Grime icon Skepta criticizes the recent beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, arguing it tarnishes hip-hop’s image and undermines the progress artists have made.
Skepta Reflects on the Feud’s Impact
Skepta recently appeared on The Ebro Show to promote his new single, “Why Lie?” The conversation took a turn when the topic of Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud came up. Skepta, at the 28:15 mark, expressed concern about the increasingly personal nature of rap battles.
“It just feels more personal when stuff gets said like that these days,” he explained. Recalling a specific Kendrick Lamar disctrack, he added, “I remember listening and thinking, ‘Oh, this is serious. They clearly don’t like each other.'”
Questioning Corporate Involvement
Skepta further criticized the feud considering the artists’ commercial success. “They both have huge deals with major companies,” he pointed out. “How can these companies endorse someone being accused of such things?” he questioned, likely referencing Lamar’s lyrics on “Not Like Us” where he accuses Drake of predatory behavior.
Contrasting the Grime Scene
Skepta contrasted the current landscape with his experience in the grime scene. “Back when I was battling, we didn’t have anything to lose,” he stated. “You could say anything about me; it wouldn’t affect a Nike deal. It might even get me more attention.”
A Call for Unity
Expressing his disappointment with the state of rap, Skepta urged the artists to find a resolution. “If they don’t get along, just talk it out,” he suggested. “Or simply don’t speak to each other. But this public battle hurts everyone else. They worked hard to open doors for aspiring artists, and now those doors are slamming shut again. It makes us all look bad.”
Skepta’s comments reflect a broader sentiment within the hip-hop world—one that questions the value of personal animosity when it seems to overshadow the music itself and the community’s growth. The grime artist also reminded listeners of the battles that were once central to hip-hop culture but were typically less tied to big business interests, offering a perspective from a different side of the genre’s evolution.
