How the Kendrick Lamar-Drake Feud Affects Industry and Fans
Ask students: Who are Drake and Kendrick Lamar? When did they start their feud? What are the two artists battling about?
They are two of the biggest names in hip hop, Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and they're locked in a rap battle that's capturing global attention and having a big impact on the music industry. Amna Nawaz discussed this feud and its implications with Sidney Madden of NPR.
View the transcript of the story.
Discussion Questions
- Who are Drake and Kendrick Lamar?
- When did they start their feud?
- What are the two artists battling about?
- Why has the story caught worldwide attention?
- How do you think the serious nature of the fight involving race and the treatment of women including serious allegations about underage relationships and domestic abuse changes the nature of the story?
Focus Questions
How do you think the fight between two rap artists should be resolved? If you are fans of either or both artists, how do you feel about the fact that their fight is so public and the insults so deep?
Media literacy: What else would you like to know about the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Why did Drake used A.I.-generated lyrics to goad Kendrick into engaging with him? Does Drake's not creating his own lyrics affect his case?
Extension Activity
There will be some new watchers who don't feel as though a personal battle between two hip hop stars should receive so much news attention. However, this greatly underestimates the power of arts & culture in our lives. Learn more about the history of hip hop here by:
- Watching this clip from PBS' Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World.
- Here's another highlight clip:
In addition to the important history rap music has played in American culture and beyond, research studies have analyzed how music affects our mental health. Watch this Student Reporting Labs (SRL) video to learn more:
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
Advertisement
