DJ Akademiks Criticizes Megan Thee Stallion, Says She’s Not on the Same Level as Other Top Female Hip-Hop Artists

DJ Akademiks has stirred up a debate in the hip-hop world after making controversial remarks about Megan Thee Stallion’s career trajectory during a recent livestream. The comment, which followed the release of Megan’s new single Whenever, has sparked plenty of reactions, as Akademiks questioned her place among the top female hip-hop artists.

While discussing Megan’s performance and her new single, Akademiks stated that many fans had unrealistic expectations for the Houston rapper, especially when comparing her to artists like Cardi B, Doja Cat, and Nicki Minaj. According to Ak, Megan has not reached the same level of success as these artists, and he believes her new single doesn’t reflect the major growth many had anticipated.

“That’s just not true,” Akademiks said, explaining his stance. “In reality, Megan Thee Stallion’s not even hotter than GloRilla. And I’m not saying this to disrespect her, I’m just saying the truth. For me, a flop is always proportional. A flop means you think a person’s gonna do this, but they do this.”

Akademiks’ comments have since caught fire on social media, with a particular focus on the 1.2 million streams Megan’s Whenever achieved in its first four days. While he acknowledged the achievement, he downplayed it as a sign of major success. “She’s just gotta build back a little bit. I told you, there’s a lot of obstacles in her way, but if you thought she was some huge artist, no,” he added.

While Akademiks didn’t outright call Whenever a failure, his comments left some fans questioning his evaluation of Megan’s career. According to the DJ, he considers 1.2 million streams to be decent, but he doesn’t see it as an indicator of Megan having reached superstar status in the same way that Cardi, Nicki, and Doja have.

Fans Defend Megan Thee Stallion’s Success

As expected, Akademiks’ critique hasn’t gone unnoticed, with fans and supporters of Megan Thee Stallion rushing to defend her. Many pointed out that Megan’s situation is different from some of her more commercially backed peers, and her independence should be taken into account when comparing her to other artists.

“Megan is an independent artist; she has no label; she’s doing everything on her own. What do people expect?” one fan responded on X (formerly Twitter).

Another user countered Akademiks’ point by saying, “This guy is delusional. Lmao, the hate for Megan is crazy. Spotify streams do not determine the caliber of an artist. Meg is independent. All the women you named except Nicki have the machine.”

This sentiment was echoed by several others who emphasized that Megan’s success cannot be measured solely by streaming numbers, especially when she’s not backed by the major label machinery that other stars like Cardi B and Doja Cat benefit from.

Megan Thee Stallion’s Journey and Whenever

Megan Thee Stallion dropped her single Whenever on April 25 through her own label, Hot Girl Productions. The song came just after her standout performances at Coachella, which made waves for various reasons, including a rumored diss toward Nicki Minaj and a response to Slim Thug’s flirtatious comments on social media.

Megan has been carving out her own path ever since her explosive rise to fame, notably releasing an expanded reissue of her third studio album, Megan, last year, which she dubbed Act II. The album included collaborations with artists like Flo Milli, Twice, Spiritbox, and RM of BTS. Despite the critical acclaim and her loyal fanbase, Megan has yet to announce her next major project, leaving fans eagerly awaiting her next move.

The Bigger Picture: Independent Artists in Hip-Hop

While Akademiks’ comments are a sharp critique of Megan Thee Stallion’s position in the current hip-hop landscape, they also underscore the broader conversation about the challenges independent artists face. The ability to break into the mainstream without the backing of a major label is a tough task, and many in Megan’s position find themselves balancing artistic freedom with the need for commercial success.

Whether or not Megan can prove the critics wrong and push herself further into the top tier of female rap is still to be seen. But what remains clear is that her unique voice and independence are part of what makes her an important figure in today’s hip-hop scene.