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Taylor Hill / Contributor by way of Getty Photos and Aaron J. Thornton / Contributor by way of Getty Photos

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Kai Cenat and Wale

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Key Takeaways

• Kai Cenat went viral after not recognizing Wale on the 2025 BET Awards, mispronouncing his title as “Wally.”
• The second sparked debate about generational gaps in Hip Hop and the way youthful creators have interaction with legacy artists.
• Wale used the aftermath of the second to hilariously promote the Nintendo Swap.

When Kai Cenat crossed paths with Wale on the 2025 BET Awards on Monday (June 9), lots of his viewers have been shocked he didn’t know who the DMV rapper was. Issues solely acquired worse when Wale later confronted the streamer about it, a second that, relying on the way you noticed it, made him look a bit pressed.

Cenat’s supposed unfamiliarity triggered an avalanche of insults from self-proclaimed Hip Hop purists who both forgot — or didn’t care — that Kai was solely 9 years previous when “Lotus Flower Bomb” dropped. On Thursday evening (June 12), he addressed the second throughout a Twitch stream. “I hope he didn’t take my interplay private. How are you going to blame me for simply being who I’m?” he mentioned. “I’m younger.”

“Matter of truth, let me do my analysis,” Cenat mentioned earlier than pulling up the video for the observe. “What the f**okay! See! N**ga, I do know this tune! This s**t is a banger. This s**t is a f**king traditional. I do know this tune, however when did this s**t come out? 2011? I used to be 9 years previous.” To be truthful, Miguel’s refrain is arguably probably the most recognizable a part of the observe, so perhaps Cenat must be minimize some slack for not immediately recognizing whose hit it was.

Then once more, Wale’s catalog extends far past his 2011 smash. Actually, a few of his largest hits arrived afterward, like 2013’s Tiara Thomas-assisted “Unhealthy” or 2015’s “Matrimony” with Usher. Whereas the Folarin artist is probably not as related, he definitely hasn’t “fallen off” to the purpose of individuals not understanding who he’s.

Wale himself weighed in below The Shade Room’s repost. “That is loopy,” he commented, based on Complex. “I didn’t know we was [being] filmed each instances… We performed in a star soccer sport final 12 months. I used to be [really] confused.” The “Blanco” creator additionally discovered a technique to flip the viral second right into a lighthearted plug for Nintendo Swap, since, in spite of everything, he was busy taking part in Tremendous Smash Bros. when the primary interplay came about.