Kendrick Lamar Reflects on Hip-Hop’s “Grit” and His Feud with Drake Ahead of Super Bowl LIX
Kendrick Lamar recently opened up about his feelings on the state of hip-hop, revealing that he felt the genre was losing its “grit” and “bite” heading into 2024. In an interview with Apple Music, just ahead of his highly anticipated Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance, Lamar discussed the mindset behind his diss track aimed at Drake, “Not Like Us,” and the inspiration behind the move.
“My intent from day one was to keep the nature of it as a sport,” Lamar explained. “I don’t care how motherf*ckers look at it as far as like a collaborative effort. That’s cool too, but I love when artists grit they teeth. I still watch battle raps, I still watch Smack URL, from Murda Mook to Lux to Tay Roc, my bro Daylyt. This always been the core definition of who I am.” Lamar emphasized that this competitive spirit in rap was ingrained in him from the start, something he feels had been missing in recent times.
He continued, “What I will say about this year is that it was more from a space where I think a lot of people was putting rap to the back and you didn’t see that grit, you didn’t see that bite anymore.” Lamar’s comments suggest that he felt hip-hop, at least in 2024, had lost some of its raw, competitive edge, which he believes is crucial to the genre’s authenticity.
This frustration with the genre’s direction ultimately fueled his fiery feud with Drake. The resulting track, “Not Like Us,” became a viral hit and was instrumental in Lamar’s huge success at the recent Grammy Awards, where he walked away with five major accolades, including Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Rap Song. Reflecting on the wins, Lamar explained, “I just think about the culture really. It’s always that for me first, I’m not even bullsh*ting with you. When people talk about rap man, the conversations I hear they think it’s just rapping and not an actual art form.” For Lamar, his wins represented more than just personal success—they were about elevating the conversation around rap as a serious, respected art form.
As he gears up for his performance at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show on Sunday, February 9, Kendrick is bringing along his Grand National Tour co-headliner, SZA, to the stage. The performance is expected to be a massive event, and fans are already speculating about which songs Lamar will choose to perform.
Lamar’s feud with Drake and his reflections on hip-hop’s evolution are clearly central to his journey in 2024. His raw and unapologetic approach continues to stir conversation and challenge the norms of the rap game, making him one of the most influential figures in the genre today. With his Grammy success and Super Bowl performance on the horizon, Lamar’s influence on hip-hop is stronger than ever.
