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RZA On “Lyricists” Kendrick Lamar And Drake: One Is “Trained” And The Other Is A “Natural”

Jessica Bennett
2 min read
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Wu-Tang’s RZA respects both Kendrick Lamar and Drake, but does believe there’s a key difference between the two wordsmiths.

In a conversation with Jordan Rose for Complex, the producer revealed his take that, while both artists should be considered lyricists, one is “trained” while the other is a “natural,” which may have affected the results of their infamous feud. The observation was made after the legend was asked if he thinks the two rappers can ever reconcile.

“First of all, Kendrick is the natural lyricist, and Drake is a trained lyricist,” he explained. “You could train a fighter and he could be good, then you got those natural fighters who also then go through training. So that’s a different chamber there. And while Drake got bars forever, Kendrick’s bars’ potency was stronger.”

Watts, CA – June 22: Kendrick Lamar dances during the music video shoot for “Not Like Us” at Nickerson Gardens on Saturday, June 22, 2024 in Watts, CA. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Watts, CA – June 22: Kendrick Lamar dances during the music video shoot for “Not Like Us” at Nickerson Gardens on Saturday, June 22, 2024 in Watts, CA. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

RZA added that Drake’s attempt to go “bar-for-bar” with K. Dot was ill-advised, continuing, “The battle bar-for-bar was something that was just not good advising on Drake’s camp in the sense of just getting in that fight without really taking some more training for that,” he continued. “When Kendrick wrote the letter to his son or his daughter and to his [mother], Kendrick is going to come like that. Nas, Kendrick, Eminem, Raekwon, certain people are going to break your shit down to the element.”

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The track RZA is referring to is “Meet The Grahams,” one of the many disses exchanged between the two. It followed Drake’s “Family Matters” within 30 minutes of release, essentially neutralizing the affect of Drizzy’s track before it could take hold of the culture. While “Meet The Grahams” was questioned due to Kendrick asserting that Drake has a secret daughter without any proof, it was revered for its storytelling elements and lyrical potency.

The rap veteran did go on to praise Drake as “a powerful artist in our culture,” adding of his contributions to Hip-Hip, “He expanded it with his melodies and he raised a generation too, and you can’t take that away from him. And these two were at the top of the pinnacle at the end of the day.

“Nas and Jay-Z, that’s another good example, but it was tough,” RZA went on. “It took years for them to swallow that pill and then come and shake hands on it. So hopefully it is not the same. Hopefully this generation can take it as fun like how the beginning generation took it more for fun.”

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