Music
Questlove says I’m viewing the Drake vs. Kendrick battle incorrectly
It’s terrible that Drake used Tupac’s AI to discredit Kendrick in “Taylor created freestyle” But it is also form of good. The line that AI Tupac said puts words into Pac’s mouth that he would never say. He would definitely be a member of Team Kendrick. And he would hate Drake (who filmed a whole TV industrial singing Taylor Swift, so using it to defame Kendrick is silly, but whatever). But that is a part of the joke, right? This is a totally different way Drake uses ghosts. It’s also a clever way of using modern technology to make his album attract attention. Some people liked it, some people hated it, but either way, we needed to speak about it, and perhaps that is what all of it comes right down to now.
“Taylor Made Freestyle” is an interesting strategic move on this battle. The point is to rush, Kendrick. We are waiting for you. What’s taking you so long? This draws attention to the proven fact that Kendrick didn’t respond quickly. But Drake knows exactly why it’s taking K-Dot so long. It takes Kendrick for much longer to jot down a song than it does Drake because Kendrick puts so much more thought into his songs than Drake does. (#Pulitzer.) McDonald’s can prepare 50 meals faster than Nobu. Does this make McDonald’s higher? I believe in some situations yes.
Giving Drake credit for releasing two songs before K releases one full song seems silly to me, but I hear it often. I hear so much too People say Drake is winning. To me that is comical. Isn’t the struggle to point out that you simply’re a greater MC and make higher songs and in addition say things that embarrass the other guy? Yes, except perhaps no.
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My man Questlove jumped on my IG page on Monday with an extended, thoughtful comment that made me rethink the battle. Quest said that the audience for tonight’s battle doesn’t have a look at it the same way as the audience that saw KRS-One as the winner over MC Shane or Ice Cube over NWA. “The audience is different here,” he wrote. “Remember a few years ago when you thought ‘meh’ after the Weeknd’s halftime performance?”
I do.
“And then,” Quest continued, “this A 2-second gif/meme of him running through a maze went viral? Now suddenly they seemed to “get the job.”
Quest says it’s about the attention economy and getting people’s attention. Even in case your design is “not good” by some aesthetic standard, if it succeeds on social media and attracts attention, it is a win.
Quest continued: “Drake is either just lucky or a genius along with his moves currently – we have ridiculed his dancing in “Hotline Bling” but he knew it was different.
His next sentence form of killed me, to be honest.
“I do know we wish this to be the blood sport of ‘who’s the most talented’ in our memory, but lol, NONE of them are about ‘talent.’
He just said there is no Santa Claus in hip-hop. Is life price living in any respect?
“Drake, whether he has quality or not, whether he is talented or not, remembers his way to victory.”
He says the old ways of judging battles are over. It’s not about winning the same way Eminem won when he fought in “8 Mile.” It’s about capturing the attention economy. From the old standpoint, Kendrick will undoubtedly win because he’s clearly the more talented MC. Much. How far, far, far. However, based on Questlove’s attitude, Drake is the favorite to win because he is far, significantly better at attracting attention. From Questo’s standpoint, he’s a prom king form of QB, fighting a monk in a battle where victory will probably be decided by his ability to govern the Internet. Drake knows learn how to manipulate him. Kendrick is practically not online. I feel sick.