I now fully understand not to mess with someone who has fully dissected and made peace with his strengths and weaknesses, cause he knows how to do the same to another person
I think euphoria was more of Kendrick telling Drake to go sit with himself before getting messy. It was a friendly fade but of course Drake had to make it personal and Dot took it there
I’ve never understood Drake sending subliminals for years when everyone would’ve told you this would be how it’d end. Bro kept sticking his hand in a bear trap and has the audacity to call himself a victim when it finally took his hand off.
during his sofboy era, 'drake with the melodies', i think he would have leaned way more into the plausible deniability if someone were to push him it's just that he changed his persona to champagne papi without changing the strategy the industry noticed the opening, now if someone pushed back, he had to respond or it's over for this drake that act tough he also did a 180 by always escalating first to family, but that's more difficult to get a read on, that's just stupid
His ego enormous nobody can tell him nothing and it’s gotten too big to be able to think logically… thats why you hearing Dot say “you lied about the only artist that can offer you some help” .. remember they came in the game around the same time, he has watched the nicca turn into a phony. But instead of manning up he want to be this 37 year old canadian wearing nail polish talkin bout some slime shit acting like he is the mob boss that can get anybody touched lol.. aside from the rappin (because we all know dot rap better than him and his 10 writers) its easy for anyone to take a side in this because it’s real vs fake
I couldn't have said that any better myself! He thought he wanted the smoke, but he bit off a whole lot more than he could chew! And got exposed (again) as a weirdo and a culture vulture in the process.
I definitely think kdot started from a semi friendly place or a respectable place. He was trying to keep it a battle for the number 1 rapper and Drake turned it into a gossip battle and still lost. I definitely respected Cole from the start because we all knew where Drake was gonna take things and that’s something Cole has no business doing
i definitely think for kdot this was never about who is the number 1 rapper i feel like he genuinely dislikes drake as a whole... as a person, what he represents for hip hop and the fact that someone like drake could even exist.........i doubt kdot would seek beef just to proof he is number 1 when he alrdy feels like number 1 and im kinda amazed that people believe this started as a battle for the number 1 spot
@@sebastianmv2069 yeah but the fact still stands his first two songs are strictly about tearing down drakes character and celebrity, he could’ve been baiting him the whole time because he already knows what he’s gonna run to
I’m a Kendrick fan, and I disagree, I believe Kendrick is one hell of a master manipulator. I believe he wanted it to escalate to where it’s at. Kendrick don’t rell spect Drake at all, he don’t like him and want to end his career. He’s not ending Drake career by having a fun rap battle, Kendrick was thinking war from the beginning. He used straight war tactics. Kendrick knew Drake was going to respond and talk about his wife. He knew Drake would that why I call cap on when Kendrick says “don’t respond or I’ll take it there”. Naw he baited him. He used war tactics, one of the best things he did was to project. Call Drake a master manipulator while it’s all apart of Kendrick’s master plan to call him that. Drake approached this as a battle, Kendrick approached this as War. There’s no rules in war, the dirtiest tactics shall be used and Kendrick used them. Bye Bye Pedo Drake. A new King has been crowned.
It’s a deep outward conflict between the real culture and the plastic culture Drake represents. Kendrick seen and watched Drake play around with and tear down everything that our pioneers fought to get. Kendrick had to remind the culture of what it needs to get off life support and recover. My six year old son is an amazing rapping prodigy and that’s because he understands the importance of our peoples history and the history of Hip Hop. The youth is going to usher back in real Hip Hop once again with integrity because Kendrick is showing them the way.
@@Yellow-IVLyrical content, creative punchlines, solid production, and a presence that isn't your typical "I get bitches and f**ked your main chick. Bow bow take this clip, now you a b***h" Hip hop has been stuck for decades and the corporate execs are to blame
Thank you for taking the time to consider the artists body of work into account when talking about The Beef. Context is everything/a key factor in media literacy. This was an awesome watch.
Yes: It is a criticism of his own flaws as much as it is his opponent’s because, as you said, he already did the inner work on Mr. Morale. That’s why his work is ringing true now. Great take here.
‘clears throat’ “um, while everyone is sitting down because of this global thing happening, please don’t judge me without judging yourself too, but I got some things I need to tell y’all about myself.” ‘MMTBS released’ “ alright now that we got that out the way & we all back outside, lemme tell y’all about this clown trying to steal my platinum crown of thorns AND the jewels outta your crowns!” ‘Like That Verse & euphoria’ “my bad Cole, I’m still working on myself, love you Brodie!” 😂
This was so much fun to experience. If it is over, beef ended with a whimper with the hear 6. If we broke it down into 4 rounds, each diss against one another, I'd say that Kendrick won 4-0.
@@makingmediamatterthe only one I MIGHT have slid Drake was family matters because that last part was fire but Damn Meet the grahams is just legendary… like bruh it’s legit scary😂 k can feel the hatred thru the speakers
Thank you for this video. And particularly for mentioning the first half of 6:16 in LA because it really isn't getting the flowers it deserves right now. That music absolutely solidifies, like you said, Kendrick's perspective and it's not just about trying to kill Drake, to mudsling, to dominate (as much of the discourse on Kendrick's blowout victory has understandably orbited around, because he was done pure traditional offense phenomenally well) but to rebirth Aubrey with an incredibly harsh love. It's beautiful, it's art, it's where we need to be gravitating towards as an audience or as commentators instead of either trying to wrap everything up into a neat little bow (which many journalists/UA-camrs have been making content about -"Who Won?", "Recapping The Beef", etc.-) or immediately criticizing either participant or either fanbase for going "over the line" without word from investigative or persecution oriented organizations yet or literally anybody else who's actually qualified to "bring receipts" or bring justice. Let's be honest: we don't want Drake posting Ring footage implicating Kendrick for abusive behavior, ala Steven Crowder, on his Instagram story. We don't want Kendrick posting a video of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the phone saying that they're gonna raid The Embassy or him revealing what Drake's supposed daughter's Instagram account is in a Not Like Us music video. That goes beyond poetry over bars (which YES is still where we are); that would be interfering with justice. So, what can we actually do? What SHOULD we do as an audience? We can't wrap things up and we can't get justice. And making posts like Questlove's isn't going to make us better people; it's just going to make us depressed people who feel like we wasted a week of our lives. We can find positive meaning (LIKE YOU HAVE), we can find morals, confessions, advice, and maturity here even if this got "really personal" or "really serious". We should. Now, to still be competitive, I think that Kendrick has made art with greater potential for that kind of positive therapeutic impact for listeners or Aubrey than Aubrey has for his listeners or for Kendrick. That's just my vibe and that is how I've determined MY winner. At the very least, let's use the metric of who's made the better POSITIVE story with this beef instead of just immediately going to how Kendrick has buried him or going full K-Anon with an inevitably flawed paper trail on Drake or just throwing everybody into the garbage by stating or implying that Kendrick or Drake or rap beef in general or Hip-Hop in general or "straight cis black men" in general are troglodytes or misogynists. TLDR: we get to manifest what this cultural event means to us. And the most important and useful and unproblematic way that we can add meaning to this is by interpreting the beef as ways to make better people or a better world. TLDR 2: Meet The Grahams is a masterwork and HP6 is mid.
