Ever since their collaboration in 2012 on Kendrick’s “Good Kid M.A.A.D. City” album, Drake and Kendrick Lamar have had a mutual dislike for each other. This long lasting feud reached the public this past November with the release of “First Person Shooter” by J. Cole and Drake, where each of them mentioned “the big three” – the top three rap artists – and claimed they were number one. Since then, eight subsequent songs have been released throwing Drake and Kendrick into an intense rap battle.
The online feud started as a competition for best rapper, with lyrics sung by J. Cole, “Love when they argue the hardest MC. Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? We the big three like we started a league” and a well-known line by Kendrick, “Think I won’t drop the location? I still got PTSD. Motherf– the big three, n–, it’s just big me”, the battle quickly devolved to more serious matters. Although insults about fatherhood, pedophilia, and racism were thrown around, the roots of this battle seem to be surrounding the culture of Hip Hop and the identities expressed within it.
Hip Hop has its origins in 1970s Bronx, NY when the economy was on the decline and crime, gang violence, and poverty were rising. During this time, Hip Hop became a creative outlet to deal with violence and express the frustration, and hardship that Black New Yorkers were facing. Like the “big three” of today, Hip Hop had three major influences: DJ Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash. Not only did these three create common musical techniques present in Hip Hop such as the rhythmic spoken-word of rap and the tradition of sampling other songs, they were responsible for forming musical groups and organizations that aimed to spread messages of peace and unity throughout their communities.
DJ Kool Herc, Grandmaster Flash, and Afrika Bambaataa (left to right)
Hip Hop has expanded to include artists from various backgrounds and intentions but many musicians are still dedicated to spreading the message of unity and using rap to express the frustration and suffering that comes with oppression. Kendrick Lamar is one of these traditional Hip Hop artists who uses his music as a form of social commentary. He tackles issues of police brutality, systemic racism, economic inequality, and in his most recent album, “Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers,” he gets vulnerable and describes his personal journey with his identity and as an iconic member of the movement. Drake is part of a newer sector of Hip Hop that is not as dedicated to spreading a message but more focused on the entertainment aspect of their music. Throughout this battle, Kendrick takes issue with Drake’s lack of concern for social issues, asking “Why believe you? You never gave us nothin’ to believe in.”
Drake was born in Toronto, Canada to Sandi and Dennis Graham. After his parents separation, his dad was in and out of his life for many years. Kendrick makes several claims about Drake not having a strong male or Black identity and points to his absent father as an explanation. Addressing Drake’s father, Kendrick writes, “I’m blaming you for all his gambling addictions, psychopath intuition, the man that like to play victim. You raised a horrible f–ing person, the nerve in you, Dennis.”
Kendrick reiterates the point that Drake doesn’t relay important social messages through his music. “I make music that electrify ‘em, you make music that pacify ‘em,” says Kendrick on his hit song, “Euphoria”. He takes it a step further by suggesting that Drake isn’t a moral person, “You’re movin’ just like a degenerate, every antic is feelin’ distasteful”, and claims that he isn’t representing Black culture, “Never code switch, either right or wrong, you a Black man. Even if it don’t benefit your goals, do some push-ups, get some discipline. Don’t cut them corners like your daddy did.”
Drake responds by questioning the genuineness of Kendrick’s activism, “Always rappin’ like you ‘bout to get the slaves freed. You just actin’ like an activist, it’s make-believe”. He argues for the fun side of Hip Hop and criticizes Kendrick for his more rigid views. He also calls out Kendrick, suggesting that he may have a superiority complex. “Our sons should go play at the park. Two light skin kids, that shit would be cute. Unless you don’t want to be seen with anyone that isn’t Blacker than you. We get it, we got it, the Blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice,” raps Drake on his song, “Family Matters”.
Although they have different views about the role of Hip Hop, they are both expressing frustration and anger – a major feature of the genre since it began. Ending “Meet the Grahams” on a strong note, Kendrick says “F– a rap battle, this a long life battle with yourself”, suggesting that Drake has some work to do on accepting his identity. In turn, Drake asks Kendrick to make room for other voices in Rap. They are worthy opponents, each adding a different take on how to make way for the future of Hip Hop.