The West Coast, specifically Los Angeles, got something to say, and that was proven on Juneteenth (June 19) at Kendrick Lamar‘s The Pop Out.
The concert was held at the Kia Forum in the heart of Inglewood. People pulled up in droves early to be present and on time for what would become a historic moment in music, Hip-Hop, and for the culture.
“Tonight is a celebration of what makes the left coast the best coast […] and the unification of the west,” E-40 narrated as the show began. Divided into three acts, DJ Hed commanded the crowd first and brought out special guests: Remble, Ray Vaughn, Cuzzos, Rucci, AzChike, Jay Worthy & Meet The Whoops, Wallie The Sensei, Westside Boogie, Zoe Osama, Kalan.FrFr, G. Perico, Bino Rideaux, BlueBucksClan, RJMrLA, Ohgeesy, JasonMartin (formerly known as Problem), and the legendary Tommy The Clown with his T-Squad.
Tommy the Clown invented a style of dancing called Clowning which involves a style of dancing called Krumping & he led a movement. I watched the documentary Rize so many times growing up. That’s culture! https://t.co/h1dNQMi1ja pic.twitter.com/wmPApN1Mey
— Tori Wan Kenobi (@MajestyRia) June 20, 2024
Even though each act seemingly performed one song in an effort to remain on schedule, the crowd’s energy was already on high as they awaited K. Dot’s set.
Mustard pulled up to the scene ready to party. He cascaded through his catalog of hits including Tyga’s “Rack City,” 2 Chainz’s “I’m Different,” Kid Ink and Chris Brown’s “Show Me,” and Big Sean’s “I Don’t F**k With You” before being joined by the likes of 310babii, Blxst, Ty Dolla $ign, Roddy Ricch, and Steve Lacy.
For the first time, the famed producer and Dom Kennedy performed his cult classic, “When I Come Around.” Not to mention, the crowd went berserk when Tyler, The Creator popped out. Of the moment, the rapper tweeted, “It was beautiful to see the whole city come together last night. My first raps were written at home off Crenshaw Dr and 82nd, right down the street from the Forum. Thank you. Shoutout FREE LUNCH.”
it was beautiful to see the whole city come together last night. my first raps were written at home off crenshaw dr and 82nd, right down the street from the fourm. thank you. shoutout FREE LUNCH https://t.co/aoPmNqmcsO
— T (@tylerthecreator) June 20, 2024
Mustard took a moment to pay tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle before YG took the stage, closing out act two.
The crowd was chanting “OVH*E” before the arena went dark and Kendrick took the stage. As predicted by fans on Twitter, he kicked off his almost 90-minute performance with an altered version of his diss track, “euphoria.” Kung Fu Kenny added the line, “Give me Tupac’s ring back and I might give you a little respect,” which was in direct reference to Drake buying Pac’s custom crown ring in a recent auction.
Kendrick also rocked a fit that was eerily similar to Pac’s look from the 1994 Source Awards.
context is everything. pic.twitter.com/DJQPFFqJB4
— •UP•NORTH•TRIPS• (@evboogie) June 20, 2024
— Big Boss ?? (@LordBalvin) June 20, 2024KENDRICK OPENING UP WITH PERFORMING EUPHORIA FOR THE FIRST TIME WITH EVERY ONE SINGING ALONG
THIS IS LEGENDARY sh*t ???
pic.twitter.com/KGOQPrewV5
he's recontextualizing prior songs to fit the diss theme…a lot of these lines apply to drake. yall overuse the word but THATS diabolical
— ??? (@andrejgee) June 20, 2024
As he went through his discography in reverse, going from 2017’s DAMN. with “DNA.” and “ELEMENT.” to 2015’s To Pimp A Butterfly with “Alright,” he then nested in the commemoration of 2012’s good kid, m.A.A.d city.
K. Dot first brought out Jay Rock for “Money Trees” and “Win” before Schoolboy Q popped up for “Collard Greens” and “That Part.” Ab-Soul appeared last to complete the long-awaited Black Hippy reunion and Hip-Hop fans everywhere rejoiced.