Slight correction: Section 80 was Kendrick's debut album. Just wanted to mention it because it is criminally overlooked in his discography in spite of it being the strongest debut of any artist on the level of College Dropout, Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt
Yea, I had remembered that and meant to edit it in the script but missed it because I was pressed for time. Love that album and I only left it out to make a point about Kendrick’s narrative arc from gkmc to mmatbs
@@SadfoxGuyverbefore that was em. Before that there was cannabis. After that and in between we are missing real battle artists like back to back author daylyt. Dude if we went through all of them it be days.
I think to some degree Kendrick needed to get this off his chest, like the story of Mr. Morale wouldn't be complete if he didn't go after Drake, this has been bubbling for 10 years now, it wouldn't surprise me if Kendrick felt like he couldn't really mature or move forward without finally burying this resentment he's carried for Drake for 10+ years
Great video. I’ve seen a lot of people say Kendrick contradicted his “leader” status by ruthlessly going at Drake, likely because Drake himself tried to discredit Kendrick as a leader. Thing is, Drake and everyone making those comments misinterpreted Kendrick’s entire artistic purpose. Kendrick has never claimed to be perfect in any way; he’s even made a point of portraying himself as a fairly fucked up person. Take the last verse on Mad City, or these walls, or u, or mortal man and the entire poem that runs throughout TPAB. He didn’t really believe in the “leadership” pedestal even before DAMN. and Mr. Morale. The point of Kendrick’s music is that acknowledging your own imperfections is the first step towards being a better person. Not a perfect person, or even a good person, just better. Better tomorrow than you are right now. That’s why he had to go after Drake: Drake, like Kendrick, is a deeply flawed person, but whereas Kendrick makes an effort to get better, Drake revels in his own degeneracy. Drake’s complacency within his costume of vile personas is what allowed him to sink past the point of forgiveness most good people draw. You don’t just start out like that… Drake is what happens when you let the worst parts of human being fester. His music is pacifying because there’s no internal conflict: Drake should get everything he wants and everyone in his way is a hater. It’s a narcissist’s dream, and it caters to the narcissist within all of us who’d rather pin are struggles on other people than ourselves. Kendrick’s music is often challenging and uncomfortable because he represents the internal conflict we need to engage in. Kendrick is the flawed man trying to be better. Drake is what happens when you give up.
Sometimes, despite all context, meditation, and wisdom, you just hate a mfer. No matter what, I just hate De Niro’s character in ‘Raging Bull.’ I understand why and how he became the person he is, but I still hate him.
😂😂😂 dude people don’t know the comedy underlying your comment bro, but I still get the message. But after all the therapy and healing and even finding God and doing miracles and raising the dead. You gon still hate a mfr🤣🤣fr fr
This, this is the motto. Human are flawed creature, no matter how good or bad a person is, you just can’t help but hate smth and everything associated with it. Kendrick just hate Drake, and unfortunately for Drake, he underestimated a person hate.
I feel this soooo deeply! I have a vendetta against anyone who says people can’t heal and still hate, bc I fully believe righteousness requires hatred of certain people and behaviors
Thank you so much for this! I have felt there's so much nuance to those tracks that's right now still overshadowed by the utter theatricality of the situation. I love how you zero in on those lines where, if you strip the overt bravado, Kendrick does bare himself. I really loved euphoria and 6:16 in LA. Even with the heavy context, there was a sort of mystique to them that went beyond the beef. And while the two new ones are more exciting and fun to everyone in context to the beef, at least as of now, I feel a certain flattening of meaning and intent going on at the stage. I've been subscribed since your video on Nope! Big fave. Look forward to more!
Definitely agree with what you said, the conceptual angle is getting a bit watered down for bit reveals and drama but even then, “meet the grahams” is such a great embodiment of the ideas on Mr. Morale and “Don’t Like Us”, for as commercial as it is, kind of embodies Kendrick at his most angry and spiteful, similar to a “HUMBLE” or “DNA”. Definitely will be interesting to see how these tracks all fit together once the dust has settled and Kendrick (maybe?) drops an album showing where he’s going next.
Kenny done put me into a full-out Manic state for this whole week. As a long time KDot stan, i knew the breadcrumbs and jewels he left on the tracks would end in his coronation as the one and only #1 in HipHop.
Same 😭 Living in Kenny’s world has been my whole personality for over a month, and the ways it ties to all the “more important” things I typically focus on is the food I eat daily to nourish my soul
HOT TAKE: this biggest beef EVER its not just nyc or east and west, its about the culture aka LYRICS vs POP RAP - every rap fan has a stake in this even if they dont like the artists but they and rap are WAY more popular/mainstream than they were for biggie v pac or nas v jay etc Kendrick was always gonna win, he's literally a PULITZER Prize winning writer (only like 3 musicians have won this award and no other rappers) then dropped 20plus mins of layered well executed diss tracks, he couldnt lose...his fanbase are fans of bars and older heads who like lyrics over 'melodic rap' - drake has no identity, he changes up every album but its all POP rap and represents a younger gen of fans despite them being the same age etc...
