Joe Budden’s podcast featured a discussion where he disputed Megan Thee Stallion’s superstar status, citing her album sales as a key factor. On my channel today, we’re diving into the ongoing drama involving Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez, and Akademiks. Despite being a bit late to the party, I want to dissect this topic thoroughly. Before delving into the specifics, let’s address the broader question: Is Megan Thee Stallion truly a rap superstar? This debate sparked online, with Punch from TDE initiating it by questioning who qualifies as today’s rap superstars following the era of Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Drake, and Nicki Minaj. While names like Lil Nas X, Doja Cat, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion were mentioned as stars in their own right, some argued against Megan’s inclusion. Joe Budden notably expressed skepticism, asserting that Megan lacks superstar status due to her album sales.
“You can’t be a superstar if you can’t move albums. But hold up, what’s our focus here? Sure, that’s one perspective. But then let’s talk about Meg. Why isn’t she considered a superstar if we’re not just looking at sales? She’s got a slew of brand deals, plus backing from various power players. There’s a lot happening there. But see, that’s the thing, right? If you’re not moving units, you’re not considered a superstar in today’s game. Look at Reselde, tons happening there too. Artists are managing a whole empire, with teams for every aspect. Rules are shifting, man. The game evolves. It’s not like it was back in the day. Sure, things are changing, but we’re not there yet. You still gotta know how to push an album. When it drops, you gotta hustle. That’s why I’m saying, to be a superstar, you gotta be like a pop star. Nope, when a superstar drops, everything shifts. But that doesn’t happen for Lil Nas X or Meg, despite their numerous releases. So what’s the deal?”
I vehemently disagree with Joe Budden’s assessment of Megan’s album and record sales. The facts are readily available on the RIAA website, showcasing the multitude of platinum and gold certifications she’s garnered over just three years. It’s erroneous to claim she doesn’t move records; the stats speak for themselves. Megan has carved out significant success, backed by a formidable team and evident star power that attracts lucrative brand partnerships. Discrediting Megan in this manner is unwarranted.
While I acknowledge Megan’s stardom, I reserve the term “superstar” for artists who meet certain criteria, such as embarking on arena tours worldwide. Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, and Bruno Mars effortlessly sell out stadiums globally, while rap icons like Kanye, Drake, and Nicki have conquered international arena tours. Achieving superstar status demands more than sales and streams; it hinges on the artist’s ability to draw massive crowds, prompting fans from all corners of the globe to flock to their concerts, investing significant time and money.
Not every artist can attain superstar status overnight; it requires relentless effort and undeniable appeal. Many emerging talents hold potential, but they must substantiate their status through consistent performance and audience connection before earning the coveted superstar label.
Moving on to the next topic. A few days back, a significant social media feud erupted involving Megan Thee Stallion, Tory Lanez, and DJ Akademiks. This feud was sparked by the ongoing legal case between Megan and Tory. Just to recap: Megan accused Tory of shooting her following a dispute involving Megan, Tory, and Megan’s former friend, Kelsey. Megan alleges that Tory was the one who fired the gun during the altercation. Currently, Tory faces serious charges, including assault with a semi-automatic firearm and possession of an unregistered weapon. Despite Megan’s accusations, Tory pleaded not guilty to shooting her, and neither of the other two witnesses in the case has firmly corroborated either party’s account.
The case has been shrouded in uncertainty. While the District Attorney’s office claims to possess sufficient evidence to prove Tory’s guilt, his defense team remains confident in his exoneration. The outcome remains uncertain until the trial concludes. However, recent events have intensified the situation. Megan Thee Stallion engaged in a heated exchange with Tory Lanez and DJ Akademiks on social media. Notably, during a recent hearing, it was revealed that Tory’s DNA was not definitively linked to the gun involved in the incident; the results were inconclusive. DJ Akademiks initially misreported this, stating that no DNA was found on the gun, prompting him to delete the tweet and issue a correction. Megan took issue with Akademiks’ handling of the situation, accusing him of spreading falsehoods.
