Lil Uzi Vert still hasn’t fulfilled their self-proclaimed “rockstar” potential, according to Ebro Darden.
During a recent panel discussion, footage of which surfaced on Monday (October 14), the Hot 97 and Apple Music host revisited his viral 2016 interview with the Philadelphia rapper, during which they declared themselves a “rockstar” while refusing to freestyle over “old” Hip Hop beats.
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Eight years later, Ebro feels Baby Pluto hasn’t lived up to their lofty potential.
“I love Uzi Vert. I feel like he still hasn’t become the rockstar he said he would become, though. I’m still waiting,” the radio personality admitted.
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“Maybe I took it literal, but the rockstars that I know, they were selling out MetLife Stadium. They could sell out Madison Square Garden eight, 10 times. They got hits on the radio, everywhere. Songs is everywhere.
“He told me he was gonna become a rockstar […] Most people that come up to me and talk about Uzi Vert were probably like 10 years old [when that interview came out]. They was tight, they was mad that I did that to Uzi Vert. [But] like I said before, time will tell.”
Ebro then applied pressure on Uzi to prove him wrong: “Where you at, my guy? Where you at, bro? Didn’t he just retire, too? Wasn’t he just like, ‘Yo, I’m tired, I’m done.’ Come on, son. You supposed to be a rockstar. What happened?”
Ebro's thoughts on Lil Uzi Vert 8 years after their infamous interview…
"He's still not the rockstar he said he would become. We're still waiting." pic.twitter.com/JNDyXb3oKh
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) October 15, 2024
Ebro’s comments sparked a spirited debate on social media, with fans of Lil Uzi Vert quick to take issue with his criticism.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) wrote: “Insane of Ebro to double down considering Uzi is bigger and sold more records than any rock band to debut in the last 10 years.”
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Another added: “mind u, uzi has multiple platinum records and like 2 diamond records.” [Ed. note: Uzi has just one diamond single, which is “XO Tour Llif3.”]
A third pointed to the success of Uzi’s Jersey club-flavored hit “Just Wanna Rock,” saying: “I hate how yall act like just wanna rock wasn’t influential or something.”
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Others were inclined to agree with Ebro, with one person arguing: “Bro really not hating where is uzi fr dawg drop a mid album and hasn’t had a real good since [Eternal Atake].”
Someone else concurred: “I will agree that Uzi hasnt moved into that super star category yet, which sucks cuz he has the same energy levels as Travis and is a great showman but he hasnt quite stepped up to the plate in that regard. A Uzi Stadium tour with all the theatrics would go crazy.”
Part of Ebro’s complaint is valid as Lil Uzi Vert has flip-flopped on their retirement plans in recent years.
Last year, the 29-year-old announced that their upcoming project Luv Is Rage 3 would be their last.
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“Luv Is Rage 3 will be my last album,” they said during a show in Chicago, much to the disappointment of the crowd. “No, relax. It’s okay […] After Luv Is Rage 3, I guess I will go on another tour. But after that, I wanna try to live a normal life.”
Months later, Uzi appeared to abandon that plan by teasing a sequel to their 2020 album Eternal Atake.
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The rapper also spent several months in 2023 teasing a project called Barter 16, a nod to Young Thug‘s mixtape series which itself pays homage to Lil Wayne, but they have not released a full-length effort since Pink Tape last summer.
