{"id":5594,"date":"2024-06-08T14:48:49","date_gmt":"2024-06-08T19:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/streamapse.com\/Magazine\/?p=5594"},"modified":"2024-12-31T19:20:48","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T00:20:48","slug":"is-drake-black-enough-for-ya","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/streamapse.com\/Magazine\/?p=5594","title":{"rendered":"Is Drake Black Enough For Ya?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why do American rappers see Drake as not Black\u00a0enough?<\/strong><\/p>\n

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The epic beef between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake has once again demonstrated the linguistic acrobatics of rap culture. The feud has seen both artists release multiple tracks where they lyrically diss each other. Beefs involve rappers disrespecting each other and can happen in diss tracks, but also through interviews, social media and other statements.<\/p>\n

When Lamar viciously but masterfully raps<\/a> about Drake \u201ctryna to strike a chord and it\u2019s probably A minor,\u201d he is playing with language; using double entendre and homonym (A minor being a musical chord and also a reference to an underage child) to combine the literal, on-the-face-of-it meaning of a word and its other potential meanings.<\/p>\n

Some might lament the spurious facts and salacious accusations<\/a> flowing between Lamar and Drake. The artists may hold lasting grudges against each other and the violent language of beefs can spill over into real life<\/a>.<\/p>\n

However, beefs are more about self-conscious plays with language and meaning than about the claims they make. They are a testament to the power of language, using hyperbole, irony and innuendo to best insult one\u2019s opponent. Beefs acknowledge the social power of often derided forms of communication, like gossip and rumours.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Criticisms of Drake<\/strong><\/p>\n

Drake reminds us of this in one of his responses to Lamar, The Heart Part 6<\/em>. The piece opens with a sample of Aretha Franklin\u2019s 1967 song Prove It<\/em>, while the only \u201cproof\u201d Drake offers for his own claims is a heart emoji<\/a> on an Instagram post.<\/p>\n

Beefs are less about truth claims and more about showcasing skill and, just as importantly, performing identity through language.<\/p>\n