The biggest lie in the hip-hop world is that you have to choose: Kendrick or Drake? Pick your favorite and crown your king of rap. The unchosen is immediately dismissed to a lower tier and their passionate fans vehemently defend their boy. Kendrick fans praise his lyricism, and Drake fans swarm to defend Drizzy's lyrical ability. Drake supporters trumpet his reliability, which prompts Kendrick fans to attack. This debate is strong, and the same tired points are recycled. At the end, no one changes their mind and the warring parties retreat to eagerly await the next fight. This mindset has no reasoning, but nearly institutionalized in today's rap community. We need to change that. I'm here to tell that not only can you fully enjoy both of these supremely talented individuals, but you should.
I used to absolutely hate Drake. I loved to call him soft, and thought his bars were weak. In contrast, I loved Kendrick unconditionally. Anyone who thought Drake was even close to K. Dot was dismissed as an idiot in my mind. Then something changed. I started to really like Drake. His " If You're Reading This It's Too Late" project really grew on me, hard as I tried not to let it. Calling Drizzy by his incredible given name, Aubrey, turned from a jest into a term of endearment. I soon began to worry this change of heart would lead me away from my first hip-hop love, Kendrick. Shockingly, that did not happen. Dumb as it may sound, this revelation rocked my world. I began to reconsider everything I had ever made a harsh judgement on, big and small. Then I began to think, why pass any harsh judgements on most anything. Things are usually what they are, and judging them won't change them. People are the same. They enjoy what they enjoy, and if it does not hurt anyone else, why should anyone care. I began to enjoy the good things in my life, and not worry about the bad.
The Drake or Kendrick question will almost certainly continue for a long time. The two will continue to make incredible music, and many people will be to stubborn to enjoy half of it. People will fight for years for their man, missing out on something that may make them happy. That is the worst part. Denying yourself of something to raise up something else. And why? No one knows. If Drake and Kendrick themselves can put their rivalry aside to create something as incredible as "Poetic Justice," you too can wipe away the line in the proverbial sand and love them both. If you do, you'll be a much happier person.
