Jay Rock

Lore & Background

At the Pop Out: Ken & Friends, Jay Rock performed as part of a historic gathering of West Coast hip-hop talent. The concert, held on Juneteenth 2024 at the Kia Forum, was Lamar's first major performance after his feud with Drake. Jay Rock joined a lineup that included Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and other Black Hippy affiliates, as well as Tyler, the Creator, YG, and Dr. Dre. The event spanned over three hours with about 60 songs, predominantly by LA-area artists. DJ Hed, who helped organize the show, told XXL that the event was 'pro us' and 'wasn't anti-anybody.' Jay Rock's presence on the bill reinforced the concert's focus on celebrating West Coast hip-hop unity rather than rivalry.

In Their Own Story

Backstage at the Kia Forum, the atmosphere was electric but focused. Artists from different gangs and sections of Los Angeles were getting along, rehearsing side-by-side. Tommy the Clown practiced his routine next to YG and Dom Kennedy. Jay Rock moved through the space, part of a carefully curated list of artists that PGLang and Free Lunch believed deserved to be spotlighted. Lamar had personally contacted each act to ask if they would perform. Some, like 03 Greedo and Vince Staples, declined due to scheduling conflicts. But Jay Rock was there, ready to take the stage in a show that would be live-streamed by Amazon Music on Prime Video and Twitch, watched by millions, and later hold the record for most minutes watched of any Amazon Music video production.

Reader's Guide

For fans attending or watching the Pop Out, Jay Rock's role was clear: he was one of the key voices representing Compton and the broader West Coast sound. The concert featured over 25 artists, with Lamar performing four of his five Drake-aimed diss tracks — 'Like That,' 'Euphoria,' '6:16 in LA,' and 'Not Like Us' — the last of which he performed five consecutive times. Jay Rock's appearance alongside Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and other TDE affiliates connected the event to the long history of West Coast hip-hop. The show was described by critics as a cultural landmark, and DJ Hed noted that despite the feud context, no artists said anything negative about Drake. The focus remained on celebrating the region's music and unity.

Did You Know?

• Jay Rock was one of over 25 West Coast artists featured at the Pop Out: Ken & Friends concert on June 19, 2024.
• The concert was held at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, and lasted over three hours with about 60 songs.
• Lamar performed 'Not Like Us' five consecutive times during his headlining set at the Pop Out.
• Amazon Music live-streamed the event on Prime Video and Twitch, and it holds the record for most minutes watched of any Amazon Music video production.
• DJ Hed told XXL that the Pop Out was 'pro us' and 'wasn't anti-anybody,' with no artists saying anything negative about Drake.