“From Angie Martinez to Akademiks: The Impact on Hip-Hop Journalism – Internet Reaction to TDE’s Punch

On October 22, TDE Punch, the head of Top Dawg Entertainment, shared his thoughts on Hip-Hop journalism via X. His comments followed Kendrick Lamar’s interview with SZA for a Harper’s Bazaar cover story, where they touched on various aspects of music and hip-hop culture.

Initially, TDE Punch posed an intriguing question:

“Is it permissible to critique the ‘critics’? Ultimately, isn’t it all about personal opinions? Well, my stance (lol, I’m a critic) is that we seem to be losing perspective. When something either remarkable or lackluster occurs, we discuss it. And that’s perfectly fine.”

In a subsequent wave of tweets, he stated:

“I value Hip Hop journalism and believe it serves a crucial purpose in its purest form. It keeps the culture vibrant, yet there are few authentic voices left. A majority are subpar, in my view, which is why many artists hesitate to engage with you.”

Punch finished his remarks by stating that these were merely his “opinions for today, subject to change in the future.” He encouraged efforts to “revitalize it so that it thrives continuously.” Following his tweets gaining traction online, a flood of reactions emerged, including one that noted:

“We transitioned from Angie Martinez to Akademiks – that’s the issue.”

Other users expressed:

“Right message, wrong messenger. Don’t you cut checks for those journalists?” queried one social media user.

“Clarify your definition of journalism. I hope you aren’t likening people like Akademiks and DJ Vlad to genuine hip-hop journalism,” added another user on the thread.

“Lmao it’s true, and that’s funny,” commented another individual.

Further comments included:

“Lmao that’s not the reason, and it’s false. If that’s the issue, why not engage with those who have proven themselves and are still producing content? Don’t you still respect Sway, Big Boy, or Angie?” stated a netizen.

“YOU’RE PART OF THE PROBLEM,” exclaimed yet another commenter.

TDE Punch, whose real name is Terrence Louis Henderson Jr., is well-known for tracks including “Project Windows,””1965,””Prelude,””Fear,””Kings,””Gone,”and “40 Years.”

TDE Punch’s remarks on X followed Kendrick Lamar’s interview with SZA

The discussions initiated by TDE Punch about Hip Hop journalism have sparked significant interest, particularly after Kendrick Lamar’s recent conversation with SZA in Harper’s Bazaar became a hot topic.

In that interview, Kendrick elaborated on his latest single titled “Not Like Us,”which contained veiled references aimed at Drake. In the article published on October 21, 2024, Kendrick described “Not Like Us”as follows:

“Not like us? That embodies my essence and what I represent. If you resonate with the person I signify…this figure is principled, has ethics, believes in something, and stands firm. He avoids pandering.”

As TDE Punch’s posts continue to circulate widely on social media, there has yet to be a response from Kendrick Lamar or Harper’s Bazaar.

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