In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, rap icon Lil Wayne opened up about the viral photo he took with former President Donald Trump back in 2020. This image made headlines and stirred up a lot of reactions online, but Wayne clarified that it was not a carefully planned political statement just a moment that happened in a rather unusual setting. Wayne explained that it wasn’t even Trump who proposed taking the picture.

Instead, he recalled how people around them encouraged the photo opportunity, saying, “Y’all should take a picture.” Trump himself seemed worn out by all the photo requests he received that day, jokingly expressing his fatigue about the constant attention. For Wayne, the moment was a casual one, something simply to enjoy. He found humor in it, saying, “It’s the president. OK,” and emphasized that there were no hidden political motives behind the photo. He was mainly thinking about making his mother proud, quipping that she would have been upset if he hadn’t smiled for the camera.

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As for the reactions from fans and critics, Wayne made it clear that he doesn’t let that bother him. He stated, “I don’t care about no backlash for nothing I do,” showing his confidence and authenticity as an artist. When asked if he would officially support Trump, Wayne responded with a firm no, humorously adding that he would tell Trump that his knowledge extends to sports scores rather than politics. In the face of public opinion and controversies, Lil Wayne stays true to who he is free-spirited, genuine, and always himself.

In a heartfelt moment of honesty, DJ Akademiks shared his thoughts on the current state of hip-hop and why many artists aren’t seeing success on the charts lately. While checking out the Billboard Hot 200 projections during a recent live stream, DJ Akademiks noticed that the charts are mostly filled with a few big names like Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and some artists connected to the Opium label, such as Playboi Carti and Ken Carson. A few newer artists, like Doechii and Lil Durk, have been making some waves, but their success is rare.

DJ Akademiks pointed out that the competition has been tough for newcomers since the publicized feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar last year. He believes that this drama might be keeping hip-hop afloat, saying that if your music isn’t linked to that feud or you aren’t part of Carti’s group, it can feel like you’re not getting noticed. What’s particularly frustrating for him is that many albums making it onto the charts aren’t even fresh releases. Older music from Drake and Kendrick still dominates the scene, making it hard for new voices to break through. He sees this as a sign that hip-hop’s energy is fading, with only a few artists still able to create a real buzz.

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Akademiks did mention a handful of unique albums making a splash, like “GNX,” “$ome $exy $ongs 4 U”, “MUSIC,” and “More Chaos,” showing that there is some room for creativity, but it’s not exactly easy to get in. This is a genuine reflection of someone who knows the industry well. His comments aren’t meant to criticize artists but to urge the music industry to take a closer look at its current path. Ultimately, whether you’re a fan of his or not, DJ Akademiks is echoing that the hip-hop scene is in a tricky place right now, and unless you’re a major star or part of a cool trend, the charts might not be ready for you.