Editor’s word: The next article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the writer’s personal. Learn extra opinions on theGrio.
The phrase “he’s taking part in chess, not checkers” is certainly one of my least favourite in terms of rappers and their back-and-forths with each other. For one, I simply don’t suppose most individuals, not to mention rappers, are really that deep and suppose that far forward in terms of their opponent. Additionally, I do know far more individuals who can’t play chess than can, so really, most folk ARE taking part in checkers. To cite the good thinker kings of the web, “It do be information, tho.”
Nonetheless, I’m going to should amend that in terms of one Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (aka Kung Fu Kenny) and this present wahala he has happening with Aubrey “Drake” Graham. At this level in my life, I attempt to be as goal as I will be in terms of such issues, which wasn’t at all times the case. I nonetheless can’t hearken to MC Eiht in peace as a result of I’ve been a DJ Quik fan since I used to be 11 years outdated. God ain’t performed with me but.
Relating to Kendrick and Drake, although, I really don’t even see them swimming in the identical swimming pools. I view Drake because the behemoth, pop star who gave up looking for “hip-hop” respect years in the past in favor of being the most important artist on the planet. I view Kendrick as extra of the considerate, hermit-like artist who works out his points and ideas artistically and creates the type of artwork we’ll be speaking about gone his prime. To make the purpose, there are a number of books concerning the cultural significance of Kendrick Lamar; Drake “wrote” a “poetry” ebook. It’s not the identical factor. I don’t wish to undersell Drake; he’ll go down as one of many largest rappers ever, however will probably be extra for his accomplishments than the precise music, which I feel most would agree has change into more and more vapid and uninteresting even when Drake’s reputation hasn’t waned.
So this beef is attention-grabbing. I’ve been fairly disinterested in it via no fault of Drake or Kendrick. Everyone else wading into it, together with AI rappers and Rick Ross, and the web’s lack of chill has made it much less attention-grabbing. Oh, and who can overlook “The Apology” — I’m certain there will probably be psychology lessons on that at some point. “Like That” was enjoyable. “Push Ups” was cool. After which we waited. After which got here “Euphoria” a scientific, considerate, incisive, complete PowerPoint presentation of a report that summed up, in an entertaining trend, all the points anyone with points with Drake has. I’m not an enormous fan of the entire “Drake isn’t Black sufficient to know American Blackness” as a result of he’s Canadian even when he did mainly say that out of his personal mouth as soon as. I do suppose it makes for attention-grabbing fodder; all of us blended youngsters are paying consideration — belief me. However all’s truthful in love and that is battle. “Euphoria” was a workshop in “tips on how to make some extent” in a approach that Drake’s “Push Ups” and even his talent set by no means could possibly be. The sheer quantity of references and Easter eggs in “Euphoria” alone make it one thing price learning.
Advisable Tales
If “Euphoria” was a workshop worthy of research, then “6:16 in LA” is what occurs when that workshop chief makes use of a machete as a substitute of chalk. Kendrick REALLY doesn’t like Drake, and no matter private cause exists has given Kendrick inspiration to mainly present us all what a lifeless physique seems to be like in musical kind.
Like, it can’t be coincidental that the pattern Kendrick is rapping over is one the place Drake’s “uncle” Mabon “Teenie” Hodges (and his brothers Leroy and Charles) performed on the report. When Drake’s ties to the American Black expertise had been questioned, defenders identified swiftly that Drake has ties to the Memphis soul music scene via his father, musician Dennis Graham, and his adoptive uncles who labored with Al Inexperienced. Effectively, the pattern for “6:16 in LA” is Al Inexperienced’s “What a Fantastic Factor Love Is” from Al Inexperienced’s 1972 album, “I’m Nonetheless In Love With You,” whose musical personnel was none aside from Drake’s uncle Teenie Hodges and firm. That may’t be a coincidence, proper?
After which for Kendrick to largely level out that no one in Drake’s camp really likes him and that he has sufficient insider info to know who really desires Drake to lose? Writing that out doesn’t sound that dangerous, however listening to the report, with the vitriol with which Kendrick spits lets you know the way honest Kendrick is about making Drake look dangerous. Kendrick’s complete modus operandi, at this level, is stating that no one likes Drake, that he’s a horrible individual and that, like Kendrick, no one ought to like him.
Surprisingly, Kendrick advised us he was about to do that in “Euphoria” the place he name-checked Drake’s “Again to Again” report — one whose impression was extra vital than something stated on the report that primarily made Meek Mill look sluggish and unfit to battle Drake — after which went and did it. Drake took too lengthy to reply and properly, right here we’re, taking a look at a lifeless physique.
I’m certain Drake will come again with a music quickly; he has to. Video clips of “10 Issues I Hate About You” aren’t going to chop it, not with the degrees of aggression and disdain Kendrick is firing off in his route. It’s all fairly entertaining, and I used to be wholly disinterested till “Euphoria” dropped. I can’t wait to see what comes subsequent, particularly because it cements residence a very powerful facet of all of this beef that has but to totally be unpacked:
Simply how disappointing it’s that J. Cole, essentially the most battle-ready of all of them, bowed out.
Panama Jackson is a columnist at theGrio. He writes very Black issues, drinks very brown liquors, and is fairly fly for a light-weight man. His largest accomplishment so far coincides along with his Blackest accomplishment so far in that he acquired a cellphone name from Oprah Winfrey after she learn certainly one of his items (largest), however he didn’t reply the cellphone as a result of the caller ID stated: “Unknown” (Blackest).
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