Stephen A. Smith Says Drake And Kendrick Lamar’s Beef Is Most Personal In Hip-Hop History
Stephen A. Smith has voiced his displeasure with Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s personal attacks against each other amid their ongoing rap beef, stating that both emcees have crossed the line.
On Tuesday (May 7), during an episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the sports pundit weighed in on the heated war of words between both parties. Smith, a native of Hollis, Queens, made it clear that he’s familiar with rhyme wars between Hip-Hop artists, citing battles between the likes of Nas and JAY-Z, and LL Cool J and Kool Moe Dee, but feels that the content on each artist’s diss records are too incendiary.
“I’m not gonna repeat a single lyric either of them has said,” the ESPN First Take analyst said during the broadcast. “What I’m gonna tell you is that pedophilia has been mentioned talking about who’s screwing who and all of this other stuff, talking about people’s family members, people’s family structure and all… come on, y’all.”
Smith continued, adding that although the culture has witnessed numerous spats between rap stars, the level of vitriol waged in this particular battle is unprecedented. “We’ve seen all of this stuff, but not like this,” he lamented. “Not like this.”
The 56-year-old expressed his belief that the focus should be on Kendrick and Drake’s skill level as artists rather than their personal lives. “At the end of the day, what we’re looking for is to see who’s the best lyricist. Who’s the person with the lyrics, along with the beat, that can turn some stuff out in a way the other that they’re competing with cannot,” he continued.
“Even in the movie 8 Mile, where they’re cussing at each other and going off you don’t see ’em doing this type of sh*t. It’s excessive.”
Smith also warned that Lamar’s assertion that Drake is a “pedophile” could potentially result in a lawsuit, as the claim could constitute as defamation of character is proven untrue. “First of all, we don’t know whatever level of truth there is to any of it, but secondly, true or not, how is that our business? And if you’re going as far as to call a brother a pedophile, like Kendrick Lamar did with Drake, hell, you could be talking lawsuit.”
While the barbs between both hitmakers have wandered belowed the below the belt, the bestselling author believes that the discord between the two will remain on wax and not result in physical or deadly confrontations.
“Now, both of them are known in the industry as not being of that ilk where they’re take it to the street and violence is gonna occur, thank God for that. We don’t need that. And if you’re going at it lyrically, yeah, but there’s still lines that can’t be crossed,” he added.
Smith further expressed his reverence for Drake and Kendrick, but questions whether the price of their verbal war is one they’re willing to pay. “This can’t be for the money, this is personal. And I ain’t gonna lie, it’s making both of them look bad,” he said.
See Stephen A. Smith weigh in on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef below.
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