She expressed frustration, stating, “You all received breaking news 15 minutes prior to court without any official summons. It feels like a ploy for social media traction. This is my reality, not a campaign. Spreading false narratives for retweets? Akademiks, why fabricate? What’s the gain?” Akademiks stood by his claims, insisting he saw DNA results, part of the discovery process. He clarified it’s not presented in court yet as the trial hasn’t begun. He emphasized it’s the state, not Meg, pressing charges against Tory. Meg, in response, challenged Akademiks’ claim, questioning how he obtained information pre-court. Tory Lanez intervened, asserting tweeting won’t absolve him. Meg then shared text messages from Tory post-incident, where he apologized for his actions while intoxicated. Tory later admitted to involvement with Meg and her friend Kelsey, confirming longstanding rumors. Megan’s betrayal of Kelsey for Tory’s attention is lamented, with emphasis on Tory’s questionable character. The debacle underscores the risks Megan faces to her career, and Tory’s potential legal consequences, all stemming from avoidable actions.
“It could have indeed. Now, let’s return to the drama. Megan fired back at Tory, expressing, ‘Sleeping with two best friends and then shooting me? You know exactly what you’re apologizing for. You keep spreading this false story that my friend and I had a falling out over you, which is simply not true. Why are you glossing over the fact that you shot me? Just own up to it because she definitely didn’t do it, and I certainly didn’t shoot myself. Shooting me and then harassing me online, trying to trivialize it as some petty feud? What’s seriously wrong with you?’
Meanwhile, as Megan and Tory exchanged heated words, Akademiks directed his ire towards Megan. He remarked, ‘By the way, Megan can access the same documents mentioned in court today. Hopefully, as the victim, she’s entitled to review the evidence the DA will use against Tory. It’s part of the discovery process. Ask the DA about the completed DNA test findings. Then perhaps you owe Big Act an apology. Megan, look, I couldn’t care less about your situation with Tory. You two can play your PR games all you want. We all know what you and Roc Nation are up to. But don’t drag my brand into it. You’re just a small player in this game. 1501 owns you, and you’re constantly begging them to release your songs. You can’t intimidate me, not now, not ever. You’re essentially signed to one company, managed by another, and owned by a conglomerate. You don’t have ownership over anything you put out. Your awards were all based on sympathy, all because of this ‘I got shot’ narrative. Reclaim your masters, then talk. You’re so bothered by me tweeting out facts about Tory’s case. Go ahead, ask the DA. The DNA results were disclosed during discovery. Why are you so concerned about what the internet says? Oh, I see. You’ve built your entire career on a narrative, and it’s pathetic. You’ve made it so that if Tory doesn’t go to jail, you lose.'”
That’s quite a detailed statement there. Akademiks went on a tirade against Megan, expressing his anger over her labeling him a liar. His remarks on Twitch were notably harsh, and while I won’t delve into specifics, it’s important to note the distinction between defending oneself and being disrespectful. It’s troubling to witness such strong criticism directed at a woman who’s perceived as a victim, casting doubt on the optics of the situation.
However, amidst the controversy, one particular comment caught my attention. Akademiks mentioned Roc Nation in a tweet, which aligns with a conspiracy theory circulating among some circles. This theory suggests that Roc Nation may be orchestrating a setup to incriminate Tory Lanez, a notion Lanez himself hinted at in his music, Instagram Live sessions, and a now-deleted tweet. While Lanez didn’t explicitly identify who “they” are, many speculate he was referring to Roc Nation.
This conspiracy narrative is compelling to some, yet tweeting about it might not be wise for Lanez, or anyone involved. Both Lanez and Megan are seemingly invested in shaping public opinion to their advantage, but it’s crucial for them to refrain from discussing the case on social media and allow the legal process to unfold.
In summary, what are your thoughts on this unfolding saga? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe, and thank you for watching. See you next time!