What 13 Rappers Think of Lil Pump

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There's no question that Three 6 Mafia's early music influenced the lo-fi trap of artists like Pump and XXXTentacion. So it follows that Memphis OG Juicy J—whose "Trap Jumpin" Pump appeared on—would show love to their generation. "They keep the music alive," he told Rolling Stone. "They keep people interested in the music."

French stood up for Pump in a recent interview with LA Weekly. "Honestly, you got to respect every generation of hip-hop," he said. "I love what Lil Pump is doing for the game." He also had a question for the Floridian's haters: "Whoever don't like him, why you listening to him?"

Earlier this year, Lil Pump became a free agent and the public bidding war began. Pump posted a shot of himself under which he wrote, "Look at my neck shynee." That inspired a comment from Gucci Mane: "1017 u name the price." While Pump never signed with Gucci, he did don a 1017 chain at one point.

Gucci wasn't the only one trying to sign Pump this winter. Khaled also threw his hat in the ring, saying he wanted to bring his fellow Floridian to his We the Best Music Group. "I TOLD MY LAWYER THIS IS URGENT !!" he wrote. "Let's get this deal done !" While Pump said he wouldn't enter into a contract for less than $12 million, he eventually signed a deal with Warner Bros. Records worth a reported $8 million.

Last year, less than a week before he shared "XO Tour Llif3" on SoundCloud, Uzi took a minute to show love to rappers he was feeling on Twitter. Among them were XXXTentacion, Ski Mask the Slump God, and, yes, Pump. "I'm in both 🌎s," he wrote. "my Young n***as need more credit I f**k wit y'all and that's all dat matters ... keep Flexing."

The G-Unit boss crowned 6ix9ine the king of New York, so it seems he's not mad at young rappers, including Pump. "All that s**t is fun," he said of the Florida rapper's music to Complex. "If it's not complex or difficult to make, why not make music that people will enjoy?"

In an "In Sight Out" interview with Pitchfork, Vince Staples said he was feeling Lil Uzi Vert. He had some reservations about Pump, though. "I've never heard a song," he said, before asking if he was white. "I don't know how I feel about white people with dreads—that's just my take on that. But I never heard his music, and I hope he does well."