We witnessed a Black Hippy reunion on one stage! This is my mood for the rest of the year ??? pic.twitter.com/D8V95DqApy
— Ronald Isley (@yoyotrav) June 20, 2024
Dr. Dre was the last, formal guest to pop out as he performed “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love.” The Compton native introduced the final song of the night—the highly-anticipated “Not Like Us,” which Kendrick performed six times.
He restarted the track three times after finishing the first verse, “Why you trollin’ like a b***h? Ain’t you tired? Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor.”
— Carolyn Hinds ?? #FreePalestine #CongoInCrisis (@CarrieCnh12) June 20, 2024The concert director, camera operators, sound engineers, and lighting technicians were all on 10!
Give them their flowers and applause cauae this whole production, especially the timing was hella hard.? ?????? https://t.co/7mgZ2t6wbe
At one point, he was joined by dancer Storm DeBarge and choreographer Charm La’Donna. Arguably, the best part of Kenny’s set wasn’t the five-peat of this diss record, but the gang unification. “At this point it ain’t got nothing to do with a song. It ain’t nothing to do with any back-and-forth record. This is what it’s about.”
Kendrick declared, “This s**t making me emotional. We been f**ked up since Nipsey died. We been f**ked up since Kobe died. Let the world see this.”
THEY NOT LIKE US ? #KendrickLamar #NotLikeUs #Westcoast #LosAngeles pic.twitter.com/jDMyt2VQLM
— Armen Keleshian (@ArmenKeleshian) June 20, 2024
— Hollywood Huego (@ScottHuego) June 20, 2024"This sh*t making me emotional… we been f*cked up since Nipsey died… we been f*cked up since Kobe died."
– Kendrick Lamar #ThePopOut pic.twitter.com/LLaxEExECM
Not only did Kendrick unite different sets onstage, but it felt like all of Hollywood pulled up to celebrate him. Celebrity attendees included Rick Ross, James Harden, Chika, Kayla Nicole, LeBron and Savannah James, Chlöe, The Weeknd, Malcolm Mays, Russell Westbrook, DeMar DeRozan, and more.
All-in-all, Kendrick turned Juneteenth 2024 into a cultural reunion, which hasn’t happened since Jadakiss performed “New York” at The Lox/Dipset VERZUZ in August 2021. Not only did the Pulitzer Prize winner take the crown in this rap battle, he reminded the world why Los Angeles Hip-Hop is essential to music, culture, and beyond. For that alone, we all won.
Check out more reactions below and snippets from his performance below.
f*ck IT !!
— branDONE ?? (@brandedtyler) June 20, 2024
The Pop Out, Ken and Friends
Full Kendrick Lamar Performance pic.twitter.com/dtc3OCJcHO
kendrick was already goated but this is so crazy to do for the city, for the artists from LA, and to stream it globally… man. the people and the culture really won today.
— Lauren Chanel (@MichelleHux) June 20, 2024
LA lost Nip then lost Kobe less than a year later. It couldn’t even celebrate titles by the Lakers and Dodgers because of the pandemic. That city has been waiting to celebrate for a long time, and buddy did it ever tonight.
— Justin Tinsley (@JustinTinsley) June 20, 2024
drake said dot wasn't affiliated, and kendrick responded with gangteenth. my god today. pic.twitter.com/Q5Jyy2uGcR
— in charge of the girls (@AmeriKraut) June 20, 2024
IN THIS GANGERIE!!! https://t.co/fbJQCfuqk0
— Thick Saban ? (@RaveenTheDream) June 20, 2024
— Keith Nelson Jr (@JusAire) June 20, 2024Drake tried to use YG to show how Kendrick isn't really a G….only for YG to perform at Kendrick's show and yell out "Sometimes you gotta pop out and show nigg*s"
Questioning Kendrick's L.A. supremacy was a choice