Biggie vs. Tupac, Easy E vs. Dr. Dre, Nas vs. Jay Z, and now Kendrick vs. Drake: an integral part of rap’s history as a genre is its ever-changing beef. With social media fueling the flames of discontent even more, something is different about this beef. It’s not only Kendrick vs. Drake circa 2024; both artists are delving into their past skeletons, fueled by social media and internet receipts.
The most prevalent question right now: is rap back? Does the clash of two of rap’s greatest icons lead to more inspiring music? Or is it detrimental to a fault, leaving nothing but a spoiled industry in its wake? Although all of the music released has been done so with negative intentions, no one can deny the quality of works like Lamar’s “Euphoria” or Drake’s “Pushups.” At the end of the day, should we be celebrating musicians’ more frequent releases or worrying about how this presents rap to the outside world? By asking “Is rap back?” we are diminishing the genre to lyrics about brawls that ultimately do not connect with the culture as a whole. These writers argue that rap never left; it is constantly evolving and we are witnessing one of its forms now.
Another prominent question is how much of this supposed “beef” is real. First, we have to understand that part of this drama might be for commercial success or publicity. Throughout these past few months, as the feud heats up, Drake and Kendrick are both hot on the charts. As of May 8th, 2024, the two artists combined hold a total of 6 of the top 8 songs on Apple Music Charts. And just to add salt to Drake’s wounds, Kendrick surpassed Drake’s former record for “most U.S. Spotify streams in a day” off of hit single “Not Like Us,” beating Drake’s “Girls Want Girls.” Not only did Drake and Kendrick see success, but so has producer Metro Boomin, earning his first number-one song on Billboard Hot 100, largely due to Kendrick’s verse on “Like That.”
The most undeniable piece of the feud is the feelings of dislike between Drake and Kendrick. Recently, Kendrick Lamar has been accusing Drake of some serious allegations such as being a pedophile, pill popper, or hiding another kid from the world. Drake has also accused Dave Free, Kendrick’s long-time friend, of impregnating Kendrick’s fiance. While both rappers are being challenged for their authenticity, Kendrick is widely recognized within the rap community for being authentic and committing to his roots. If the accusations of dishonesty are proven true, it could profoundly impact his identity as an artist. On the other hand, Drake’s suburban upper-middle-class roots aren’t exactly a secret to the public. Although his past life as a child actor and his affluent lifestyle are well known, Drake is known for fabricating hardship in his raps. So Kendrick’s accusations that Drake glorifies the struggle aren’t that far off from the truth. In this complex landscape of rap feuds, where commercial success meets personal vendettas and carefully crafted personas, only these two artists can tell us what’s real or fabricated.
This article also appears in our May 2024 edition.
