RZA, a pioneering figure of Wu-Tang Clan, recently shared his thoughts on Kendrick Lamar and Drake, two of today’s most influential rappers, weighing in on their distinctive lyrical approaches. In an interview with Complex, RZA outlined why he believes the two artists are emblematic of different paths to lyrical mastery.
When asked about a possible reconciliation between Kendrick and Drake, whose rivalry has sparked heated debates this year, RZA painted a stark contrast between their respective lyrical styles. According to RZA, Kendrick embodies a “natural” lyricist, whereas Drake represents a “trained” one. “First of all, Kendrick is the natural lyricist, and Drake is a trained lyricist,” he said. “You could train a fighter, and he could be good, but then you have those natural fighters who also go through training. So that’s a different chamber there.”
RZA continued by acknowledging both rappers’ skills but noted that Kendrick’s lines often carry an intensity that’s hard to rival. “While Drake got bars forever, Kendrick’s bars’ potency was stronger,” he elaborated. Though he respects Drake’s work, RZA suggested that Drake might not have been fully prepared for a lyrical clash with someone like Kendrick. “The battle bar-for-bar was just not good advising on Drake’s camp in the sense of just getting in that fight without really taking some more training for that,” he explained.
RZA went on to compare Kendrick’s lyrical style to that of legendary emcees like Nas, Eminem, and Raekwon, stating that artists of Kendrick’s calibre “break it down to the element” in ways that leave lasting impacts. He pointed to Kendrick’s deeply personal verses, mentioning the track where Kendrick addressed a letter to his son, daughter, and mother, as an example of this profound impact.
While the rivalry between Kendrick and Drake has cooled down in recent months, Kendrick stirred the pot last month with an untitled Instagram track. Rather than reigniting the feud, however, Kendrick’s verse seemed more reflective, addressing the state of hip-hop culture and his upcoming performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show.
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