The has been heavy on our minds this year. Perhaps, it's largely because everyone is being forced to pick a side. Impassioned fans are glued to Instagram and YouTube comments where they attempt to discredit the other artist for one reason or another.
Mind you, this battle was only about numbers because one of the participants happened to be the most streamed artist in the world. At its core, it boiled down to the music. We’re at an interesting crossroads in the music industry where streaming numbers don't translate to ticket sales.
Several reports emerged recently about some of the top streaming artists raising concerns surrounding the authenticity of streaming numbers. Earlier this week, an individual appeared on DJ Akademiks’ stream where he alleged that Anthony Saleh, Kendrick Lamar’s manager, hired him to inflate the number of views on “Not Like Us,” the rapper’s chart-topping song that disses Drake, using bots. stated that he was aware (and doesn’t care) of .
Meanwhile, several fans attempted to debunk the claim. But, with Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out – Ken & Friends concert, it became apparent that the hype was far from fabricated. The incredible event hosted by pgLang and Free Lunch unified the West Coast.
Kendrick reunited Black Hippy on stage for the first time in years and shared the stage with dozens of L.A. rappers.
While the majority of viewers didn’t get the opportunity to witness history made inside of the Kia Forum in person, we all tuned i.
