Ebro's Stubborn Take About Lil Uzi Vert Has The Internet Rolling Its Eyes 10 Years Later

BY Zachary Horvath
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lil uzi vert
Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; American Rapper Lil Uzi Vert before the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas via Imagn Images NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 06: Ebr attends Giants: Art From The Dean Collection Of Swizz Beatz And Alicia Keys at Brooklyn Museum on February 06, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)
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Lil Uzi Vert fans are re-reminding Ebro just how wrong they think he was back in 2016, but the latter still believes he's got a point.

Nearly 10 years ago to the day, Ebro and Lil Uzi Vert butted heads over who would be right about the rapper's career. On Hot 97, the radio host predicted that around age 27-28, the Philadelphia artist would be "struggling." What led to this forecast was that Uzi was not interested in rapping over a more traditional hip-hop beat.

They were steadfast that they would remain relevant, but Ebro didn't have much faith. "Alright, we gon' see... And guess what? I'm gon' be here."

Well, fast forward to now and Lil Uzi Vert is still doing their thing and buzzing on the charts after signing a new record deal. Some would argue the quality has dipped to an extent, but for the most part, they are very much still here.

Their fans are reminding Ebro of that today, which just so happens to be the six-year anniversary of Eternal Atake. Moreover, his single "What You Saying" is still ringing off as it sits at number 27 on the Hot 100. They are also reminding him of his "be here" comment as he's now no longer with Hot 97.

But even though you can pretty confidently say Ebro was wrong about Uzi's trajectory, he still believes he was right. In a Rap Life Review clip caught by Kurrco, he tries to prove that he is by asking his panel if they are still eager for a new project from him.

He also tries to switch up the initial focus of his prediction he made in 2016 to them living up to "rockstar" status.

Is Lil Uzi Vert Dropping An Album Soon?

Uzi did say they were going to be one, and most of the Rap Life Review hosts felt he reached that to a degree. Fans of theirs were quick to point Ebro's pivoting out in the comments. "Wasn’t his point Uzi wouldnt be around for that long?" one user asked.

Another writes, "That’s not the original argument. It wasn’t if he was still gonna be number 1 or the most relevant of all time, he specifically said 'a few years down the road, yall get to struggling' Uzi responded that he not gon struggle and he proved him right."

But even though there doesn't seem to be too hard of feelings anymore, Ebro is loving that their debate keeps coming back to light. "It's a gift that keeps on giving. It's great promo. Love it."

Going back to that album excitement, though, Uzi is seemingly ready to drop in 2026. In a Dazed interview they believe there needs to be a change of scenery. "I gotta change the scene. I can think of it right now, that’s how good I am. Steampunk. Steampunk. Because everything’s too goth, so we’re gonna make it more steampunk."

About The Author
Zachary Horvath is one of the Music Freelance News Writers at HotNewHipHop and has held that title since August 2023. Prior to this position, he held another freelance gig covering local high school football, girls and boys varsity basketball, in addition to recapping Cleveland Cavaliers games remotely. He's taken the previous experience and used it to become a jack of all trades at HotNewHipHop. Zach has thoroughly enjoyed tackling some of the trending topics in sports, with a larger focus on hip-hop and pop culture. Some of those include Bronny James's draft stock, a multitude of angles swirling around the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef, as well as Diddy's arrest and lawsuits. Separate from the headlines that everyone wants to hear about, he was fortunate enough to help spread Zaytoven's current thoughts at the time around mid-December in 2023. Even though being able to give his expertise on these stories is fulfilling, being able to share his passion for releases trumps that ever so slightly. Having the chance to express his excitement indirectly about what he thinks our readers should be checking out/revisiting grows his passion for writing that much more.

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