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Snoop Dogg is staying neutral in the ongoing rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. He believes that the feud is actually benefiting the genre.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Snoop, who is 52 years old, mentioned that he wants to commend both Drake and Kendrick Lamar for raising the bar in terms of lyrics, song-making, and writing. He feels that the writing quality has improved since the feud began.
Snoop referred to Drake and Kendrick Lamar as his nephews and stated that he is not taking sides. He supports both artists and believes that their beef is personal business, not his.
The rapper expressed admiration for both Drake, 37, and Lamar, 36, for their contributions to the music industry. He mentioned, "They brought back the essence of true rap. You can't just rely on mumbling or gimmicks to make a hit song anymore. So, I appreciate both of you."
Since 2013, Drake and Lamar have had a rocky relationship starting from Lamar's diss towards Drake on Big Sean's "Control." The tension between the two has continued over the years with subtle jabs thrown back and forth. However, things escalated in March when both artists released diss tracks, making serious accusations against each other such as domestic abuse and sexual assault.
Despite Snoop Dogg’s efforts to remain neutral in the ongoing music feud, Drake dropped a new track titled “Taylor Made Freestyle” in April. This song once again targeted Kendrick Lamar and featured verses from AI versions of Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur.
In the song, a simulated Snoop Dogg rapped, “You need to assert your dominance on the West Coast. It's time to make a bold move and show everyone who's in charge. Right now, it seems like you're setting yourself up for failure, heading down the wrong path and risking your life in a dangerous situation.”
Fake Snoop chimed in, "The whole world is watching this chess game, but do you feel like you're running out of moves? Dot, you know that the D-O-G never once doubted you. But at this moment, it seems like you're standing there without a clue about what to do next."
Kendrick Lamar Vs Drake A Rundown on the Diss Tracks in HipHops Fiercest Feud
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Snoop, for his part, took to social media to share his confusion over the verses after the song hit the airwaves.
In an Instagram video, he jokingly exclaimed, "They did what? When? How? Are you sure? Y’all have a good night and to all… Why everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the f—k? What happened? What’s going on?"
He then concluded, "I’m going back to bed. Good night," and captioned the post with a sleepy face emoji and an alarm clock emoji.
Not everyone agrees that the drama surrounding Snoop and the other musicians has been beneficial for the music industry. Stevie Wonder shared his thoughts on the feud earlier this month, stating that "any kind of war is bad for the world." Wonder mentioned that he holds no ill feelings towards the rappers involved and believes that the focus on this hip-hop conflict is diverting attention from more pressing global issues.
"I believe that it is crucial for the world to pay attention to more important matters instead of getting caught up in these distractions," Wonder expressed. He highlighted ongoing wars and rising homelessness as critical issues that deserve more spotlight. In a direct message to TMZ, he urged them to recognize the urgency of these pressing problems.
Questlove expressed his opinion that "nobody won the war" in the end. He emphasized that the situation was not about skill, but rather a brutal mudslinging match where anything goes, even at the expense of women, children, and actual facts. He shared his thoughts on Instagram on May 7, pointing out the hypocrisy of the audience who craved drama but would later mourn the consequences. In his view, the state of hip-hop was in a dire situation.
Editor's P/S:
The ongoing rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has sparked mixed reactions within the music industry. While Snoop Dogg maintains a neutral stance, commending both artists for raising the bar in terms of lyrics and song-making, others have expressed concern about the negative impact of the feud. Stevie Wonder and Questlove have voiced their disapproval, emphasizing the need to focus on more pressing global issues and the harmful consequences of the rappers' personal attacks.
Despite Snoop Dogg's belief that the feud is beneficial to the genre, it remains unclear whether the heightened attention on the conflict will ultimately result in positive outcomes for the music industry. Critics argue that the focus on personal drama and sensationalism detracts from the true essence of hip-hop and may lead to a decline in the quality of music. Only time will tell how the ongoing beef will shape the future of rap and its impact on the broader music landscape.