The Pop Out: Ken and Friends was about many things: Celebrating Los Angeles rap, coming together in a display of peace and unity, hating Drake. The show, produced by Amazon and streamed live on Prime and Twitch, built to a fascinating crescendo. As rappers, NBA stars, and members of L.A.’s various gangs took the stage, Kendrick performed “Not Like Us” six times in a row (well, once was just the instrumental). Here’s everything else that went down, and who put in a cameo.
A new line on “Euphoria”
Kendrick offered a Whitman’s Sampler of his Drake diss tracks. He opened the show with “Euphoria” — adding the new line “Give me Tupac’s ring back and I might give you a little respect” — performed “6:16 in LA” and “Like That,” and then closed with “Not Like Us.”
Kendrick Lamar's full Euphoria performance at The Pop Out show #ThePopOut pic.twitter.com/easvNq7kh7
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod ???????? (@big_business_) June 20, 2024
A Black Hippy reunion
Audiences went wild when Jay Rock joined Lamar on stage for “Money Trees.” Then Ab-Soul came out. Then Schoolboy Q came out. It was a full Black Hippy reunion, and the supergroup performed “King’s Dead” all together for the first time since 2018.
Kendrick and Jay Rock show how great of a duo they are performing “Money Trees”, “Win” & “Kings Dead” pic.twitter.com/33KPEM9O9u
— Noah (@Brokedownhiphop) June 20, 2024
Still D.R.E.
Dr. Dre came out to Inglewood to do his songs “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love.” He also helped on the first playthru of “Not Like Us,” kicking the song off with the “I see dead people” line. That’s gotta hurt, Drake.
Kendrick x Dr Dre - “NOT LIKE US”
— King Wow (@wowthatshiphop) June 20, 2024
This is insane man ????pic.twitter.com/OvHFzRUwQ5
A group photo for the ages
Kendrick did “Not Like Us” again and again and again (and then two more again’s). After the show concluded, “SIX TIMES” was trending on Twitter. The stage got more and more crowded as the song repeated. Lamar was later joined by YG, Steve Lacy, all of Black Hippy, Big Boy, G Perico, Mustard (who you may recognize from being on the beat), L.A. Clipper Russell Westbrook, Chicago Bull Demar Derozan, krumper Tommy the Clown, and, allegedly, members of every major gang in Los Angeles. While taking the concert-ending group photo, Kendrick insisted this moment was about way more than just rap beef. He shouted out Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryant, said everyone on stage has lost someone to violence, and that they were here today to represent a unified LA. Then the “Not Like Us” instrumental came back on.
Great Day in Harlem, by Art Kane, 1958, ???? via @cjzero pic.twitter.com/x8UhLfy6wr
— ArtButMakeItSports (@ArtButSports) June 20, 2024
Kendrick really threw his own Hatechella lol this is the hateration and holleration that Mary J Blige was talking about
— gloria alamrew / ግሎርያ ???????????? (@GloriaAlamrew) June 20, 2024
every gang sent a chapter president. please! pic.twitter.com/1l7CqeUKkg
— finegodmother (@finegodmother) June 20, 2024
Whoever gets to press the button to switch the camera angles on the “wop wop wop wop wop” is having the best night ever.
— Dee Phunk (@DeePhunk) June 20, 2024
The Weeknd was also there
The Weeknd was at the Kendrick Lamar's Pop Out concert chilling with Hit-Boy's father Big Hit ???????????? pic.twitter.com/hwfPmqYtpJ
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod ???????? (@big_business_) June 20, 2024
The Weeknd attended the concert as a guest, living laughing and loving the drama. And we didn’t even get into who guested on Mustard’s opening set. Tyler the Creator was on stage, as well as Roddy Ricch and YG. Who wasn’t at this show? Well, we know one guy.
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