Kendrick was always going to win, which is why it was so irritating seeing everyone in the industry counting him out in the beginning. Drake was never “up”. The entire industry was riding Drake’s dyck, acting like Kendrick is some unestablished artist, seeking clout (even though Drake started this beef). Drake was everywhere and it seems like everyone was claiming Kendrick lost because he took 17 days to drop. Meanwhile, Drake lost to Pusha T and never responded to him. It look him weeks to respond to Meek Mill. But when it comes to Drake, everyone shamelessly falls in line and shifts the goalposts in his favor. At no point in this beef was Drake ahead. If we really want to be honest, this beef was over at “Euphoria,” which has aged like fine wine. All of Kendrick’s diss tracks-ALL OF THEM-have been prophetic, genius masterpieces that skillfully predicted Drake’s every move. Kendrick was the winner from Day 1! Let’s not rewrite history here. Drake was never winning and when he was “in the lead” was only due to the fact that Kendrick moved in skillful silence. He simply outmaneuvered Drake in every way. All Drake and his cultish fans have are his streaming numbers, which, to be frank, seem to be back catalog stuff. Nothing Drake has released since “First Person Shooter” has really made any moves at all. “No Face” is his most recent single and video-neither went anywhere. So, let’s stop this rewriting of history and shifting of the goalposts to coddle Drake. It’s not working. The audience is NOT slow!
Drake's fans are consumers of the watered-down pop version of hip-hop. They're as authentic as Drake is, which is not at all. Them dissing 'Euphoria' because it wasn't danceable (why TF should a diss record be danceable?? that's NEVER been a requirement) when it was, in reality, pure octane is laughable. Drake makes fun of Kendrick for caring about black issues because he's distant from blackness even though he steeps himself in it (he even brags about using his whiteness for advantages). Drake makes fun of Kendrick for assuming he was s_xually abused because he has no empathy for victims, as predators do not. I will never support him. He already lost in my mind on the power of being Drake. There are already receipts about Drake. The video with the 17-year-old is damnable enough.
this is an insane analysis. thank you for putting the time and effort into analyzing “euphoria”, bringing really fresh perspectives i cant help but feel a deeper connection to the work after seeing kendricks dual nature (righteousness vs vindictiveness) reflected throughout the song. it’s awesome to read the lyrics as a continuation of mr morale - kendrick truly pouring out his soul into his craft, even for a “diss track”😂.
Dots winning because he’s weirdly funny and he’s more creative, also even tho the daughter shit was a L, the wild accusations have “semi proof” so it covers dots L, also clubs booing drake and playing Kendrick prolly hurts drake since he tried to make the club song. Then the NBA is playing not like us is krazy lol.
Also Dots winning because he doesn’t need to have high influencer friends meat riding him, Ak, adin, and even Kai. Then he made reactors make money off the disses, he’s the people champion now
I'd hold off on judging the daughter thing. He denied Adonis for a long time, and I'm hearing more and more factual sounding chat surrounding the accusation.
Drake did a shit-job at the 'daughter accusation' refutation... If the "daughter rumors" truly were a plant, then Drake should've never gone on social media to deny them whilst ignoring the damn pedo allegations first and foremost. He should've bided his time and leaned way more into that in his actual response diss cause THAT's A HUGE vulnerability that could've been exploited more. Not to mention his contradictory bar; calling everyone who fed Kendrick information a 'clown'(when that would without a doubt include Drake himself, assuming he was telling the truth). Kendrick is simply somehow able to produce far more heat with 'incomplete' information whilst Drake can't seem to even match him(in terms of heat) with 'complete' information.
Kendrick is smoking Drake on literally every level people even his diss tracks have potential to be timeless art. Drake still having ghost writers help him out… this video was great this why I love Kendrick is the realest rapper when it comes to what he’s actually saying.
I think that one thing that fueled Kendrick's hate even more, is that Mr morale could clearly help drake too, and Kendrick knows that. Instead of going for the cultural vulture angle and referencing tpab, Kendrick keeps referencing mr morale, almost begging drake to hear it, but drake decided to ignore it and it was one of the reasons not like us, the victory lap, exists now. Kendrick clearly offer his hand, but when drake denied and tried to bring him down, kdot didn't pull any punches
The fact that Euphoria brings up "old news" is really why it's effective, and why the line "I'm What That Culture's Feeling" lands so well. People have LONG had problems with Drake and what he represented in rap, but it felt like we were just letting him get away with anyways, but then here comes someone big enough to get in his face to make people go "YES! It's about time someone said what we've been saying this whole time, thank you!" Kendrick might not be able to change the whole world, but he can take on the leadership role at least one more time to save *his* world, so both Euphoria and Not Like Us are calls to arm to take down the old guard and begin anew for hip hop.
Post-beef, I find myself now going back to Euphoria over and over again. It's just a damn good song, well structured, catchy and hard AF, and now that I've gathered a much better understanding about the substance of the diss, my appreciation for it has grown tenfold. Kendrick really did say A LOT about Drake, and even if a lot of the information about him was "old news", he delivered it with such lyrical precision that he really sets himself apart from the rest
People can’t listen to “Euphoria” just once and walk away. You have to listen multiple times. It is a masterpiece! Pure genius!! Euphoria is the best of all the diss tracks in my view.
not sure if it was intentional or not, but kendrick releasing mr morale and the big steppers before going after drake really worked out in his favor. it took away any lines of personal attacks that drake could make against kendrick.
Loved your video, it made me go back and enjoy Euphoria even more than the first couple of listens and you did add more to the conversation than what is already out there ❤
Incredible perpective, very wholesome. Thanks! 6:16 is prolly my best sounding warning/bait for fam matters. Gotta toke one before for sure! What standsout from other videos, is your pick of Bars which resonated too !
Drake is always afraid to just rap against rappers that could beat him and tries to win by mud slinging. Kendrick has only ever dissed Drake before now by flexing his status as a better, more respected rapper. Drake mentioned Whitney on Push Ups and Kendrick dropped two diss tracks telling Drake to just keep it Hip Hop and there wouldn't be any problems. Drake didn't listen and here we are.
