DJ Akademiks and The Kid Mero have reignited their beef after Ak called the Hot 97 radio host a “DEI hire” while speaking on Ebro Darden’s recent firing.
The tension began after Akademiks criticized Ebro Darden during a livestream, before shifting his focus to Mero, who recently joined Hot 97.
“You guys did suck at your job, but they hired someone who’s worse,” Akademiks said, adding, “The new radio host… absolutely atrocious.”
He continued, “I think he’s going to be gone… as soon as that guaranteed period runs up.”
“Objectively… I believe the whole hip hop thought ebum & rosendweeb were a failure,” he wrote on X. “But u even worse. U a DEI hire. With failing numbers . U getting fired as soon as that guaranteed period runs up. U never had talent it was the other ugly bald n—a w a beard that was the guy.”
Mero responded on social media with a series of posts pushing back against the comments.
DJ Akademiks goes off on Mero from Hot 97, telling him he constantly checks his YouTube stats just to watch how terrible his views are. He says it’ll be a movie once Mero gets fired, and if he thinks this is turning into some back-and-forth beef, he can go eat a d*ck pic.twitter.com/O0ixnVVxll
— joebuddenclips/fanpage (@Thechat101) March 4, 2026
“He can’t make anything. He can’t have an original thought,” he wrote, before throwing even more jabs at Akademiks.
Akademiks fired back, writing, “You a DEI hire… with failing numbers,” and claiming Mero “never had talent.”
IDK HOW LIVINGSTON GOT FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME AS AN ADULT, YEAH DEFINITELY NOT TALKING TO NEW ARTISTS AT HOT97 NOT AT ALL https://t.co/L51X375yn4
LIVI IS A DICKRIDER THAT NEEDS THIS “MEDIA GUY GOSSIP” SHIT TO SURVIVE HE CANT *MAKE* ANYTHING. HE CANT HAVE AN ORIGINAL… https://t.co/HVCpqOCFVm
— THE KID MERO (@THEKIDMERO) March 21, 2026
MAANNNN SHUT YOUR FAT ASS UP LIVINGSTON YOU A FUCKIN *VERIFIED* PEDOPHILE.. I COULD STOP THERE! I HAD YOU CRYING ON STREAM, WHOS PUNCHING DOWN? YOU GETTING ABUSED IN THE REPLIES, YOURE A FAT FUCKIN LOSER DOG. GO BOX SAUCY SANTANA I FUCKIN *DARE YOU* ILL PUT UP HALF A… https://t.co/dK0ETN1Umu
— THE KID MERO (@THEKIDMERO) March 22, 2026
The exchange intensified as Mero doubled down, calling Akademiks “a fat… loser” and adding, “I had you crying on stream.”
He also dismissed Akademiks’ influence, writing, “Whatever he says about me is all his alcoholic ideation.”
Mero and Ak have been going back and forth for years.