage. They performed “6:16 In LA,” another Drake diss, before bringing out West Coast legend Dr. Dre. Dre performed classics like “Still D.R.E” and “California Love,” setting the stage for Kendrick’s first-ever performance of “Not Like Us.” Kendrick performed the diss track multiple times, each rendition more powerful than the last.
The concert’s finale was a celebration of unity, with gang members from various sets coming together on stage. Kendrick made sure to highlight this moment, saying, “Let the world see this, for all of us to be on this stage together, unity, from East side–LA, Crips, Bloods, Piru, this is special.”
While Kendrick was uniting Los Angeles, Drake was busy throwing shade. On April 13, Drake released “Push Ups,” a diss track aimed squarely at Kendrick. The song, leaked initially on the internet, features Drake taking jabs at Kendrick’s physical stature and even making a clever double-entendre involving Kendrick’s wife, Whitney. Drake also taunted Kendrick’s superstar status, suggesting that artists like SZA, 21 Savage, and Travis Scott hold more weight in the music industry.
Drake’s diss track is just the latest salvo in what promises to be a long and grueling battle. Despite being outnumbered, Drake remains a formidable opponent. His commercial success is unparalleled, with 13 No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and the most Hot 100 hits of all time. Even past feuds, like his battle with Pusha T, have done little to dent his commercial prowess.
The feud between Kendrick and Drake has drawn in other big names in the industry. Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, and The Weeknd have all taken sides, adding fuel to the fire. J. Cole, who initially seemed to be an ally, has also been dragged into the fray. After apologizing to Kendrick at Dreamville Fest, J. Cole pulled his comeback song “7 Minute Drill” from streaming services and made a cameo on Metro Boomin and Future’s “We Still Don’t Like You.”
Drake, aware of the odds stacked against him, raps on “Push Ups,” “What the fuck is this, a 20-v-1, n—a?” He has already fired back at Ross, who pledged his allegiance to Team Metro & Kendrick by playing “Like That” on social media. Ross responded with his own shots on “Champagne Moments,” while The Weeknd and Rocky have also taken their swings.
This many people attacking one person speaks volumes about Drake’s power and authority in the rap game. The last time the industry saw such a wide-ranging assault was when 50 Cent went after multiple New York rivals in 2005. A win against Kendrick and his allies could propel Drake even further in the rap stratosphere, while a loss would still leave him as a sympathetic underdog.
Drake’s biggest trump card is that he has already helped many of his current foes achieve early success. He brought Kendrick and Rocky on tour in 2012, and his features have boosted the careers of Rick Ross, Future, and Metro Boomin. Even The Weeknd owes part of his early success to Drake’s features on “Take Care.”
While the wrestling world has a new champ, hip-hop’s title belt is unlikely to change hands anytime soon. Kendrick’s ‘Pop Out’ concert may have united Los Angeles, but Drake’s story in this hip-hop civil war is far from over.
