The world of hip-hop music is being rocked by a new wave of diss tracks and artist rivalries, and Kendrick Lamar’s recent concert in Los Angeles is eloquent testimony to this. On June 19, 2024, at the pop-up show at the Forum, the audience witnessed an intense performance of the title ‘Not Like Us’, a track by Kendrick Lamar which is in line with the lines launched at Drake.
The concert’s electric atmosphere was palpable, with every lyric of ‘Not Like Us’ being echoed in chorus by a delirious crowd, setting a Spotify streaming record in the US. But what really caught the attention was the modification of the lyrics of ‘Euphoria’ by Kendrick Lamar himself, which clearly sent a message to the Canadian rapper, Drake.
By substituting the phrase “Matter of fact, I ain’t even bleed him yet, can I bleed him” with “Give me Tupac’s ring back and I might give you a little respect”, Kendrick Lamar launched an openly provocative challenge to Drake . The request follows allegations that Drake acquired a ring from Tupac for $1 million, highlighting the purchase in the music video for ‘Family Matters,’ a direct response to Kendrick Lamar’s song.
This verbal joust between the two rappers continues to intensify, with Drake going so far as to use artificial intelligence to incorporate verses from 2 Pac and Snoop Dogg into his diss track ‘Taylormade Freestyle’, where he calls Kendrick Lamar a disappointment for Compton rap legends 2 Pac and Snoop Dogg.
This rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake only confirms the vigor and passion that drives the hip-hop music industry, where harsh words and barbs thrown between artists fuel the creativity and brilliance of stage performances. The public remains captivated by this confrontation, hoping for twists and scathing responses from both sides, thus fueling this rivalry which transcends streaming platforms to become the beating heart of contemporary musical culture.
In a climate of heightened competition, hip-hop music continues to reinvent itself and push the boundaries of artistic expression, thus offering listeners a breathtaking spectacle in which diss tracks and confrontations between artists punctuate the news and arouse passions and heated debates.