How Kendrick Lamar Challenged Drake’s Cultural Identity In ‘Not Like Us’

Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s public rivalry does more than entertain— it serves as a microcosm for larger discussions in hip-hop. Their fight for supremacy, entangled with both competitive flair and personal issues, brings into focus Drake’s often criticized path into hip-hop, challenging hip-hop enthusiasts to consider the authenticity of cultural entry points. Hip-hop, as a cultural form created by African Americans, incorporates a variety of diasporic influences from African, Caribbean, and Afro-Latino cultures. However, its foundational roots remain in African American culture. Ideally, practitioners of hip-hop are members of these communities who not only shape the unique experience associated with hip-hop but also carry the responsibility of curating its customs and trends. One of the glaring matters unfolding from the lyrical combat between Kendrick Lamar and Drake revolves around racial identity and one’s degree of connection to blackness. This initiates a larger, perhaps uncomfortable conversation, especially for enthusiasts of the “Family Matters” rapper, a subject considered taboo in mainstream forums where he has been successful for over a decade. For hip-hop purists who prioritize potent lyrical content that embodies the genre’s Black American aesthetic, the strength of one’s connection to blackness is key to assessing an artist’s proficiency. Host/singer Drake...