Kendrick Lamar, a renowned rapper from Los Angeles, recently held a concert on Juneteenth at the Kia Forum to celebrate local heroes and unity within the city. The event came after an intense diss war between Lamar and fellow rapper Drake. During the concert, Lamar performed his hit song 'Not Like Us' multiple times, with collaborators such as Dr. Dre, Black Hippy (Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q), YG, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch and others joining him on stage. DJ Mustard dedicated a set to the late rapper Nipsey Hussle during his performance. Lamar opened his set with his Drake diss track 'Euphoria', adding a new bar to the song: 'Give me Tupac's ring back, and I might give you a little respect.' He also reunited with Black Hippy and performed classic hits like 'Still D.R.E.' and 'California Love' with Dr. Dre. The crowd chanted 'OVHOE', one of the catchiest lines from 'Not Like Us', throughout the intermissions between sets.
During their rap feud, Lamar questioned Drake's status within the Black community. However, at his Juneteenth concert, Lamar focused on celebrating Los Angeles and its influence on rap culture as a whole. The event was less about putting an end to the feud and more about bringing people together.
Some of the other topics discussed during the concert included gangs in L.A., with references to Crips, Bloods, and Piru. DJ Mustard produced several tracks for the show, and Black Hippy (Jay Rock, Ab-Soul and Schoolboy Q) were also present. Compton rapper YG and L.A. Clipper Russell Westbrook were among the attendees.
The concert was a significant moment in Los Angeles rap culture, bringing together various artists and highlighting the city's influence on music.
