British rapper Skepta has shared his thoughts on the notorious feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, stating that the ongoing conflict has ultimately harmed the hip-hop community as a whole.
Skepta Discusses the Personal Nature of the Feud
In a recent interview, Skepta opened up about the tensions between the two American rap giants, discussing why this particular conflict felt different from past rap rivalries. Although no direct collaboration between Skepta, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar was specifically mentioned, Drake did release a track titled “Skepta’s Interlude” and has been vocal about his views on the matter.
Speaking with Ebro Darden on Apple Music, Skepta expressed his concerns about the feud and its long-term impact on the culture of hip-hop. Skepta said, “These days, when people say things like that, they feel much more personal.” He continued, “There was a diss track from K.Dot released, and I thought, ‘Okay, that’s it now.'” He acknowledged, “They don’t like each other. That’s clear. I can hear it. I can hear it in his voice, he doesn’t like Drake.”
Drake and Kendrick’s Corporate Deals: A Bigger Picture
Skepta went on to comment that both Drake and Kendrick appeared “crazy” for criticizing each other, especially given the massive corporate deals both of them have with major brands.
“When I came into grime, we had nothing to lose,” Skepta explained. “You could call me anything in the world, but I wouldn’t lose a Nike deal… That could even make me more money.” Skepta added, “It’s hurting what we’ve built.”
The rapper emphasized that the feud between Drake and Kendrick was damaging to the culture they’ve helped establish, saying, “If you don’t like each other, then link up and talk about it. Or don’t talk. But all the things you’re saying, for others—people who are waiting in line for doors that you’ve kicked open—those doors are slamming shut on us right now.”
Skepta concluded, “We look crazy here. That’s why I don’t like it. Everything was fine until that happened.”
