May 21st 2024.
Renowned academic, author, and radio host Michael Eric Dyson has stepped up to defend Drake amidst his highly-publicized rap feud with Kendrick Lamar. Dyson appeared on the Stephen A. Smith show on May 19th to elaborate on his recent article for The Philadelphia Enquirer, which delves into the deeper societal implications of the ongoing lyrical battle between the two Grammy-winning artists.
According to Dyson, the focus should not be on Drake's biracial identity or his upbringing in Toronto, Canada. Instead, it should remain on the talent and contributions of both rappers to the hip-hop culture. "I'm frustrated that Drake is being dismissed after being in the game for 15 years," Dyson stated passionately. "And let's not pretend that we didn't know this about him. 'He's not really Black.' Oh, but he's collaborated with Jay-Z more than most of these rappers. And last I checked, Jay-Z is as real as they come."
The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud has taken the hip-hop community by storm in recent weeks, with both artists taking shots at each other's careers and personal lives. However, Dyson believes that Kendrick's lyrics have undermined Drake's Black identity and cultural contributions to hip-hop and pop music. "Challenging his racial identity, calling him a culture vulture when he's a Black man. 'He's from Canada, he's not authentic.' Well, Idris Elba is from the UK, and we still love him for his role in 'The Wire'," Dyson explained.
Dyson's comments have received mixed reactions, with some agreeing with his call-out of hypocrisy and others arguing that he has missed the point. One YouTube user wrote, "When Kendrick quotes DMX, Drake quotes '10 Things I Hate About You', and you think it's about Drake's complexion?" Others, however, have supported Dyson's stance that attacking Drake's racial identity will not lead to a victory in the rap battle. "Kendrick fans fail to realize that when you have to resort to attacking someone's race, you've already lost," one person commented.
Despite the differing opinions, Dyson stands by his belief that Drake should not be targeted for his race in the rap feud. "Drake never deserved the hate, in my opinion," he stated. "But if I were him, I would follow in Kanye's footsteps and distance myself from the culture." Only time will tell how this feud will play out, but one thing is for sure: Michael Eric Dyson is not afraid to speak his mind and defend what he believes is right.
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