Kendrick Lamar Takes the Stage, Drake Takes a Backseat: LA’s Biggest Night

Kendrick Lamar turned his Juneteenth concert at The Forum into an unforgettable celebration of West Coast unity. The sold-out crowd of 17,000 was treated to a three-hour extravaganza featuring all of LA’s hottest acts.

Rising talents like Tyler, The Creator and Steve Lacy kept the energy high before Kendrick took the stage. When it was finally his time to shine, the Compton legend delivered a show-stopping set alongside Black Hippy. They wowed fans with Drake diss tracks “Euphoria” and “6:16 in LA.”

Things got even more electric when Dr. Dre made a surprise appearance. The iconic duo rocked classics “Still D.R.E.” and “California Love” as the crowd lost their minds. Dre heaped praise on Kendrick, calling him “the GOAT.” He then tossed the crowd a curveball by quoting “The Sixth Sense” to intro Kendrick’s mega-hit “Not Like Us.”

With stars like The Weeknd, LeBron James, and Rick Ross in attendance, Kendrick restarted the must-hear beat twice and performed the full song four times as NBA players and dancers partied alongside him. He had the crowd rapping every word back to him in a breathtaking scene.

Kendrick couldn’t resist throwing more shade at Drake, adding a new line about 2Pac’s jewelry. But he made it clear the real goal was unity. He invited members on stage for an iconic photo, declaring “This … ain’t got nothing to do with no song at this point, ain’t got nothing to do with no back and forth records, it’s got everything to do with this moment right here. That’s what this … was about, to bring all of us together.”

After one final performance, Kendrick hinted this is just the beginning. The legendary stream concluded with the “Not Like Us” horns blasting as fans filed out energized.