The rap beef that keeps on giving has both Kendrick Lamar and Drake fans reaching, denying, speculating, and continuing to decide on who won this exchange. However, many recent interpretations and conversations around K.Dot’s “6:16 In LA” diss against Drizzy are more concerned with admiration and creativity rather than victory… if a lick of them are true, that is. Moreover, spurred by a recent YouTube video from What’s The Dirt? about the track, many fans are currently running with a theory that the first part of this song (before Kendrick mentions DJ Akademiks) is actually a verse from Drake’s perspective.
First, a few opening arguments and allegations: to folks’ knowledge, Kendrick Lamar doesn’t own a Rolls Royce or a yacht. Drake does, yet Kendrick raps having or dismissing these on “6:16 In LA” in its opening moments. He also talks about tatted passports and asking where he’s from, whereas on “Meet The Grahams” he says that Aubrey goes to Turks to pop percs and has a lot of identity issues. Still, the mention of Estelle (presumably a family member of the Compton lyricist’s that he also mentioned on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers) and some other lines that could equally apply to Kendrick (“Who am I if I don’t go to war?“) do serve as counter-arguments against this theory.
Kendrick Lamar Fans Speculate On “6:16 In LA”
As such, the more likely scenario is that some elements of “6:16 In LA” are up for interpretation, and that Kendrick Lamar is drawing parallels between him and Drake and explaining how their choices concerning these comparisons are what make them different from one another. Overall, it seems like a bit of a reach, but the What’s The Dirt? video talks about a whole lot more than that. It’s definitely an interesting possibility to consider, and one that either provides more empathy for the 6ix God on Mr. Morale’s behalf or talks about Kendrick’s own conflicted feelings in this battle. At the end of the day, it’s just a theory.
Meanwhile, folks continue to debate over who’s the better rapper, and Kendrick Lamar and Drake have a lot of eyes on their next moves. “The Pop Out” happened, the Camila Cabello collabs are out, and we as fans are starting to move away from the obsession over the outcome. Now, we could go back and reevaluate the disses from a more appreciative and calm lens. Lord knows we needed some clarity and rest after this firestorm… but we’ll happily stay amid the flames if it musical discussion is to follow.
About The Author
Gabriel Bras Nevares is a music and pop culture news writer for HotNewHipHop. He started in 2022 as a weekend writer and, since joining the team full-time, has developed a strong knowledge in hip-hop news and releases. Whether it’s regular coverage or occasional interviews and album reviews, he continues to search for the most relevant news for his audience and find the best new releases in the genre. What excites him the most is finding pop culture stories of interest, as well as a deeper passion for the art form of hip-hop and its contemporary output.
Specifically, Gabriel enjoys the fringes of rap music: the experimental, boundary-pushing, and raw alternatives to the mainstream sound. As a proud native of San Juan, Puerto Rico, he also stays up-to-date with the archipelago’s local scene and its biggest musical exponents in reggaetón, salsa, indie, and beyond.
Before working at HotNewHipHop, Gabriel produced multiple short documentaries, artist interviews, venue spotlights, and audio podcasts on a variety of genres and musical figures. Hardcore punk and Go-go music defined much of his coverage during his time at the George Washington University in D.C.
His favorite hip-hop artists working today are Tyler, The Creator, Boldy James, JPEGMAFIA, and Earl Sweatshirt.
