“Drake way better rapping” — Charleston White picks Drizzy as the winner in Kendrick Lamar diss battle

YouTuber and influencer Charleston White recently disclosed his preference for Drake over Kendrick Lamar in their ongoing feud. In a June 27, 2024 interview with Say Cheese!, White stated he thought Drizzy was a "way better" rapper than Kenny.

Content Warning: This article contains references to strong language. Reader discretion is advised.

White discussed Lamar's recent concert, The Pop Out: Ken & Friends, held on Juneteenth in Los Angeles, California. The event featured several well-known and underground musicians, receiving an overwhelmingly positive response.

When asked whether he believed that despite everybody coming together for the Pop Out, sooner or later there would be discord among them (gang-related violence). White explained:

"Man Kendrick did that for (a) video shoot, he didnt do that to bind n*gga together. Them n*ggas just found something to dance to."

When the host explained, he meant Lamar's concert gave the stage to several up-and-coming talents. To which Charleston White replied:

"They ain't going nowhere. Ain't nobody finna listen to no bunch of up-and-coming L.A. artists but L.A. people in their neighborhood. Don't nobody want to hear that sh*t."

Charleston White continued:

"Let me just say this: Drake way better. N*gga, Drake way better rapping. N*gga, I know Drake songs. I ain't never heard a n*gga in Texas pull up bumping Kendrick's sh*t, nothing!"

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"Most of them will be dead by tomorrow, due to the gang politics" — Charleston White criticizes K Dot's Pop Out

Kendrick Lamar's Pop Out marked his first major performance following his rap feud with Drake. The feud, which began in 2013, recently escalated with both artists releasing diss tracks aimed at each other, such as Drizzy's Family Matters and Lamar's Not Like Us.

Speaking on Say Cheese! Charleston White criticized many critics, who declared Kendrick won the rap feud, noting that his music doesn't resonate beyond his neighborhood. He added

"Let's be fair and clear. Man, Kendrick can't compare. Unless you like twisting your fingers up like the r*tarded people (mocking gang signs). That's the only way you gon' like Kendrick. You got to be r*tarded. Sensible people don't gravitate to that bullsh*t."

Charleston White rhetorically questioned, "So what he gave these up-and-coming artists a spotlight for the day?" He stated most of them would be "dead" because of the "gang politics." He added:

"California, Compton, or whatever you want to call it. Homie, it's not vibrant. So why would you go shoot somewhere where n*gga, nothing grows here, everything dies. For what?"

Interestingly, according to a report by Hot New Hip Hop, several of the lesser-known artists featured in Kenny's Pop Out show saw a major boost in their streaming numbers. Artists like Jay Rock and Ab-Soul saw increases of over 40%, while ScHoolboy Q saw an increase of over 30%. Kendrick's catalague saw a 31% rise overall as well.

While the tension between Lamar and Drake had subsided by early May, it continues to spark a critical discourse. For instance, in a recent episode of The Joe Budden Podcast, Budden remarked the feud addressed broader problems within the music industry, i.e., those who focus on commercial success and numbers and those who focus on cultural and artistic authenticity.