During the recent Super Bowl event, a lyric by Kendrick Lamar sparked global attention. An estimated 127 million viewers witnessed the rapper's sly smile into the camera as he performed, and the lyric was interpreted as a sharp jab at rival Drake. The lyric comes from the Grammy-winning song "Not Like Us," which includes accusations about Drake's relationship with underage women, which Drake himself denies.
Read Also...:
Trump says he is ending Secret Service protection for Biden's adult children, which had been extended until July
03-22, 2025
Eyeing China threat, Trump announces Boeing wins contract for secretive future fighter jet
03-22, 2025
Detectives recover four diamond earrings two weeks after suspect swallowed them during arrest
03-22, 2025
New Zealand parliament shows its spooky side in a tour of mysterious deaths and cat infestations
03-22, 2025At the event, the 70,000 spectators inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans sang the lyric along with Kendrick, seemingly symbolizing Kendrick's victory in this long-standing feud. The dispute is not only public and involves personal grievances, even some trivial matters, but Kendrick hinted that what he launched was more than just a personal feud, but targeted the phenomenon that Drake represents.
London-based rapper Margs believes that, personal issues aside, Drake also represents a change in the hip-hop music scene. Drake has achieved tremendous commercial success, being the most streamed artist of the 2010s, having 143 million followers on Instagram, and being a regular on party and nightclub playlists. His style is melodic and accessible, even singing at times. In other words, he is both a pop star and a rapper, and his success has attracted many imitators.
Margs points out that many people hold Drake responsible for the "commercialization" of hip-hop music. Some people like commercialized music and just want to dance and enjoy themselves, not caring about its substance. Others are deeply rooted in hip-hop culture. Kendrick wants to defend and celebrate this culture. Before the Super Bowl performance, he stated that hip-hop music had lost its "grit." He believes that when people talk about rap, they often think of it as just a form of rhyming, not a true art form. Kendrick also expressed dissatisfaction with rap being "reduced to a catchy song or a lyric," and said that his feud with Drake actually stems from "more people putting rap in a secondary position."
Not everyone believes that more mainstream rap diminishes Drake's credibility. His former rival Common recently defended him against the "pop star" label, saying that even if his songs are popular, "he's still an MC." However, Kendrick is passionate about rap as an art form and says that the success of "Not Like Us" and his selection as the first solo hip-hop artist to headline the Super Bowl halftime show is "huge." He stated: "Representing it on this stage is what I've always strived for, and it's everything I believe in about this culture, what I live for, what I die for."
Hip-hop music has been around for 50 years and has a long history of protest. Margs believes that "a lot has been lost" compared to the genre's origins. They care about the message and what it represents because hip-hop music is largely political. People used to use their voices in hip-hop music to protest and convey their messages. Kendrick's political message in the halftime show was evident from the start, with actor Samuel L. Jackson dressed as Uncle Sam, the symbol of the American government, introducing the rapper. From then on, it included references to the Black Power movement, images of a divided America, and a statement before the finale: "This is bigger than music."
Kendrick's feud with Drake also traces back to the origins of hip-hop in another way. He says he sees rap as a sport, and Battle Rap is the inspiration for his back-and-forth with Drake. In these face-to-face duels, artists compete live, exchanging diss tracks, and trying to spit the best lyrics to win prizes. This is the purest form of rap—content over form, with an emphasis on lyrics. Kendrick says that it has always been this way for him, and it is a key part of finding the "grit" and "bite" that he believes is missing.
Margs believes that Kendrick's success will shine a light on Battle Rap, but he acknowledges that emerging rappers are now looking for new ways to hone their skills. One of them is Layyah, the UK rap game's first female rapper. She is a fan of Kendrick, but does not plan to emulate his Battle Rap. Layyah says that the rap artists she admires, such as Central Cee, are "definitely not battle rappers" but have achieved success and respect through other avenues. She stated: "We have so many platforms. It's more like who can make a great song, and then who can make the best dance for it. If it goes viral online, then it's a great song, and you don't really have to do Battle Rap."
Margs believes that this "takes away from the art form to some extent." "You can win a battle on social media through popularity or humor... whereas in Battle Rap, it's all about your lyrics and your skill." As for Kendrick's feud with Drake, it has been silent since the release of "Not Like Us" last summer. Some believe that Kendrick's "game over" sign at the end of his Super Bowl performance marked the end of the battle, while Drake just released "Gimme a Hug." In it, he suggests he wants to put the feud behind him and "light up the party." However, the legal case regarding "Not Like Us" is still ongoing and may unfold into a heated showdown in court.
Margs says this is in stark contrast to settling disputes on a Battle Rap stage. "There's a sportsmanship to it, but it never spills over into more," Margs said. "They always hug each other after the battle and show respect to their competitor."
