Kendrick Lamar could have begun his set throughout Wednesday night’s “Ken & Buddies – The Pop Out” with a efficiency of “Euphoria”— considered one of a number of diss tracks the Compton lyricist has geared toward Drake amid their latest rap beef — however the focus of the Juneteenth occasion was to showcase unity amongst West Coast expertise, greater than two dozen of whom made an look on the live performance.
“That is unity, y’all simply don’t know man,” Lamar stated as a gaggle photograph captured the greater than 25 artists from throughout L.A. who carried out on the present whereas instructing everyone on stage to say, “One West.”
“All people acquired fallen sons however we’re proper right here, proper now celebrating all of them, this shit is particular,” he added.
Among the many pals who carried out on the present — held on the Kia Discussion board in Inglewood, which concurrently streamed on Amazon — had been Tyler, the Creator, YG, Roddy Ricch, Ty Dolla $ign, Dom Kennedy and Steve Lacy, who got here out throughout a set curated by L.A. producer DJ Mustard, who additionally held a second in reminiscence of slain Crenshaw rapper Nipsey Hussle. Throughout his set, Lamar reunited with Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, with whom he’d fashioned the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy underneath the High Dawg Leisure (TDE) report label in 2008. He additionally introduced out Dr. Dre who carried out “Nonetheless D.R.E.” and “California Love” earlier than he teed up Lamar’s grand finale efficiency of the viral Drake diss “Not Like Us” by whispering the intro line, “I see lifeless folks.”
Lamar went on to rap the monitor a further 4 occasions, stating in between the encore performances, “Y’all ain’t gonna let anybody disrespect the West Coast huh? Oh y’all ain’t gonna let no person mock or imitate our legends huh?” as he drew out one of many standout lyrics of the track, “Tryna ring a bell and it’s in all probability A minor” – a double entendre taking part in off of an earlier reference within the monitor that alleges Drake likes underage women— with every chorus.
Momentum for Lamar’s first stay efficiency of the diss had been constructing all through the night time as the group started chanting “OV-hoe”— one other lyric from “Not Like Us”— at varied factors within the night. Early on, Lamar remixed one of many lyrics to “Euphoria,” with a brand new jab towards Drake, reciting, “Give me Tupac’s ring again and I would provide you with slightly respect.” He additionally rapped his verse to Future and Metro Boomin’s single “Like That,” which was the impetus for the present rap beef. Exterior of these focused moments, Lamar stored the vitality up throughout his set with renditions of hits corresponding to “M.A.A.d Metropolis,” “Be Humble,” “DNA.,” “Factor.,” “Cash Bushes,” “Swimming Swimming pools,” “King Kunta” and “King’s Lifeless.”
The night time started with opening performances by 15 native L.A. acts alongside L.A.’s DJ Hed. The lineup, which included Ray Vaughn, Cuzzos, Westside Boogie, Zoe Osama, RJMRLA, OhGeesy, and Jason Martin, underscored the aim of the Juneteenth showcase.
“Allow them to see this,” Lamar stated as he reunited performers throughout varied L.A. neighborhoods and affiliations on stage on the finish of the live performance. “We put this along with peace… I promise this received’t be the final of us.”