Been binging all your breakdowns today and I love the work you're doing! Lil late to the party but I want to add a point to the whole aggression as regression theme. Judging from my own experiences with therapy and healing (still got some to do) - I feel like with most coping mechanisms it's not the goal to get rid of them entirely, but to understand their function and use them intentionally when appropriate and not impulsively. For example: getting angry and aggressive is not a functional reaction to feelings of sadness or disappointment, but when there's good reason to be angry and the need to attack the issue, being able to draw energy from your anger is a great resource. Different copes are all different tools in your shed so to speak. I think Kendrick knows that, just like when he acknowledges his competitive spirit (something useful) stemming from his daddy issues (something harmful). So when he says "I choose violence" I assume he assessed the situation and came to the conclusion that lyrical violence is the way to go. So instead of a regression you could even argue that his arsenal became bigger through healing and now he's utilizing it in a thoughtful way, which can be seen as progression even.
Definitely worth considering the fact that while these points are points other rappers have made and kendrick is using those points with incredible efficiency pointing them directly at Drakes soul, he does say it's "what the culture is feeling". He knows he's not talking for just himself.
Hey girl, really like this video so far. I hope that when the beef is over, and maybe the aftermath of it, you can release a 1 hour video about this diss ? Long form is good, I want an essay video
This has me thinking about Kendrick’s arc in relation to the Hero’s Journey-after an inward turn in the “inmost cave,” Joseph Campbell’s universal hero receives a boon that allows him to slay the dragon. It’s as if the self-knowledge gained on “Steppers” is the weapon that allows him to finally take down Drake.
Euphoria is personally my favourite song from the whole beef. It's the one I listen back to most, has the most quotable lines and it's the most interesting musically.
I watched your video on the iron claw as I’ve just recently watched the film and now this. I appreciate your attention to detail and you have a talent for storytelling! Looking forward to more videos!
Fantastic commentary/essay. While being a Kendrick fan myself, so much of this was already apparent. Yet you putting into actual words in a concise context made it concrete for me. Thank you. 😊
Why?
Because Kendrick just crip walked on Drake’s dead body..
Kendrick grew up Westside Piru so he wouldn't be Crip walking
@@biggdave6253 🤓☝🏽
@@kevincherian8190 Hahahah instant shutdown
kendrick lies cost him the W
@@cultoftom drake is lying, about everything.
I now fully understand not to mess with someone who has fully dissected and made peace with his strengths and weaknesses, cause he knows how to do the same to another person
Can’t do anything to a person with high self love because it takes everything to get there.
Ha! So funny to see that white people don’t see what going on
Absofreakinglutely
This is such an intellectual breakdown. The fact that "who is the best" is still up for debate in some people's minds is nothing less than insane.
Drake is better
@@whathappened246 my response to you is your name. You apparently don't know what happened.
Drakes such a master manipulator his fans don’t know how to react 💀
This ain't a rap beef, it's a cultural reckoning
The beginning of a new time
I can't say I don't feel bad the kids are in a white school and they are going through it but if they become Drake like. they getting grounded😂
It's about time tbh. I love hiphop but there are some dark, shady corners that need cleaning up. We've needed this Kendrick for a _while_
It is a battle against the industry and Lucian. Drake is just the one that embodies their practices and represent them.
@@GalaadJoachim Drake is the perfect puppet
I think euphoria was more of Kendrick telling Drake to go sit with himself before getting messy. It was a friendly fade but of course Drake had to make it personal and Dot took it there
I’ve never understood Drake sending subliminals for years when everyone would’ve told you this would be how it’d end. Bro kept sticking his hand in a bear trap and has the audacity to call himself a victim when it finally took his hand off.
during his sofboy era, 'drake with the melodies', i think he would have leaned way more into the plausible deniability if someone were to push him
it's just that he changed his persona to champagne papi without changing the strategy
the industry noticed the opening, now if someone pushed back, he had to respond or it's over for this drake that act tough
he also did a 180 by always escalating first to family, but that's more difficult to get a read on, that's just stupid
100%
Kendrick has too. Listen to Element. Hes definitely talking about Drake
His ego enormous nobody can tell him nothing and it’s gotten too big to be able to think logically… thats why you hearing Dot say “you lied about the only artist that can offer you some help” .. remember they came in the game around the same time, he has watched the nicca turn into a phony. But instead of manning up he want to be this 37 year old canadian wearing nail polish talkin bout some slime shit acting like he is the mob boss that can get anybody touched lol.. aside from the rappin (because we all know dot rap better than him and his 10 writers) its easy for anyone to take a side in this because it’s real vs fake
I couldn't have said that any better myself! He thought he wanted the smoke, but he bit off a whole lot more than he could chew! And got exposed (again) as a weirdo and a culture vulture in the process.
I definitely think kdot started from a semi friendly place or a respectable place. He was trying to keep it a battle for the number 1 rapper and Drake turned it into a gossip battle and still lost. I definitely respected Cole from the start because we all knew where Drake was gonna take things and that’s something Cole has no business doing
Well said 🤝
Yeah…it really is Drake…he has a thing for just being messy bringing up peoples wife..you’d think hed learn from the last time.
i definitely think for kdot this was never about who is the number 1 rapper i feel like he genuinely
dislikes drake as a whole... as a person, what he represents for hip hop and the fact that someone like drake could even exist.........i doubt kdot would seek beef just to proof he is number 1 when he alrdy feels like number 1 and im kinda amazed that people believe this started as a battle for the number 1 spot
@@sebastianmv2069 yeah but the fact still stands his first two songs are strictly about tearing down drakes character and celebrity, he could’ve been baiting him the whole time because he already knows what he’s gonna run to
I’m a Kendrick fan, and I disagree, I believe Kendrick is one hell of a master manipulator. I believe he wanted it to escalate to where it’s at. Kendrick don’t rell spect Drake at all, he don’t like him and want to end his career. He’s not ending Drake career by having a fun rap battle, Kendrick was thinking war from the beginning. He used straight war tactics. Kendrick knew Drake was going to respond and talk about his wife. He knew Drake would that why I call cap on when Kendrick says “don’t respond or I’ll take it there”. Naw he baited him. He used war tactics, one of the best things he did was to project. Call Drake a master manipulator while it’s all apart of Kendrick’s master plan to call him that. Drake approached this as a battle, Kendrick approached this as War. There’s no rules in war, the dirtiest tactics shall be used and Kendrick used them. Bye Bye Pedo Drake. A new King has been crowned.
