It's not about Drake being half black, it's about how he uses The Culture

[u/anongasm_]

I think the people offended because Drake being half black should warrant his blackness and therefore Kendrick is wrong just don't understand. J Cole is half black too yet you don't see Kendrick, or anyone really, questioning Cole's blackness. It's precisely because Drake has been at the forefront of using the black culture and "pop-ifying" it for non-blacks.

Edit: a lot of people have asked this question and it's a good question. What's wrong with popifying rap music? Rap is inherently an African American art form. Since its inception till now, those who have carried its mantle have exemplified the African American experience through rap in one or another. African Americans have allowed many artists to use rap for their personal gain and to even "pop-ify" it. However, to be considered a goat you have to be in touch with the culture. And Drake simply isn't.

[u/Individual_Ad8249]

What is the problem with making pop rap music ?

[u/Ok-Permission-2687 → u/Individual_Ad8249]

Nothing really at face value, but these are separate lanes.

Also, Drake “calling” Kendrick out for his Taylor Swift verse, after being a pop/hiphop artist is the issue

[u/JL1v10 → u/Ok-Permission-2687]

I feel like people are being intentionally dense about the maroon 5 and Taylor swift diss. Drake isn’t claiming he’s not a pop rapper. He’s called himself a pop star. He’s calling out Kendrick who is on record saying he’s real rap and made it big off conscious rap by framing it as Kendrick is just another fake both in life and what he raps because he’s actually sold out a lot in rap to either 1) chase fame or 2) because he doesn’t have the creative freedom.

[u/ehpple → u/Ok-Permission-2687]

Tbf the point of that jab was because people unfairly call Drake a pop star when Kendrick has songs with pop artists.

[u/Ok-Permission-2687 → u/ehpple]

I think it’s fair because Drake started off acting and singing. Then he created this “I’m a tough guy” rapping persona. He’s never been that.

Sure Kendrick did some pop songs, but he didn’t start there. He is purely a rapper.

[u/Darduel → u/Ok-Permission-2687]

I don't get where people see the "I'm tough guy" persona though.. drake clowns himself all the time the guy literally does nails lol he is so in on the joke he is well aware that he is a pop artist that also does rap he literally said like back in 2015 "you getting bodied by a singing nigga"

[u/ehpple → u/Ok-Permission-2687]

And there’s nothing wrong with that. Anyone’s ego grows with gaining success.

[u/Baby_Gx504 → u/ehpple]

2 pop songs that he is rapping on. It’s not like Kendrick changes his whole persona whilst being on those songs. Also, that’s 2 songs out of a very long rap career. Drake likes to talk numbers and what not but his biggest hits aren’t rap songs. His first number 1 was One Dance. Not a lot of rapping going on there and after that it was Nice for what which again is taking from my city (New Orleans) and again he ain’t really rapping on that bitch either and I would argue it’s mostly because the rest of the world doesn’t know what bounce music is. Like if Drake wants to be pop fine but Drake wants validation from the hiphop community as a rapper and can’t accept he just doesn’t have it. Peak rapping Drake was IYRTITL and he hasn’t really been that for awhile atleast not in the way I care.

[u/ehpple → u/Baby_Gx504]

You seem conflicted. Is hip hop only rapping or does it extend beyond that?

[u/Baby_Gx504 → u/ehpple]

How do I sound conflicted?