DJ Akademiks Criticizes Kendrick Lamar’s Music, Claims “Big 45” Trump Era Rejects LGBTQ Themes in Hip-Hop [Video]

DJ Akademiks has ignited a firestorm of backlash after a recent livestream where he criticized Kendrick Lamar’s music and linked its themes to what he claims are cultural shifts under former President Donald Trump’s growing political influence.

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The outspoken DJ took aim at Lamar’s 2022 album “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers,” accusing the rapper of using personal and LGBTQ-related narratives to stay relevant. Akademiks claimed such themes are irrelevant to hip-hop and dismissed Kendrick’s storytelling as a bid for attention.

“Kendrick dropped a whole album talking about LGBTQ issues,” Akademiks said during his stream. “In the history of hip-hop, when have we cared about that? We don’t talk about it, and now he’s making it a focus. It’s like he’s grasping for topics to sell records.”

Throughout his rant, Akademiks referenced the return of “Big 45,” a nickname for Donald Trump, suggesting that the political and cultural atmosphere has shifted away from progressive discussions of identity and inclusion.

“Big 45 is back, and we don’t want to hear about your auntie being a man or any of these other issues for four years,” he said. “Save it for 2028.”

Akademiks even suggested that hip-hop audiences are tired of sensitive topics and are ready to move on to what he considers “normalcy,” sparking outrage among fans and critics alike.

For now, Kendrick Lamar has not responded to Akademiks’ comments.