Tag Archives: Battle

Kendrick Lamar drops video for “They Not Like Us”

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Kendrick Lamar dropped his highly anticipated music video, for “They Not Like Us” on July 4th. Its already making noise and sparking up conversation. Directed by Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar the video showcases Kendricks approach to his rap feud with Drake. This battle, a clash of titans is at its core a profound exploration of authenticity, Black culture and Hip Hop.

Kendrick having his show, “The Pop Out – Ken and Friends ” happen on Juneteenth and releasing the video for “They Not Like Us on July 4th, displays the intensity, precision and intentionality of his assault on Drake. The video features Kendrick dancing with his children and his fiancée Whitney, He also gives Dave Free directors credit for the video. These glimpses into his personal and business life look to dispel any rumors surrounding a relationship between Dave Free and Whitney, something that Drake spoke to on “Family Matters. Kendrick asserts himself sharing a glimpse of his personal journey showcasing unwavering confidence and resilience to the culture.

The battle between Drake and Kendrick is unprecedented in its intensity and strategic timing, all the way down to how and when songs were released along with the artwork that accompanied them. Drake’s use of AI to mimic Tupac and Snoop Doggs voice on “Taylor Made” freestyle showcased a new approach to battling. Even with that bold approach Kendrick has managed to stay ten steps ahead through his lyrical prowess and sometimes haunting delivery.

The video for “They Not Like Us’ might be the final blow of this battle unless Drake has something up his sleeve. Kendrick has delivered some impactful blows and has left significant dents in Drake’s armor. In this moment Kendrick is king. He is carrying the weight of rap on his shoulders while simultaneously uniting the west coast.

In many peoples minds what Kendrick has been able to accomplish has positioned him among the greats of the culture. What do you think?

Check out the video below.


DJ Premier vs RZA – Who won?

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DJ Premier and RZA faced off in a producers battle that was one for the ages. Timbaland and Swizz Beatz launched the ‘VERZUZ’ battle series in March during the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The goal of the series is to celebrate the architects of good music. 

DJ Premier of Gang Starr and RZA of the Wu-Tang Clan faced off in one of the most epic producer battles since this series has been launched. Both of these men represent juggernauts in the culture of Hip-Hop and have worked with many of greats. Jay Z, Nas, Mary J Blige, ODB and Biggie Smalls are a few of the artists both producers have worked with. 

The battle was a trip down memory lane with a focus on the golden age of rap. RZA kicked it off with “Liquid Swords” from the album of the same name to which Premier followed up with “Medley: Intro” by Jay Z  off of his album In My Lifetime. There were a few technical difficulties for RZA early on but after some communication from DJ Premier’s engineer it was corrected. 

Both producers shared details of sessions for specific songs. When Premier played “Come Clean” by Jeru the Damaja he mentioned that LL Cool J was in the studio when he created the track for the song. 

Premier also recalled the time RZA stepped to him in Los Angeles and told him that he had a song called C.R.E.A..M that would whip him. 

The original battle was set to go 20 rounds but it went much longer as both producers offered up music to heal during this tumultuous time. 

The overall winner for the evening was the culture of hip-hop because of how it continues to bring the world together and created a way out of no way for so many people of the world.

I scored the battle 13-7 with DJ Premier as the winner. Check out my breakdown after the jump.

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