“UMG gonna give Kendrick top-notch security” - Fans react as Charlamagne Tha God says Kendrick Lamar visiting Toronto is a bad idea

Radio host Charlamagne Tha God recently shared how Kendrick Lamar visiting Toronto for two back-to-back concerts as part of his Grand National Tour was not a “good idea.” During December 8’s episode of Andrew Schulz’s podcast Brilliant Idiots, Charlamagne claimed that K-Dot’s plan to perform at his professional rival Drake’s hometown might not be the right decision.

“All jokes aside, I don't think that's a good idea. The reason I don't think it's a good idea, ‘cause Drake has proven that he is willing to let his white side flourish in ways that we can't even understand,” Tha God shared.

He continued:

“I wouldn't go into a country where this guy is so beloved. It ain't got nothing to do with no street sh*t. He the type of dude that, what I'm seeing now? They'll put something in these guys' luggage or some sh*t like that, or detain them for some dumb sh*t.”

In the wake of Charlamagne Tha God’s remarks, the internet is having diverse reactions. For instance, Instagram user @blackaveli_thadon_ commented on Say Cheese’s post on the same.

“UMG gonna give Kendrick top-notch security.”

A netizen reacts to Charlamagne's comments on K-Dot's Toronto shows. (Image via Instagram)

Many people joined the conversation and shared similar reactions on the social media platform, X.

“I'm from Toronto and I can tell you there's as many Drake haters as there are fans. So, it's a coin flip for Kendrick coming here he could probably fill the stadium. But it will be filled with more Drake haters than Kendrick fans lmao,” a person wrote.

“If anything, Justin Bieber is a bigger deal in Toronto than Drake,” one person wrote.

“Nobody worried about OVO Hubert, Kendrick will be fine lmao,” wrote another.

Others continued to chime in:

“So, Drake not letting Kendrick be welcome in his city is letting his ‘white side’ flourish… but the entire West Coast saying Drake isn’t welcome isn’t white but is called ‘the culture’… got it,” a netizen wrote.

“They forgot what happened to Rick Ross lol,” another netizen wrote.

“I think Kendrick shouldn’t do it either he not good in Toronto like that,” a user wrote.

“Kendrick been overstepping boundaries, I trust Drizzy,” another user wrote.

So far, Drake hasn’t reacted to Kendrick Lamar’s shows in his hometown, Toronto.

However, when rapper Rick Ross performed at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver in July 2024, he and his entourage were seemingly jumped by concertgoers. This came reportedly after Ross ended his set with K-Dot's Drake diss track, Not Like Us.

While Ross later downplayed the incident, Drake liked various posts on social media regarding the same.

Later, he even wished fellow Canadians “Happy Canada Day” via an Instagram video Story and offered “cheers to the whole country” while sharing laughs.

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Exploring Charlamagne Tha God’s remarks about Kendrick Lamar’s Toronto shows

During his recent conversation on Andrew Schulz’s podcast, Charlamagne Tha God shared:

“When you are what you are to a city like Drake is to Toronto, he is all in with the government, people love him there…”

He further mentioned how it was a bad idea for Kendrick Lamar to perform there and he and his team might even face alleged legal consequences.

Charlamagne reminded people that Drake’s recent petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) proved that he was ready to go a long way to defend himself.

For the unversed, Drake took legal action against UMG last month and claimed in a pre-action petition that the label and streaming platform Spotify reportedly used bots, payola, and more ways to artificially promote Not Like Us.

In a second petition filed this month, the 6 God singer has further accused UMG of defamation. He has alleged that the collective could have prevented the release of the song where K-Dot accused him of being a “certified p*dophile” and a “predator.”

Notably, Drizzy is signed to UMG subsidiary Republic Records while Kendrick was signed to another UMG division, Interscope Records.

Notably, Charlamagne offered similar advice to K-Dot about his Toronto tour during his last week’s appearance on the radio show, The Breakfast Club.

"Do you realize Drake boosts the economy of Toronto? Do you realize he gave the city of Toronto an identity?" he shared back then.

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On December 3, Kendrick Lamar announced the Grand National Tour along with singer-songwriter SZA, which is a follow-up tour to his sixth album, GNX, released as a surprise on November 22.

Initially, the Compton rapper shared that he would be performing in Toronto’s Roger Centre on June 12, 2025. However, on December 5, he included an additional show at the same venue, slated for June 13.

The North American tour will begin on April 19 in Minneapolis and will wrap up in Washington D.C. on June 18. Before that, K-Dot will headline the Superbowl LIX halftime show in New Orleans in February.

Meanwhile, Drake will be headlining the Anita Max Win tour in New Zealand and Australia around the same time.