Music

DJ Akademiks Sparks Controversy by Ranking Drake’s OVO Fest Over Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out

DJ Akademiks has ignited a heated debate by declaring that Drake and J. Cole’s festivals—OVO Fest and Dreamville Fest—surpass Kendrick Lamar’s recent The Pop Out – Ken & Friends show in impact and scale. These remarks were made during a livestream clip he shared on social media this past Saturday.

“None of these ns up here got a feature with Kendrick,” Akademiks stated, showing a clip from The Pop Out’s finale. “And we don’t think they will ever get a feature with Kendrick. He has one concert in 15 years and brought these ns on stage and n****s is saying he did the most.” He contrasted this with J. Cole’s Dreamville Festival and Drake’s OVO Fest, both of which platform emerging artists and have become significant cultural events in their respective cities.

Akademiks’ comments quickly drew backlash from fans. One user replied, “OVO Fest is not the same as the POP Out. The POP Out was West Coast honoring their identity, their fallen soldiers, and respecting each other’s differences and similarities of being the West Coast culture. It was also retaliation to a colonizer insulting their legends.” Another added, “Y’all Drake n****s don’t know how to take an L and move on.”

This isn’t the first time Lamar’s The Pop Out – Ken & Friends has been compared to Drake’s OVO Fest. When Complex shared a clip of Drake performing his Meek Mill diss track, “Back to Back,” at OVO Fest in 2015, social media users debated the moment’s lasting impact in light of recent events.

Stay tuned to Honk Magazine for more updates on DJ Akademiks, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar.

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Artist Spotlight

“The Deverills” by TYGERMYLK reveals a glittering ode to queer friendship

Hayz Harland, known professionally as TYGERMYLK, returns with something far more precious, “The Deverills,” a track that feels like flipping through a sun-creased scrapbook of inside jokes, questionable travel decisions, and emotional pitstops shared with your closest friends. Co-written with long-time creative soulmate, collaborator, and best friend Laura Reznek, the single is both a love letter and a comedic commentary, offering a tender, chaotic, and sharply self-aware ode to platonic queer friendship.

The track is funny, emotional, and honest. From the very first notes, “The Deverills” envelops listeners in warmth buoyed by the lush harmonies of the KIN Choir and lyrics that are as witty as they are wistful. Harland doesn’t just tell stories; she paints vivid scenes of viral cat museum escapades, hotel bar confessions, and that one time they ended up on the wrong boat (we’ve all been there…right?). Her storytelling shines with cinematic detail, culminating in a chorus that evokes the comforting feeling of returning home after an extended tour of beautiful disasters.

What makes this track potently impactful is its quiet indignities, which serve as an incisive critique of ageism within the music industry, and effectively challenge and dismantle outdated assumptions regarding queer relationships. Harland’s approach goes beyond merely requesting inclusion; she assertively establishes her presence in this domain by artfully combining humor with grace, thereby exhibiting both wit and poise.

In a cultural landscape that often prioritizes romantic ideals and fleeting novelty, “The Deverills” provides a refreshing exploration of the intricate and fulfilling dynamics that emerge from the joyful eccentricities of a chosen family. This narrative serves as a resonant anthem for those who have cultivated profound connections with friends or surrogate family members through shared experiences marked by unconventional road trips, communal living situations, and intimate exchanges of secrets during the twilight hours, discovering moments of joy along the way. The work encapsulates the juxtaposition of playfulness and poignancy, immersing the audience in the complexity and relatability of human relationships. TYGERMYLK’s anthemic creation stands as a noteworthy contribution to the discourse on the beautifully chaotic journey of human connection.

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Electronic

Tracy Dell wakens gen-x spirit with latest single, “American Blood”

Tracy Dell has arrived with her latest single, “American Blood,” a glorious nod to the high-octane golden days of 80s and 90s rock that defined a generation. This track explodes with distorted riffs and the inevitable spark of a Gen-X spirit that will not go gently into the night. Longtime fans may recognize the seasoned singer-songwriter as Tracy DeLucia, but with Dell, her new name is a reawakening. Her previous efforts hinted at the sweeter side of country pop, “American Blood” is Tracy rolling down the windows, flicking the switch, and letting her rebellious roots drive.

Produced by Kent Wells of Dolly Parton board work, the tune vibrates with raw energy, smart hooks, and memories you don’t need to be an ’80s baby to understand. With the residual echoes of defiance, Dell captures the beautiful chaos that shaped a generation in which music was both escape and identity. Her voice, grainy and urgent, is accompanied by explosive instrumentation drenched with high-octane guitars that feel like it was meant for turnpike speakers and garage parties alike. And the best part is that there is no glossing over the attitude.

If you have ever parked under the 7-Eleven lights, blasting alt-rock tunes with the windows fogged and dreams ignited, “American Blood” will feel like coming home. Tracy Dell is recapturing a feeling. One that is wild and loud and gloriously alive. With “American Blood,” Dell is playing a nod to her past, she’s stomping it straight into the present, guitar in hand and her legacy in tow. Tracy Dell showed up, and she brought Gen-X’s soul with her.

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