Snoop Dogg has expressed his admiration for Kendrick Lamar, highlighting the Compton rapper’s pivotal role in fostering peace among Los Angeles’ various gangs, even during his ongoing tension with Drake. In a recent interview with Complex, Snoop referenced Vince Staples’ comments about how L.A. gangs have long been quietly united, but Kendrick brought that unity into the public eye.
“What Vince is saying is that a lot of neighborhoods have been uniting for a long time behind closed doors, but what Kendrick did was, he united the whole city, based off him being a king,” Snoop said. “Taking this violent situation, which is a rap beef, and creating peace, giving the homies an opportunity to come on stage, to engage in his video, to be a part of his movement, and to also move like he moves.”
Snoop further emphasized Kendrick’s message of love and peace, saying: “Because if you’re going to move with Kendrick, you gotta move like Kendrick. He’s about peace. He’s about love. He ain’t from no gang. He’s from a city full of gangs and he unites cities. So that’s what this was about. It’s a good move for the whole West Coast culture as far as rap is concerned because violence has always been a lead thing for us on our side. So if you can take a violent rap or a violent song and create peace out of it, he should be commended for that.”
During his Pop Out concert in Inglewood this past June, Kendrick Lamar made headlines by bringing members of the Bloods and Crips on stage to close out the show. The powerful moment was a clear demonstration of unity in a city long plagued by gang violence. Addressing the crowd, Kendrick shared his emotions, stating: “This shit making me emotional. We been fucked up since Nipsey [Hussle] died. We been fucked up since Kobe [Bryant] died. This is unity at its finest.”
He continued, reflecting on the losses the community has suffered: “We done lost a lot of homies to this music shit, to this street shit. For all of us to be together on stage, that shit is special. Everybody on this stage got fallen soldiers.”
The concert’s impact extended beyond those in attendance. West Coast rap veteran DJ Quik, who was touring in Canada at the time with Snoop Dogg and Warren G, admitted that he was deeply moved after watching the event online. “I was knee deep in Canada when all that unity happened,” Quik told AllHipHop. “I cried myself to sleep that night in the dumb-ass Hilton hotel looking at you guys. I started hating.”
Quik explained that Snoop Dogg had attempted to fly them back to L.A. for the show but logistical issues made it impossible. “Snoop tried to fly us back for the Pop Out. He tried to charter a jet and it didn’t work out logistically because we would have missed our show in Ottawa, Canada. But we sat there steaming. I was steaming!”
Kendrick Lamar’s ability to transcend rap beefs and unite a divided city has only solidified his role as a leader in West Coast hip-hop. His actions have resonated deeply within the culture, earning respect from both peers and fans alike. As he continues to bridge gaps and promote unity, Kendrick remains a beacon of hope in a world where violence and division often take center stage.
As we move forward, it’s clear that Kendrick’s influence goes beyond music. His efforts to unify Los Angeles through peace, love, and shared experiences are paving the way for a brighter future in hip-hop and beyond.
