INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On Juneteenth, award-winning artist Kendrick Lamar hosted a sold-out show celebrating West Coast hip-hop in Inglewood, California, unofficially championing the show as a victory lap amid a heated diss war with rapper Drake. During the show, Portland received a shoutout regarding its contribution to West Coast hip-hop.
Many online described the show, titled "The Pop Out: Ken & Friends," as historic, healing and a collective moment for West Coast hip-hop. The event featured opening sets from popular hip-hop California DJs and featured many artists from the state with a nod to Lamar's hometown of Inglewood. During the show, Lamar stressed the value of community, unity and peace.
"Let them see this," Lamar said as he reunited performers from various L.A. neighborhoods and affiliations on stage at the end of the concert.
"We put this together with peace. I promise this won't be the last of us." Many online also called the show a victory lap, in reference to the late Nipsey Hussle's Victory Lap project.
His motivating mantra of the concept of a "marathon" embraced the idea that life is a marathon, not a race, that while setbacks may momentarily keep people from their dreams, they were all part of the journey. The "Pop Out" refers to a line from Lamar's recent hit song, "Not Like Us," which was a response to rapper Drake. Lamar performed the hit song five times during the show.
The victory lap many referred to is Lamar's Juneteenth show, after unofficially winn.