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Hip-hop icon T.I. recently addressed the longstanding rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, describing it as a boon and a bane for the rap industry. On May 17, 2024, the Atlanta-based rapper went on Big Boy TV, a radio show, and discussed the fallouts of rap beef between two hip-hop titans, Drizzy and KDot. He implied that their beef battle harmed the other artists planning to release their work in that period.
"I will say this. They done kinda f*cked it up for some other who were planning to drop in this period," T.I. said.
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr. is an American rapper better known by his stage names T.I. and Tip. He was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He became prominent in 2003 by appearing in Bone Crusher's single Never Scared.
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The feud between Drizzy and KDot artists started in the early 2010s, but recently, it escalated after Kendrick Lamar's Like That. Then, both artists delivered subtle jabs and competitive bars for over a month.
T.I. weighs in on Drake vs Kendrick Lamar battle
On Friday, May 17, T.I. reflected on the rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, describing the high-profile rivalry as a blessing and a curse for the rap industry. During a radio show with Big Boy, Tip suggested that he does not care what the rappers have lied about in their tracks. The Atlanta-based rapper considers it "good" for the game.
"All this sh*t they saying can't be true. I mostly listen for the double entendres, the metaphors and the skill in which they present their art. They hard. I think it's good for the game," he said.
During the radio interview, T.I. also praised J. Cole, an American rapper and record producer, for keeping himself out of this rap battle. He said it was "mature of him."
"I feel he chose peace and tranquility. You got to have thick skin. We do not know where that would take him. That was quite mature of him."
At Dreamville Festival on Sunday, April 7, 2024, J. Cole suggested that he stands "besides in this game" and let the others chase.
"I was conflicted because. I know how I feel about my peers, these two, that I've been blessed to even stand beside in this game, let alone chase they're greatness. But the world wants to see blood," J.Cole said.
T.I. further suggested that the feud has drawn so much attention that it has overshadowed other artists' efforts and releases, as fans and critics meticulously analyze lyrics to determine if one artist is taking jabs at another.
Gunna, an American rapper and singer, dropped his album One Of Wun in early May, and most of the attention was on whether the bars took a dig at Drake or other fellow rappers.
T.I. appears dissatisfied with the progression of this rap battle, expressing discontent with its trajectory.
How did other hip-hop artists perceive the rap battle?
Numerous notable hip-hop artists have addressed this conflict, with opinions divided. Some contend it is wrong, while others assert it is an inherent aspect of the industry.
On May 6, 2024, Boosie BadAzz, an acclaimed American rapper, penned a tweet asking if people want to see either of the artists' careers overshadowed just because of losing a rap battle.
"DO YALL REALLY WANT ONE OF THESE GREAT ARTIST CAREER DONE CAUSE THEY LOST A RAP BATTLE?" he said, adding, "DO YALL WANT ALL WHAT THEY HAVE DONE FOR HIP HOP OVERSHADOWED BY RAP BEEF?"
The same day, another hip-hop heavyweight, Wyclef Jean, tweeted that rap battles are a part of the culture in the hip-hop industry.
"As someone who came up with Battle Rap being part of our culture in New Jersey and Brooklyn her is my opinion as a Fugee. Drake vs Kendrick. In True Form of Battle Rap, anything goes," he tweeted.
Then, a few, including ICE T, expressed disinterest in the rap battle. The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar escalated in March 2024 with Lamar's Like That, till May 5, 2024, with Drake's The Heart Part 6, both artists dropped back-to-back diss tracks.
T.I. is working on his album Kill the King. No release date has been revealed, but fans eagerly await it.
