JAY-Z has finally shared his thoughts on Drake and Kendrick Lamar‘s epic 2024 rap battle — and his stance might surprise you.
Despite being involved in one of hip-hop’s fiercest feuds with Nas in the early 2000s, Hov believes that Dot and Drizzy’s beef went “too far” and is not a fan of all the negativity and division that continues to fuel their rivalry.
“We love the excitement and I love the sparring and the music you get, but in this day and age, there’s so much negative stuff that comes with it that you almost wish it didn’t happen,” he said in a rare interview with GQ ahead of his recently announced Reasonable Doubt and The Blueprint anniversary shows at New York’s Yankee Stadium in July.
“Now, people that like Kendrick hate Drake, no matter what he makes or says. And it goes far, too. It’s like attacks on his character [and family]. I don’t know if I love that. I don’t know if it’s helpful to our growth.”
The Roc Nation mogul went on to claim that Kendrick and Drake’s beef inadvertently set hip-hop “a couple steps back” and wonders whether the age-old tradition of battling “even needs to be a part of the culture anymore.”
“I hate that I have this point of view because I know what it sounds like, I know what it feels like. I hate it!” he acknowledged, alluding to his own history of involvement in messy rap battles. “It’s just how I feel.”
The 56-year-old also laid out a path for keeping hip-hop’s competitive spirit alive without damaging careers or relationships: “I think we can achieve the same thing, as far as sparring with music, with collaborations more so than breaking the whole thing apart.
JAY-Z also addressed the backlash to Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Super Bowl halftime show — specifically claims that he and Roc Nation, who oversee the annual spectacle, picked sides in the beef by handing the coveted gig to the Compton superstar.
“I chose the guy that was having a monster year. I think it was the right choice. What do I care about them two guys battling? What’s that got to do with me? Have at it,” he argued.
Hov also laughed off suggestions that he was part of a “conspiracy” to “undermine” Drake: “It’s like, what the fuck? I’m fucking JAY-Z! [laughs.] All due respect to him. I’m fucking Hov. Respectfully. It doesn’t make any sense.”
Check out more highlights from JAY-Z’s conversation with GQ below where he talks about his relationship with J. Cole, the rumors of him jumping on the Clipse‘s Let God Sort Em Out and where he’s at when it comes to new music.
Source: Hiphopdx.com