DJ Akademiks announced the launch of his new label, Akademy Records, investing $25 million

DJ Akademiks announced the launch of his new label, Akademy Records, investing $25 million to sign artists including Top5 and Pressa. In a video shared on social media, reportedly recorded on New Year's Eve, he stated:

"Akademy Records, I told you I was launching. Listen, I dropped a $25 million bag. I had to do it. First signee to Akademy Records, the biggest demons outta Toronto. Y'all artists, you don't have a hit song, y'all not dripping like this. It's gonna take a while," Ak said.

He then pointed to each artist, adding:

"Lemme tell you this, $5 mill. I signed him for $5 million in his pocket. This guy's been rich. I gave him $5 mill just because."

Akademiks concluded:

"When these guys drop, big Ak is behind them. There's no bigger voice than me."

However, fans on social media have expressed skepticism about the venture's success. One user on X (formerly Twitter) commented:

"You can’t un lame a lame. Money doesn’t give you a pass. Folks that try way too hard to fit in."

Another remarked:

"Paying for protection and calling it a record deal with last place rappers is insane asf!"

Top5 has recently been in the spotlight for his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, especially concerning Lamar's rivalry with Drake. In a September livestream with Akademiks, Top5 seemingly issued a warning to Lamar regarding visits to Toronto:

"It's not a threat, I'm just looking for Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar," he said at the time. "I'm doing my homework on them right now, doing my tasks on them right now. Nothing incriminating. I'm just looking for them. I want Metro Booming one-on-one. I don't want no weapons, nothing. I'm knocking the f*ck outta him. Kendrick Lamar, you cross the border, Chubbs calling me, you passed the border man."

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