A Look Back on 2021’s Largest Hip-Hop Feud: Drake vs Kanye, Who Wins?
Image Courtesy: Strike FSU
Looking back at 2021, we once again witnessed the hip-hop industry grow beyond its reach compared to decades past. It can safely be assumed that this growth is not solely due to the musical values artists bring to the industry, for it is a result of the competition amongst artists, too. The fact of the matter is that there will always be “beef” to be settled twixt artists; however, we hardly ever get to witness two of the industry’s best butting heads.
Image Courtesy: Complex
The last time artists of this notoriety exchanged insults and diss tracks goes back to the year 1995, when Tupac called out The Notorious B.I.G. As notable as the previous artists once were, neither compared to the level of stardom Drake and Kanye have reached. The names Drake and Kanye have been immortalized not just in the hip-hop industry alone, but in society as a whole. As J. Cole once said, “They act like two legends cannot coexist”. Unfortunately, legends cannot coexist because the topic of who is better will always surface. With that being said, Drake vs. Kanye, who takes the cake?
Image Courtesy: Cosmopolitan
To accurately place one artist above the other, factors outside of their last projects must be considered. It is extremely difficult to compare these artists since they differ so greatly. When one listens to Kanye, one listens to a work of art. Much of Kanye’s music is highly experimental, differing from all artists within the hip-hop industry. Songs such as Blame Game, See You in My Nightmares, and Hurricane are just a few examples of songs unlike any other. You hear the melody, the cadence, the flow, and they all mesh together in a fashion that can only be classified as art. This differs significantly from Drake’s style of music, as he is more of a Jack of all trades than the “artist” type. Drake has the ability to make hit after hit, across any genre of hip-hop. Need a sad Drake song? Marvin’s Room. Need a hype Drake song? What’s Next. Need a Spanish Drake song? MIA. Drake is the definition of versatility within the music industry. Drake can make Platinum tracks within any sub-genre of rap and has done so for years. He did so once again on his latest studio album, Certified Lover Boy. The album contained twenty-one songs, of which fifteen made it onto my personal playlist. At the time of the album’s release, I found myself quite disappointed. I had much higher expectations, and although about 70% of the tracks made it onto my playlist, there was definitely room for improvement. However, do not misconstrue this statement. There was not a single bad song on Certified Lover Boy, but there weren’t as many great songs as I had anticipated, tarnishing my support of the album a bit. Although, I must say all Drake albums become better as time passes. With each play, each of his songs grows on the listener.
Image Courtesy: Medium
Now, being six months post-release from each album, I would say that I listen to more of Certified Lover Boy than I do Donda at this point in time. Which album do I think is better? Donda, as it is a literal work of art. If you came here looking for a definitive answer for who is the better artist, Drake or Kanye, I hate to break it to you, but you are not going to get one. Sorry. If it is the better rapper you look for, the answer is Drake without a doubt. If it is the better artist you look for, the answer is Kanye. Now that the two have settled their beef, as fans of the genre, let us support two of the best to ever do it rather than quantify their work.
Strike Out,
Writer: Lucas Zaret
Editor: Breanna Tang
Graphic Designer: Samantha Lawless
Tallahassee