DJ Akademiks claims West Coast hip-hop is

Media personality DJ Akademiks has criticized the current state of West Coast hip-hop, claiming the regional scene has "zero motion" and is "completely dead" with the exception of Kendrick Lamar.

During a livestream, Akademiks argued that Lamar is the only artist from the region with significant clout. He disparaged other local artists, labeling them "a bunch of floppers" and noting that the most notable recent output from the area was an AI-assisted track. He further criticized artist YG, stating he "got more buzz for a murder than he got for music," and noted an inability to reach significant sales milestones.

While Akademiks credited The Game for previously supporting Los Angeles rap, he suggested the scene has since stagnated compared to steady hip-hop hubs in Atlanta, Florida, and New York. These comments stand in contrast to Kendrick Lamar's Juneteenth 2024 'Pop Out' concert, which featured a variety of established and emerging West Coast artists.