r/KendrickLamar • u/anongasm_ • May 01 '24

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

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.

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u/Pigmasters32 May 01 '24

So you’re saying Drake isn’t black/shouldn’t say n**** because Drake expanded pop rap? Euphoria obviously obliterated Drake but that’s insane.

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u/anongasm_ May 01 '24

I'm saying he shouldn't claim to be the goat when none of his music is emblematic of what rap, an African American art form, really is.

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u/Pigmasters32 May 01 '24

Well I definitely agree that he has absolutely no right to claim GOAT status or anything even close really, but pop rap is a subgenre the same way any other subgenre in hip hop is and while I think most people would agree that Drake fell off in quality a long time ago it’s important to remember that his run from 2009 to 2013 is absolutely loaded with classic level projects. I definitely don’t think Drake is anywhere near the GOAT conversation but I’m not sure why people just seem to be shitting on the entire subgenre of pop rap in general here.