It’s a deep outward conflict between the real culture and the plastic culture Drake represents. Kendrick seen and watched Drake play around with and tear down everything that our pioneers fought to get. Kendrick had to remind the culture of what it needs to get off life support and recover. My six year old son is an amazing rapping prodigy and that’s because he understands the importance of our peoples history and the history of Hip Hop. The youth is going to usher back in real Hip Hop once again with integrity because Kendrick is showing them the way.
We’ll said. Glad we’re not all wheeling it.
What makes something real hiphop tho? What is the criteria?
@@Yellow-IVLyrical content, creative punchlines, solid production, and a presence that isn't your typical "I get bitches and f**ked your main chick. Bow bow take this clip, now you a b***h"
Hip hop has been stuck for decades and the corporate execs are to blame
@@Yellow-IVread can’t stop won’t stop by Jeff Chang. Great comprehensive text to answer your question
Kendrick is definitely a major influence in my music and makes me step my pen game up 💪
Thank you for taking the time to consider the artists body of work into account when talking about The Beef. Context is everything/a key factor in media literacy. This was an awesome watch.
Definitely greatly appreciated
Yes: It is a criticism of his own flaws as much as it is his opponent’s because, as you said, he already did the inner work on Mr. Morale. That’s why his work is ringing true now.
Great take here.
‘clears throat’ “um, while everyone is sitting down because of this global thing happening, please don’t judge me without judging yourself too, but I got some things I need to tell y’all about myself.” ‘MMTBS released’ “ alright now that we got that out the way & we all back outside, lemme tell y’all about this clown trying to steal my platinum crown of thorns AND the jewels outta your crowns!” ‘Like That Verse & euphoria’ “my bad Cole, I’m still working on myself, love you Brodie!” 😂
That's deep where kdot reached out to God before going in on Drake.
This was so much fun to experience. If it is over, beef ended with a whimper with the hear 6. If we broke it down into 4 rounds, each diss against one another, I'd say that Kendrick won 4-0.
Absolutely, beat Drake in every single style he tried
@@makingmediamatterthe only one I MIGHT have slid Drake was family matters because that last part was fire but Damn Meet the grahams is just legendary… like bruh it’s legit scary😂 k can feel the hatred thru the speakers
@@iDewThis4Yu Meet the Grahams is like getting bullied by a therapist
You are 100% correct
🐑
Thank you for this video.
And particularly for mentioning the first half of 6:16 in LA because it really isn't getting the flowers it deserves right now.
That music absolutely solidifies, like you said, Kendrick's perspective and it's not just about trying to kill Drake, to mudsling, to dominate (as much of the discourse on Kendrick's blowout victory has understandably orbited around, because he was done pure traditional offense phenomenally well) but to rebirth Aubrey with an incredibly harsh love.
It's beautiful, it's art, it's where we need to be gravitating towards as an audience or as commentators instead of either trying to wrap everything up into a neat little bow (which many journalists/UA-camrs have been making content about -"Who Won?", "Recapping The Beef", etc.-) or immediately criticizing either participant or either fanbase for going "over the line" without word from investigative or persecution oriented organizations yet or literally anybody else who's actually qualified to "bring receipts" or bring justice.
Let's be honest: we don't want Drake posting Ring footage implicating Kendrick for abusive behavior, ala Steven Crowder, on his Instagram story.
We don't want Kendrick posting a video of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the phone saying that they're gonna raid The Embassy or him revealing what Drake's supposed daughter's Instagram account is in a Not Like Us music video.
That goes beyond poetry over bars (which YES is still where we are); that would be interfering with justice.
So, what can we actually do?
What SHOULD we do as an audience?
We can't wrap things up and we can't get justice.
And making posts like Questlove's isn't going to make us better people; it's just going to make us depressed people who feel like we wasted a week of our lives.
We can find positive meaning (LIKE YOU HAVE), we can find morals, confessions, advice, and maturity here even if this got "really personal" or "really serious".
We should.
Now, to still be competitive, I think that Kendrick has made art with greater potential for that kind of positive therapeutic impact for listeners or Aubrey than Aubrey has for his listeners or for Kendrick.
That's just my vibe and that is how I've determined MY winner.
At the very least, let's use the metric of who's made the better POSITIVE story with this beef instead of just immediately going to how Kendrick has buried him or going full K-Anon with an inevitably flawed paper trail on Drake or just throwing everybody into the garbage by stating or implying that Kendrick or Drake or rap beef in general or Hip-Hop in general or "straight cis black men" in general are troglodytes or misogynists.
TLDR: we get to manifest what this cultural event means to us.
And the most important and useful and unproblematic way that we can add meaning to this is by interpreting the beef as ways to make better people or a better world.
TLDR 2: Meet The Grahams is a masterwork and HP6 is mid.
Slight correction: Section 80 was Kendrick's debut album. Just wanted to mention it because it is criminally overlooked in his discography in spite of it being the strongest debut of any artist on the level of College Dropout, Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt
Yea, I had remembered that and meant to edit it in the script but missed it because I was pressed for time. Love that album and I only left it out to make a point about Kendrick’s narrative arc from gkmc to mmatbs
Technically a mixtape
Not really. But it was one of his best.
The other 3 are better but it is top tier for sure
It's one of my favorites by him.
Kdot is the Boogeyman of Hiphop
Hip hop hasn’t had a boogeyman since Eminem
It’s good to be back
@@Eniggma39 boogeyman was 50 before that Nas
@@SadfoxGuyverbefore that was em. Before that there was cannabis. After that and in between we are missing real battle artists like back to back author daylyt. Dude if we went through all of them it be days.
