Photo Credit: Getty Images
In the world of hip-hop, the art of the diss track is a time-honored tradition, and Drake has recently taken a page out of 50 Cent's book. The latter is notorious for his relentless trolling in feuds, often annihilatinh his opponents with no mercy. Drake's latest escapade involves a series of grand gestures aimed at Metro Boomin, but it's his pettiness towards Kendrick Lamar that's currently making waves.
The saga began with a leaked diss track from Kendrick Lamar, which Drake dismissed as "trash as fuck." Rumors speculated that the track might have been AI-generated, a claim Kendrick has yet to confirm or deny. In retaliation, Drake released his own diss track, cleverly suggesting that Kendrick delayed his album release out of fear that Taylor Swift's release would overshadow his, forcing him to "beg Taylor" for mercy.
Drake didn't stop there. He capitalized on a statement Kendrick made about a dream in which Tupac Shakur told him to save hip-hop. In a bold move, Drake crafted an AI-generated diss track featuring voices resembling Tupac and Snoop Dogg, mocking Kendrick's claim.In an interview with Home Grown Radio in 2011, Kendrick detailed a dream where Tupac visited him and urged him to continue his legacy. Kendrick recounted, "It's a real situation where I was sleeping one night and a silhouette came and he said, 'Keep doing what you doing, don't let my music die.'" This encounter deeply inspired Kendrick and reinforced his commitment to his craft.
Moreover, Kendrick has publicly expressed his gratitude for Tupac's impact on his life. On the 20th anniversary of Tupac's passing in 2016, Kendrick shared a letter acknowledging the inspiration he drew from Tupac, stating, "I was 8 yrs old when I first saw you. I couldn't describe how I felt at that moment. So many emotions. Full of excitement. Full of joy and eagerness. 20 yrs later I understand exactly what that feeling was. Inspired. "
Drake's challenged the facade of street credibility. In his track, Drake says a line that resonates with biting clarity, "How the fuck you big steppin' with a size 7 men's on?"This lyric not only mocks Kendrick's physical stature but also serves as a metaphorical jab at the authenticity of his tough persona.
Drake continues to dismantle Kendrick's self-proclaimed image, suggesting that despite his associations, Kendrick is far removed from the life of crime he often alludes to in his music. The insinuation is clear: Kendrick's portrayal of himself as a street-hardened thug is, in Drake's view, a mere performance, a role played rather than a reality lived.
