Kendrick Lamar’s “The Pop Out” performance on Wednesday night brought together basketball and hip-hop, with notable NBA players including LeBron James, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook in attendance.
The Pop Out, a Juneteenth event held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, was Kendrick Lamar’s first major performance following the end of his much-publicized dispute with Canadian rapper Drake. Lamar performed songs like “Like That,” “Euphoria,” “6:16 in LA,” and “Not Like Us” live for the first time at the event. Some of the tracks included jabs at Drake.
Numerous NBA players were observed taking in the performance. Take a look at them down below.
Additionally, Drake’s Canadian-born brother DeMar DeRozan, a Westbrook and Toronto legend, joined Lamar onstage for his rendition of “Not Like Us,” one of the more critical songs from the rap feud.
As Lamar played the song, which featured barbs at Drake like “Certified Lover Boy?,” Westbrook and DeRozan danced onstage. “Certified pedophiles,” along with “I’m glad DeRozan came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither,” are references to DeRozan’s time in Toronto.
LeBron James is advised by Kendrick Lamar to keep his family away from Drake.
LeBrоn Jаmes wаs mentiоned by nаme by Kendrick Lаmаr in “Meet the Grаhаms,” аnd he wаs cаutiоned tо keep his fаmily аwаy frоm Drаke.
In the song, Lamar urged those who were well-known for having strong family relationships to keep their distance from Drake, characterizing him as a body-shamer, a man with “sick thoughts,” and an addict to gambling. He made particular reference to Steph Curry and LeBron James.
Lamar rapped:
“LeBron, please keep the family away. Curry, please keep the family away. To anyone who embodies love for their children, please keep the family away. They’re looking at you too if you stand by him. I’m going to shoot through any pervert that lives. Thank you.”
Drake replied with “Push Ups,” and a few months later, he dropped “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which had verses from Snoop Dogg and Tupac created with AI. However, the song was taken down from social media after Tupac’s estate threatened to sue Drake for using Tupac’s voice.
In response, Kendrick Lamar dropped “Euphoria,” a roughly six-and-a-half-minute song that unleashed a barrage of accusations on Drake, pertaining to his appearance, racial identity, parenting, and rapper abilities.
Drake subsequently dropped “Family Matters,” a song that claimed Lamar had abused and cheated on his fiancée. “Meet the Grahams,” Lamar’s response, took aim at Drake’s upbringing and family.
Drake’s release оf “The Heart Part 6,” in which he called Kendrick Lamar a “predatоr” and alluded tо his private life, escalated the feud. “Nоt Like Us,” Lamar’s retоrt, was perceived as the feud’s decisive blоw.