The original boogeyman/God EmCee is Rakim.
Changed the whole game of Emcee’ing.
He ducking lupe his no boogeyman
I think to some degree Kendrick needed to get this off his chest, like the story of Mr. Morale wouldn't be complete if he didn't go after Drake, this has been bubbling for 10 years now, it wouldn't surprise me if Kendrick felt like he couldn't really mature or move forward without finally burying this resentment he's carried for Drake for 10+ years
I love the perspective that this is all kendrick building his character between album cycles 😂 what a legendary musician/artist/cultural figure
Great video. I’ve seen a lot of people say Kendrick contradicted his “leader” status by ruthlessly going at Drake, likely because Drake himself tried to discredit Kendrick as a leader. Thing is, Drake and everyone making those comments misinterpreted Kendrick’s entire artistic purpose. Kendrick has never claimed to be perfect in any way; he’s even made a point of portraying himself as a fairly fucked up person. Take the last verse on Mad City, or these walls, or u, or mortal man and the entire poem that runs throughout TPAB. He didn’t really believe in the “leadership” pedestal even before DAMN. and Mr. Morale.
The point of Kendrick’s music is that acknowledging your own imperfections is the first step towards being a better person. Not a perfect person, or even a good person, just better. Better tomorrow than you are right now.
That’s why he had to go after Drake: Drake, like Kendrick, is a deeply flawed person, but whereas Kendrick makes an effort to get better, Drake revels in his own degeneracy. Drake’s complacency within his costume of vile personas is what allowed him to sink past the point of forgiveness most good people draw. You don’t just start out like that… Drake is what happens when you let the worst parts of human being fester. His music is pacifying because there’s no internal conflict: Drake should get everything he wants and everyone in his way is a hater. It’s a narcissist’s dream, and it caters to the narcissist within all of us who’d rather pin are struggles on other people than ourselves. Kendrick’s music is often challenging and uncomfortable because he represents the internal conflict we need to engage in. Kendrick is the flawed man trying to be better. Drake is what happens when you give up.
I hate UA-cam comments like this, bc they make me want to be friends with strangers. That’s against everything I stand for as an introvert 😭
@@SweetieMsHave you considered reflecting on this to become a "better" person? Lol
@@M3G4FR34K 🤣 I recently purged to make room for more aligned people in my life… next is the introvert part 😅 Your name is funny
@@SweetieMs thanks, it's a relic of my 8th grade days almost 20 years ago lmao
@@M3G4FR34K Sounds about right 😂🤦🏽♀️ Glad you never ran from it, bc it definitely made me laugh 🤣
this beef got youtubers workin overtime 😭 euphoria is defo underrated tho imo it’s insane how many layers is in almost each bar (W vid btw)
Won’t lie this video was an educational breakdown as if from my literature teacher I love it
This was the most sane and coherent analysis I have ever seen. Looking forward to more as this progresses.
Sometimes, despite all context, meditation, and wisdom, you just hate a mfer.
No matter what, I just hate De Niro’s character in ‘Raging Bull.’ I understand why and how he became the person he is, but I still hate him.
😂😂😂 dude people don’t know the comedy underlying your comment bro, but I still get the message. But after all the therapy and healing and even finding God and doing miracles and raising the dead. You gon still hate a mfr🤣🤣fr fr
This, this is the motto. Human are flawed creature, no matter how good or bad a person is, you just can’t help but hate smth and everything associated with it. Kendrick just hate Drake, and unfortunately for Drake, he underestimated a person hate.
Love the De Niro's mention
I feel this soooo deeply! I have a vendetta against anyone who says people can’t heal and still hate, bc I fully believe righteousness requires hatred of certain people and behaviors
Dont ever forget kendrick made not like us after a few hours family matters dropped….
Thank you so much for this! I have felt there's so much nuance to those tracks that's right now still overshadowed by the utter theatricality of the situation. I love how you zero in on those lines where, if you strip the overt bravado, Kendrick does bare himself. I really loved euphoria and 6:16 in LA. Even with the heavy context, there was a sort of mystique to them that went beyond the beef.
And while the two new ones are more exciting and fun to everyone in context to the beef, at least as of now, I feel a certain flattening of meaning and intent going on at the stage.
I've been subscribed since your video on Nope! Big fave. Look forward to more!
Definitely agree with what you said, the conceptual angle is getting a bit watered down for bit reveals and drama but even then, “meet the grahams” is such a great embodiment of the ideas on Mr. Morale and “Don’t Like Us”, for as commercial as it is, kind of embodies Kendrick at his most angry and spiteful, similar to a “HUMBLE” or “DNA”.
Definitely will be interesting to see how these tracks all fit together once the dust has settled and Kendrick (maybe?) drops an album showing where he’s going next.
Kenny done put me into a full-out Manic state for this whole week. As a long time KDot stan, i knew the breadcrumbs and jewels he left on the tracks would end in his coronation as the one and only #1 in HipHop.
Same 😭 Living in Kenny’s world has been my whole personality for over a month, and the ways it ties to all the “more important” things I typically focus on is the food I eat daily to nourish my soul
I literally can't stop. What did he DO to me!
Out of all the diss tracks that kendrick released, euphoria is my favorite. I just love how it flows, and I can listen to it over and over again.
I will forever remember exactly where I was, how I felt when I first heard each of these tracks.
New sub ❤
You knocked this out of the park, totally deserved to be your most popular video 👍🏽👍🏽
HOT TAKE: this biggest beef EVER its not just nyc or east and west, its about the culture aka LYRICS vs POP RAP - every rap fan has a stake in this even if they dont like the artists but they and rap are WAY more popular/mainstream than they were for biggie v pac or nas v jay etc
Kendrick was always gonna win, he's literally a PULITZER Prize winning writer (only like 3 musicians have won this award and no other rappers) then dropped 20plus mins of layered well executed diss tracks, he couldnt lose...his fanbase are fans of bars and older heads who like lyrics over 'melodic rap' - drake has no identity, he changes up every album but its all POP rap and represents a younger gen of fans despite them being the same age etc...
