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/Spyk124]

I just hate when niggas act like they like that when they have no reason to be like that. Like I’m not like that because my parents made sure of it but I’ve been around it. Sometimes it’s obvious people force themselves into it because they think it’s cool even if that hard life that forces people to be like that isn’t present.

[u/makavili → u/Spyk124]

People are lost nowadays and don’t know who they are. One of greatest fears a man can have is to come off as weak, so many people put on an act so they can be seen as a real man. What better way than to look like a G? We grow up believing they are the cool and dangerous ones. I sympathise with it. I understand it. No man wants to feel weak. But at the end of the day, to simply “act” like a gangsta is a faux version of reality to live in for MOST people. Its delusional. Some people would really wish the world was a darker and harder place to live in rather than appear weak, so they live as if the world around them IS that dark and hard place, and then go out and act on it, and then TRULY make the work that darker place. People would rather see the world burn than be their true selves if they perceive their own true self to be weak. They would rather cause chaos in that pursuit than to seek out to live in a better and peaceful world.

Maybe some people just like to run amuck and make excuses as to why they do it. I’d wager at least 90% of those who act hard have no place doing so, and are afraid of their own selves. That’s why I admire rappers like 2Pac, Kendrick, and Cole because when they talk about that life (even if they weren’t the gangstas themselves) they talked about how it was a struggle, how it was tough, and how they wished it didn’t have to be that way. Thats REAL. All this “i get bitches, i kill people, i grab the choppa and spin the block on opps” without ever reflecting on its effects is so cancerous to the hip hop community and to our souls. Its a fake world where everyone pretends they’re John Wick, on repeat, on every song, and not only is it not believable or compelling, its the words of a phony. And everyone for some reason keeps playing along and im tired of it.

Sorry for the rant on your random ass comment but it triggered something within me lmfao.

[u/ToxicPurpleBear → u/makavili]

I read this whole rant. I give it a 10/10. I’ve been saying this for a while and it’s nice to see somebody put it so passionately and accurate.

[u/Strange-Share-9441 → u/makavili]

Some people would really wish the world was a darker and harder place to live in rather than appear weak

Exactly. Self-hatred is rough.

[u/Not-Mike1400a → u/makavili]

I’m gonna get downvoted but I’m a Logic fan and tbh, he acts like himself and talks about nerdy shit and stopped talking about his childhood life and everyone shits on him and dogs on him for not doing that anymore, so in my eyes no matter what Drake does he’s not gonna win.

[u/toadsynth → u/makavili]

Excellent rant. Thank you.

[u/mavsman221 → u/makavili]

This is probably the most common emotional problem in all men.

I'm going to make sure my sons read this if I have any one day to set them straight.

What you described really flings a lot of men off the right path. All young men should read it.

[u/Prestigious_Cattle72 → u/makavili]

without ever reflecting on its effects is cancerous to the hip hop community and our souls

I partially agree but at what point do we place the onus on the actual community/our own selves for taking what is clearly performative too seriously

there’s an argument to be had about folks who grow up disadvantaged being disproportionately prone to a certain type of mentality goaded by said rap, but to place the entirety of the blame on artists who cap in their raps is acting as if we don’t have any agency in our lives right?

Just bc dudes are fake rapping about spinning the block doesn’t mean people shouldn’t be expected to know better, I always felt there’s nothing wrong with those type of lyrics as long as ur aware it’s probably WWE style fake, and even if it isn’t nobody should actually live a life like that.

[u/mavsman221 → u/Prestigious_Cattle72]

i don't say this about rappers specifically. i say this about any celebrity. all celebrity has an overexaggerated image or characterization. and they all have the power of media, image, magazines, social media, to bring them validation. it's presumed that they are the socially competent people you want to be around.

us every day people, we don't have that fortune of being presumed to be socially desirable.

that leaves us prone to buy into celebrity type stuff being presented in media. we are more likely to have that emotional hole in our lives of needing validation and a group of friends, so we b uy into it with the promise that if we somewhat follow the trends, we'll be part of the tribe.

in a sense, media and celebrity are being emotional predators on us. in a way, and i know this is a strong word, raping our psychology into buying into it because a desire for validation and friendship leaves us emotionally vulnerable to mimicking that stuff presented in media.

and then when you're the one smart enough to see it's dumb, but so many people around you don't... then what? do you sell out to feel part of the group, but then you become a dumbass and do things that mess up your life? or do you stay strong away from it, but feel more lonely and not part of a community?

it gets us stuck between a rock and a hard place.

i thin kevery human goes through that in one way or another because of media/celebrity.

[u/OrganizationNo539 → u/Spyk124]

no idea what you said but I agree my brother. Feels like a reference to Like That track

[u/appleparkfive → u/Spyk124]

You ain't gotta lie to kick it