Rapper NLE The Great Declares War on Rap's Negative Influences

On October 31st, 2025, Memphis rapper NLE The Great, formerly known as NLE Choppa, has released a scathing new single "KO" that serves as a gut-check for the current state of hip-hop. Built on a sample of 2Pac's "Hit 'Em Up," the track finds NLE The Great positioning himself as a "hip-hop Grim Reaper" sent to cleanse the culture of its negative influences.

Throughout the song, NLE The Great calls out top rappers like NBA YoungBoy by name, accusing them of "poisoning the youth" with their music and actions. He raps, "Yahweh sent me to decease em, So I'm the reaper to greet em," further cementing his role as a figure tasked with pushing the culture in a more positive direction.

The accompanying music video sees NLE The Great embodying various iconic figures from music and sports history, including Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Prince, and Michael Jackson. This visual representation underscores NLE The Great's belief that he is fighting for the legacy and future of hip-hop.

With the release of "KO," NLE The Great has also undergone a transformation, shaving his hair and changing his name from NLE Choppa. This shift in persona seems to signal a new chapter for the artist, one where he is determined to challenge the status quo and hold the industry accountable for its perceived shortcomings.