Kendrick was always going to win, which is why it was so irritating seeing everyone in the industry counting him out in the beginning. Drake was never “up”. The entire industry was riding Drake’s dyck, acting like Kendrick is some unestablished artist, seeking clout (even though Drake started this beef). Drake was everywhere and it seems like everyone was claiming Kendrick lost because he took 17 days to drop.
Meanwhile, Drake lost to Pusha T and never responded to him. It look him weeks to respond to Meek Mill. But when it comes to Drake, everyone shamelessly falls in line and shifts the goalposts in his favor. At no point in this beef was Drake ahead.
If we really want to be honest, this beef was over at “Euphoria,” which has aged like fine wine. All of Kendrick’s diss tracks-ALL OF THEM-have been prophetic, genius masterpieces that skillfully predicted Drake’s every move. Kendrick was the winner from Day 1! Let’s not rewrite history here. Drake was never winning and when he was “in the lead” was only due to the fact that Kendrick moved in skillful silence. He simply outmaneuvered Drake in every way.
All Drake and his cultish fans have are his streaming numbers, which, to be frank, seem to be back catalog stuff. Nothing Drake has released since “First Person Shooter” has really made any moves at all. “No Face” is his most recent single and video-neither went anywhere. So, let’s stop this rewriting of history and shifting of the goalposts to coddle Drake. It’s not working. The audience is NOT slow!
Drake's fans are consumers of the watered-down pop version of hip-hop. They're as authentic as Drake is, which is not at all. Them dissing 'Euphoria' because it wasn't danceable (why TF should a diss record be danceable?? that's NEVER been a requirement) when it was, in reality, pure octane is laughable. Drake makes fun of Kendrick for caring about black issues because he's distant from blackness even though he steeps himself in it (he even brags about using his whiteness for advantages). Drake makes fun of Kendrick for assuming he was s_xually abused because he has no empathy for victims, as predators do not. I will never support him. He already lost in my mind on the power of being Drake.
There are already receipts about Drake. The video with the 17-year-old is damnable enough.
Great video, hope you can make one about "not like us" because Kendrick really Kendricked on that track
This was really good, love the artistic approach and explanation of the personal conflict within Kendrick. Awesome.
this is an insane analysis. thank you for putting the time and effort into analyzing “euphoria”, bringing really fresh perspectives i cant help but feel a deeper connection to the work after seeing kendricks dual nature (righteousness vs vindictiveness) reflected throughout the song. it’s awesome to read the lyrics as a continuation of mr morale - kendrick truly pouring out his soul into his craft, even for a “diss track”😂.
I dont really comment on vids but damn...you went really deep. I really like your angles and how you addressed them. Keep this up plssss
Thank you for giving your thoughts on this one. Quite a fresh take for sure
You won the beef breakdowns videos. I appreciate how you related these tracks to Kendrick’s art in general. Genuinely enjoy your videos. Thanks.
I waited for this one! We share a similar understanding and love for Kendrick. Great video 👏👏
Thank you, Kendrick is my all time favorite artist in any medium so I’m happy I got the chance to cover him!
i really liked this video and the way you listen and analyse hip hop. can't wait for more videos like this one
Dots winning because he’s weirdly funny and he’s more creative, also even tho the daughter shit was a L, the wild accusations have “semi proof” so it covers dots L, also clubs booing drake and playing Kendrick prolly hurts drake since he tried to make the club song. Then the NBA is playing not like us is krazy lol.
Also Dots winning because he doesn’t need to have high influencer friends meat riding him, Ak, adin, and even Kai. Then he made reactors make money off the disses, he’s the people champion now
I'd hold off on judging the daughter thing. He denied Adonis for a long time, and I'm hearing more and more factual sounding chat surrounding the accusation.
Dot is winning cause he is a much better rapper and artist. I saw this coming like X Mas
Drake did a shit-job at the 'daughter accusation' refutation...
If the "daughter rumors" truly were a plant, then Drake should've never gone on social media to deny them whilst ignoring the damn pedo allegations first and foremost. He should've bided his time and leaned way more into that in his actual response diss cause THAT's A HUGE vulnerability that could've been exploited more.
Not to mention his contradictory bar; calling everyone who fed Kendrick information a 'clown'(when that would without a doubt include Drake himself, assuming he was telling the truth).
Kendrick is simply somehow able to produce far more heat with 'incomplete' information whilst Drake can't seem to even match him(in terms of heat) with 'complete' information.
@@nirjhar4803 There is also an option for legal action.
I wonder why Drake doesn't choose it...
Drake spiraled. He hated Kendrick so much he made the beef bloody when it was never suppose to get here
Kendrick is smoking Drake on literally every level people even his diss tracks have potential to be timeless art. Drake still having ghost writers help him out… this video was great this why I love Kendrick is the realest rapper when it comes to what he’s actually saying.
This was very done, and inspired me to dig deeper with my pen. Thank you, keep goin
Kendrick’s music videos are so astonishing
By far the best analysis on UA-cam. Well done 👍🏾
Really great video and examination
I think that one thing that fueled Kendrick's hate even more, is that Mr morale could clearly help drake too, and Kendrick knows that. Instead of going for the cultural vulture angle and referencing tpab, Kendrick keeps referencing mr morale, almost begging drake to hear it, but drake decided to ignore it and it was one of the reasons not like us, the victory lap, exists now. Kendrick clearly offer his hand, but when drake denied and tried to bring him down, kdot didn't pull any punches
This is my first time watching one of your videos the way you break down the material is impressive I like your style you just earned a new sub
Yes ! Somebody that gets it
This beef enforced his last album for me and gave him purpose to continue to put out music
Exactly. It's like he said to himself: there is still work to do.
I enjoyed this video! Very great breakdown and you have a pleasant voice when explaining this whole diss tracks. Thank you 🙏🏽
The fact that Euphoria brings up "old news" is really why it's effective, and why the line "I'm What That Culture's Feeling" lands so well.
People have LONG had problems with Drake and what he represented in rap, but it felt like we were just letting him get away with anyways, but then here comes someone big enough to get in his face to make people go "YES! It's about time someone said what we've been saying this whole time, thank you!"
