"Kendrick's in Mamba mentality" - Former NBA champion breaks down Kendrick Lamar & Lil Wayne rift over GNX album

Former NBA champ Matt Barnes and longtime NBA veteran Stephen Jackson wasted no time in diving into Kendrick Lamar's new album GNX. On this week's episode of "All The Smoke" podcast, the duo reacted to the surprise album released by Kendrick Lamar late last week.

Specifically, the two discussed the back-and-forth between Lamar and hip-hop legend Lil Wayne. To quickly recap the situation, Lamar was announced as the halftime performer at this year's NFL Super Bowl. Because Lil Wayne is from New Orleans, he and many others expected him to be the performer.

Then, in his new album, Kendrick Lamar addressed the situation, rapping that he used to be a fan of Wayne's Tha Carter III album, but his hard work seems to have let Lil Wayne down.

On Tuesday's episode of All The Smoke, NBA veterans Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson weighed in, with the former NBA champ saying:

"I can't recall an artist who's had a bigger year in a while. A lot of people have put out good music, but who have really kind of controlled 2024 obviously the last half of 2024. What I liked about the album too, and again, and I'm still studying it, but the Nas influence ,the Pac influence, the lady he got from the Dodger game.

"And he put on maybe six. ... LA guys that obviously this is going to be their highest stream ever. ... I'm really appreciating this body of work as I continue to study it. But I mean s**t, Top put out a statement about, 'Stay out the way right now. This is the dangerous man.' And he told me Kendrick's in Mamba Mentality right now."

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Lil Wayne responds to Kendrick Lamar's reference on new album currently taking the NBA community by storm

Since Kendrick Lamar released his surprise GNX album, the NBA community has been buzzing with talk as players and fans alike share their reactions.

DeMar DeRozan for example posted the album cover on his Instagram story the day it dropped, while others concocted theories that a new Lamar album means a championship for the Warriors.

While NBA vets Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson wondered at the time of recording their podcast "All The Smoke," whether Lil Wayne would respond, the famed rapper has since done so.

In a post on X, Wayne wrote:

"Man wtf I do?! I just be chillin & dey still kome 4 my head. Let’s not take kindness for weakness. Let this giant sleep. I beg u all. No one really wants destruction,not even me but I shall destroy if disturbed. On me. Love"

Wayne wasn't the only one to respond to being name-dropped on the album. Snoop Dogg, who Lamar pointed out on one of his new songs, shared Drake's song on his Instagram story and also responded on X.

On next week's episode of their podcast, expect Barnes and Jackson to likely discuss the latest in the Kendrick Lamar-Lil Wayne saga.