The rise of digital media has given influencers like Adin Ross, DJ Vlad (Vladislav Lyubovny), and Adam22 (Adam Grandmaison) powerful platforms to shape conversations around hip-hop and Black culture. With millions of followers on Kick, YouTube, and No Jumper, they hold sway over how Black artists and communities are portrayed. Yet, their content often draws fire for reinforcing stereotypes, exploiting Black pain for profit, and deepening divides.

Adin Ross: Stirring the Pot with Reckless Content

At 24, Adin Ross has turned streaming into a juggernaut, pulling in over 1.4 million Kick followers and 4.4 million YouTube subscribers with gaming, celebrity chats, and edgy antics. His connection to Black culture—through hip-hop and his audience—has fueled his rise, but his actions often spark accusations of racial insensitivity and opportunism.

The Doechii Outburst: A Low Blow
In May 2024, Ross unleashed a 46-second rant on Kick that targeted Doechii, a Grammy-winning TDE artist celebrated for *Alligator Bites Never Heal*. The outburst came after a viral Met Gala clip showed Doechii, shielding her Louis Vuitton gown from rain, calling for more umbrellas. Ross tore into her, branding her an “entitled, unintelligent” fraud and “talentless,” while telling fans to boycott her music. He slammed her work with Playboi Carti and The Weeknd on the “Timeless (Remix),” saying, “Carti and Abel, why even let her on that track?” He also wrongly claimed her song “Anxiety” stole from Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” ignoring its cleared sample.

The reaction was fierce. On X, users called out Ross for bias, with one writing, “Adin’s just parroting his fanbase’s worst takes. No original thought in sight.” Another linked the attack to his allegiance to Drake in the Kendrick Lamar-Drake feud, saying, “He’s coming for Doechii because he’s Team Kendrick-hater.” TDE’s Terrence “Punch” Henderson pushed back, saying, “There’s a line between entertainment and disrespect.” Doechii took the high road on TikTok, joking,

“Heaven forbid I need an extra umbrella”, and thanking her team for their work.

Ross later admitted to DJ Akademiks that the rant cost him two major brand deals, saying, “I was finally cleaning up my image, had two big contracts ready… gone now.” Still, he stood firm, claiming he was sticking up for “regular folks working 9-5” against Doechii’s attitude. Critics saw this as part of a pattern, pointing to his mockery of other Black artists’ struggles, like Tory Lanez’s legal issues, as evidence of a deeper issue.

A Trail of Missteps
Ross’s track record is littered with controversies. In February 2023, he posted a YouTube video, “i told strangers to act black for $100,” on Omegle, offering cash for stereotyped behavior and then calling participants racist. Dropped during Black History Month, the video was slammed by *TheGamer* for “peddling the toxic idea that race equals behavior.” That same month, he chuckled as a white viewer dropped the N-word on stream, only later saying, “Black culture made me who I am.” Many saw this as lip service, given his slow response to the slur.

His ties to figures like Charleston White, who spouted antisemitic rhetoric in 2023, have also raised eyebrows. Ross ditched a planned stream with Boosie Badazz to back White, earning a sharp rebuke from DJ Vlad, who called him “weak” for siding with hate, especially as a Jewish man. In November 2024, Lil Tjay accused Ross of racism and chasing clout through Black creators like Kai Cenat, calling his motives shallow.

Ross’s attack on Doechii devalues Black talent and feeds negative tropes, especially when aimed at rising stars. His young fans, soaking up his content, risk adopting these attitudes, normalizing attacks on Black artists. Stunts like the Omegle video cheapen Black identity, while his lax handling of racist language fuels a toxic environment. His claim of owing his success to Black culture feels empty when his actions often undermine it.

DJ Vlad: Turning Trauma into Content

DJ Vlad, 50, runs VladTV, a YouTube channel with over 5 million subscribers, known for its deep dives with hip-hop artists. While it gives Black voices a stage, critics argue Vlad exploits their pain and peddles stereotypes for profit.