Kendrick might not be able to change the whole world, but he can take on the leadership role at least one more time to save *his* world, so both Euphoria and Not Like Us are calls to arm to take down the old guard and begin anew for hip hop.
This was such an amazing analysis video, subscribed 🔥
Post-beef, I find myself now going back to Euphoria over and over again. It's just a damn good song, well structured, catchy and hard AF, and now that I've gathered a much better understanding about the substance of the diss, my appreciation for it has grown tenfold. Kendrick really did say A LOT about Drake, and even if a lot of the information about him was "old news", he delivered it with such lyrical precision that he really sets himself apart from the rest
People can’t listen to “Euphoria” just once and walk away. You have to listen multiple times. It is a masterpiece! Pure genius!! Euphoria is the best of all the diss tracks in my view.
not sure if it was intentional or not, but kendrick releasing mr morale and the big steppers before going after drake really worked out in his favor. it took away any lines of personal attacks that drake could make against kendrick.
loved this! i'll be coming back for any future content :)
Well crafted essay. Good work 👍
This was a really good analysis! Subbed
Big fan. Are you from south carolina?
Actually from Georgia, but shoutout SC
@@makingmediamatter I noticed the Gamecocks shirt. I grew up in Greenville. Let me know if your'e interested in collaborating on a video some time.
Amazing video!
Enjoyed your essay. I appreciate this type of content. Thank you for your efforts and analysis!! ❤❤❤
Loved the way you broke down Kendrick's career leading up to euphoria. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Keep going up sis! 🚀
Loved your video, it made me go back and enjoy Euphoria even more than the first couple of listens and you did add more to the conversation than what is already out there ❤
Incredible perpective, very wholesome. Thanks! 6:16 is prolly my best sounding warning/bait for fam matters. Gotta toke one before for sure! What standsout from other videos, is your pick of Bars which resonated too !
Drake is a rapper?
Drake is alive?
He must’ve thought so…
No
Everytime I
Your voice is nice to listen to
Thank you!
I really love your voice for some reason. It is very... calming I guess, do not know how to put it exactly?
Drake is always afraid to just rap against rappers that could beat him and tries to win by mud slinging. Kendrick has only ever dissed Drake before now by flexing his status as a better, more respected rapper. Drake mentioned Whitney on Push Ups and Kendrick dropped two diss tracks telling Drake to just keep it Hip Hop and there wouldn't be any problems. Drake didn't listen and here we are.
Exactly. Bro made it personal and got nuked as a result, his own fault.
Kendrick’s album history will be studied in music theory classes in the future
Good video great breakdown. Great seeing Kendrick still making an impact on newer audiences from when he first started almost 15 years ago
Was sad to hear the podcast got pushed, but this more than makes up for it
Outstanding Essay ✨🙌🏿
Been binging all your breakdowns today and I love the work you're doing!
Lil late to the party but I want to add a point to the whole aggression as regression theme.
Judging from my own experiences with therapy and healing (still got some to do) - I feel like with most coping mechanisms it's not the goal to get rid of them entirely, but to understand their function and use them intentionally when appropriate and not impulsively. For example: getting angry and aggressive is not a functional reaction to feelings of sadness or disappointment, but when there's good reason to be angry and the need to attack the issue, being able to draw energy from your anger is a great resource. Different copes are all different tools in your shed so to speak. I think Kendrick knows that, just like when he acknowledges his competitive spirit (something useful) stemming from his daddy issues (something harmful). So when he says "I choose violence" I assume he assessed the situation and came to the conclusion that lyrical violence is the way to go. So instead of a regression you could even argue that his arsenal became bigger through healing and now he's utilizing it in a thoughtful way, which can be seen as progression even.
Excellent video
Definitely worth considering the fact that while these points are points other rappers have made and kendrick is using those points with incredible efficiency pointing them directly at Drakes soul, he does say it's "what the culture is feeling". He knows he's not talking for just himself.
Wow this was put together very well awesome work
Hey girl, really like this video so far. I hope that when the beef is over, and maybe the aftermath of it, you can release a 1 hour video about this diss ? Long form is good, I want an essay video
This video is great! I hope this blows up
Thank you!!!
Thanks for making euphoria an even better song for me🐐
Great analysis👍
Ahhhh i love this analysis! You always put out such gems !! 💗💗
This has me thinking about Kendrick’s arc in relation to the Hero’s Journey-after an inward turn in the “inmost cave,” Joseph Campbell’s universal hero receives a boon that allows him to slay the dragon. It’s as if the self-knowledge gained on “Steppers” is the weapon that allows him to finally take down Drake.
Dope perspective!
So well thought out!
Thank u as well. Can’t wait for new material.
The world needs to hear this
Very well explained 👏🏽 👏🏽👏🏽
Thank you for your dissertation! Such a thorough and thoughtful analysis. Great work!
Love your writing, truly enjoyed the video!
clap clap. i h8 that ‘gawwwwwd have to go to warrr’ part; but i like your awareness you have of it enough to break it down as you did. new fan!
Euphoria is personally my favourite song from the whole beef. It's the one I listen back to most, has the most quotable lines and it's the most interesting musically.
I watched your video on the iron claw as I’ve just recently watched the film and now this. I appreciate your attention to detail and you have a talent for storytelling! Looking forward to more videos!
You did a fantastic job! Thank you!
I really enjoyed this perspective
Great essay loved it
Fantastic commentary/essay. While being a Kendrick fan myself, so much of this was already apparent. Yet you putting into actual words in a concise context made it concrete for me. Thank you. 😊
This is a great video!
Thank you for the upload. Subscribed.
The crazy thing is drake literally calls back to mother I which is a song in which Kendrick literally talks about why Whitney left
Kendrick has never hidden his imperfections he’s very open and honest
Great video. Correction though, Section 80 was his debut album, not Good Kidd Maad city
I'm only 7 minutes into this video, and this feels like one hell of a dissertation! I tip my hat to you
Kendrick was TRYING to take the high road... That is, until Drake took an even lower shot. Then K Dot ended him. End of story.