The Kardashianshas seen a significant shift in format from its predecessor,Keeping Up With the Kardashians. WhileKeeping Upwas known for showing the world’s most famous sisters at their best and their worst moments by continually filming as they lived their daily lives,The Kardashianshas shifted focus to highly staged scenes that prioritize the Kardashian/Jenner business empire over capturing authentic family moments.The series features a behind-the-scenes look at the events the sisters coordinate to celebrate their various business ventures, butThe Kardashiansis missing that “must-see” qualitythat arose onKeeping Updue to the busy lives the sisters were leading as they worked overtime to kick-start their entertainment careers.
As the Kardashian sisters have settled into the swing of family life and career domination, the family series has hit a somewhat predictable pace that needs shaking up from the younger generation.North West may be “the moment"according to her busy momager,Kim Kardashian, butit has been a different Kardashian adjacent child who has been bringing the drama that the series needs right now.Alabama Barker, daughter ofblink-182 drummerTravis Barker, and stepdaughter to Kim’s sisterKourtney Kardashian, is in the middle of a rap battle, and viewers ofThe Kardashiansshould have a front row seat to this kind of drama in the family.
Alabama Is Already Reality Royalty
Many might not be aware of this little-known reality fact, but Kourtney and Kim are no longer the longest-running reality divas in the Kardashian clan. BeforeKeeping Upbegan filming for its 2007 release, Travis had already starred in a family-centric series of his own,Meet the Barkers.This 2005 reality series filmed forMTVdocumented Travis and his family in the early aughts, settling into the lap of luxury as LA’s newest rock residents. The series featured Travis and his then-wifeShanna Moakler, andAlabama’s birth was documented on the series in an episode titled “An Alabama Christmas.“It was inMeet the Barkersthat the story of the origins of Alabama’s name was revealed, as she was named after the lead character in Travis' favorite movie, Alabama Whitman fromTrue Romance.
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The now-20-year-old Alabama has followed in her father’s musical footsteps, in addition to her work as an influencer. Alabama started to release singles on YouTube as early as the age of 12-years-old, and in December 2024 the young singer released her first rap debut titled “Vogue.” With the online presence of her musician father, and her step-mother’s famous reality TV family,Alabama’s music has reached a wide audience, also attracting her first and loudest hater.
Alabama’s Rap Battle Would Make Great Content
The Kardashianname comes with a lot of clout in Hollywood, but it also attracts a significant amount of negative attention as well. After the release of her rap single,Alabama and her new step-family became the target of a diss track, targeting the up-and-coming diva. The infamous"cash me outside” girl fromDr. Phil, also known as “Bhad Bhabie,” aka Danielle Bregoli, accused Alabama of cheating with her man, which Alabama has repeatedly denied. Bhad Bhabie then released a song in which she also made reference to therumor Travis once had a crush on Kimbefore dating Kourtney, and accused Alabama of sleeping with rapper Tyga, whoKylie Jennerinfamously dated from 2015 to 2017.
In retaliation,Alabama then released a song titled “Cry Bhabie” in which she antagonized the Florida rapper further.This garnered the retaliatory “Mrs. Whitman” video, where Bhad Bhabie raps about Alabama’s relationship with the Kardashians while twerking on a lookalike of her drummer father, and doubles down on the accusation that the young influencer had slept with both her man and Tyga. The song also samples a song byKim’s infamous ex,Kanye West, the use of which Bhad Bhabie has since claimed was “co-signed” by Ye. Shockingly, the famous rap artisttook to social mediato clear his name in the mess, stating that he had spoken to Travis to say he wasn’t involved in his daughter’s rap drama.
All of this mess is the kind of personal narrative that used to makeKeeping Upunmissable. This kind of riveting drama is what has been missing from recent seasons ofThe Kardashians, and Alabama’s rap beef should absolutely have been recorded so it could be featured on the family reality show. It is surprising thatbusiness-savvy momagerKris Jennerhasn’t yet monetized her step-grand-daughter-in-law’s clearly bankable cultural cache by having her appear more on the family reality series.
The Kardashians