Mining Pain for Profit
Vlad’s interviews often zero in on raw topics—crime, drugs, feuds—pushing guests to spill details that can backfire. A 2016 *Medium* piece by Andre J. Gee dubbed VladTV “Black destruction on tap,” arguing Vlad “squeezes every ounce of value from conflict.” His coverage of rapper Bankroll Fresh’s death, while police were still investigating, was flagged for stirring up trouble. In 2020, Lord Jamar, Godfrey, and Royce da 5’9 boycotted VladTV after he misquoted Louis Farrakhan and dodged a public apology, showing a refusal to own his mistakes.

Feeding Stereotypes and Discord
Vlad’s focus on gritty narratives—gangs, violence, beefs—paints Black people as one-dimensional. A 2023 *Medium* article by Quintessa L. Williams called him a “culture vulture” who “feeds on Black suffering.” His habit of clipping quotes to ignite feuds stokes division. In May 2024, Vlad weighed in on the sound quality of Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” during the Kendrick-Drake clash, drawing heat for meddling in a cultural moment. His response—threatening to contact a critic’s workplace and reportedly reaching out to their family—cemented his image as an outsider exploiting Black spaces.

VladTV’s visibility for Black artists comes at a steep price. By prodding guests to discuss risky topics, Vlad puts them in the crosshairs of police or enemies, feeding cycles of trouble. His conflict-heavy content reinforces stereotypes of Black people as violent, stalling community progress.

Adam22: Stirring Drama for Views

Adam22, 41, founded No Jumper, a YouTube channel and podcast with over 4 million subscribers, cementing his place in hip-hop media. Like Vlad, he’s criticized for exploiting Black culture by chasing controversy over ethics.

Banking on Conflict
No Jumper’s interviews often dig into gang ties, crime, and rivalries, amplifying harmful narratives. A 2023 X post by @BlacksOrganize slammed Adam22 and Vlad as “lowlifes” who “profit by stirring up Black conflict and exploiting our culture.” Some X users have noted a grim trend, with artists appearing on No Jumper facing death soon after, whether by murder or suicide. In May 2025, @Chatnigga101 shared DJ Akademiks’ claim that Adam22 “sets up his hosts for drama, then punishes them for it,” pointing to a manipulative approach.

Racial Missteps
Adam22’s personal choices have drawn fire. A 2023 X post by @dreadxscott accused him of “exploiting the violent fetishization of Black men,” tying his actions to racist historical patterns. His 2024 chat with Wack100 and Vlad about “normalizing” swastikas sparked outrage, with X users calling him out for platforming harmful ideas. His links to figures like Adin Ross, a No Jumper guest, tie him to similar inflammatory patterns.

Adam22’s platform thrives on Black trauma and conflict, often at artists’ expense. His content deepens stereotypes and division, adding to a media landscape that exploits Black culture for clicks.

The Bigger Picture: Exploitation for Profit

Adin Ross, DJ Vlad, and Adam22 operate in a world where drama equals dollars, but their actions hurt the Black community. Ross’s Doechii rant shows how he targets Black talent for attention, while Vlad and Adam22 turn trauma into content. *Hip Hop Vibe* called Ross’s attack “loaded with racial undertones that fuel online tensions,” a charge that fits all three. With millions of followers, they must face the real-world impact of their words and choose accountability over chaos.

Sources

– *HotNewHipHop*, “Adin Ross Calls Doechii An Industry Plant And Other Unsavory Names,” May 13, 2024.
– *Hot97*, “Adin Ross Targets Doechii Over Met Gala Clip,” May 14, 2024.
– *TMZ*, “Adin Ross Rips Doechii in Livestream Rant,” May 13, 2024.
– *Dexerto*, “Adin Ross Blasts Doechii Over Met Gala Umbrella Drama,” May 13, 2024.
– *theJasmineBRAND*, “Adin Ross Says He Lost Deals After Doechii Rant,” May 13, 2024.
– *Hip Hop Vibe*, “Adin Ross Faces Backlash for Doechii Attack,” May 13, 2024.
– *Complex*, “Adin Ross Slams Doechii Over Met Gala Video,” May 13, 2024.
– *TheGamer*, “Adin Ross Criticized for ‘Act Black’ Stunt,” February 2023.
– *Medium*, Andre J. Gee, “VladTV’s Problematic Legacy,” 2016.
– *Medium*, Quintessa L. Williams, “DJ Vlad’s Culture Vulture Tactics,” 2023.