NLE Choppa, now going by NLE The Great, has simply made a daring transfer, dropping a music video titled “KO” that many imagine takes direct purpose at NBA YoungBoy. In the visible, NLE adopts a robust tribute vibe to Tupac Shakur whereas sampling “Hit ’Em Up,” and each body feels charged with confrontation.

A standout second: halfway by means of the clip, a determine with hoodie, dreadlocks, and face tattoos kneels on a checkerboard ground. NLE towers above, rapping. Social media immediately exploded, and viewers recognized the silhouette as an unmistakable mimic of YoungBoy. The look, the setting, the context, followers referred to as it a low-key diss.

Enter Sherhonda Gaulden, YoungBoy’s mother. She didn’t maintain again. On Instagram Stories she posted: “I would be upset if this was coming from someone who matters like someone people actually listen…like someone who is not in the closet,” accompanied by clown emojis. She additionally urged NLE couldn’t even fill an enviornment.

What we’re seeing is greater than easy rivalry. NLE is within the midst of his rebrand, morphing from NLE Choppa into NLE The Great, and “KO” is his proclamation. He embodies a Michael Jackson-meets-2Pac aura, whereas casting YoungBoy in a darker position: a misguided determine allegedly main impressionable followers astray.

YoungBoy himself has remained silent for now. But together with his mother front-and-center, defending his title and issuing pointed jabs, many imagine NLE might have simply stepped into harmful territory. Challenging the reigning king of the web rap sport is one factor—however inviting a mom’s wrath? That would possibly weigh heavier.