Following his high-profile rap battle with Drake in 2024, Kendrick Lamar has finally shared his perspective, describing it as a competitive sport.
Lamar opened up about his approach in an interview with Apple Music’s Nadeska Alexis and Ebro Darden. While he did not directly mention Drake’s name, he emphasized the importance of preserving hip-hop’s essence.
“My intent from day one was to keep the nature of it as a sport,” he explained. “I think a lot of people were putting rap to the back. You didn’t see that grit. You didn’t see that bite anymore.”
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: SZA to team up with Kendrick Lamar as a guest performer for Super Bowl halftime show
The 37-year-old rapper made it clear that his artistry has always been rooted in the culture’s competitive nature, particularly in battle rap.
“I don’t care how motherf**kas look at it as far as a collaborative effort,” he expressed. “I still watch Smack/URL, from Murda Mook to [Loaded] Lux to Tay Roc. My bro, Daylyt. This has always been the core definition of who I am.”
Reflecting on his song ‘Not Like Us‘, Lamar spoke about its creative process, which involved trial and error. Despite the controversy surrounding it, he expressed gratitude for the support it received. “I love to see that it gets recognition,” he told the audience.
He also shared insights about his ‘GNX’ album.
READ ALSO: Fans laud Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ after dominant win at 2025 Grammys
“I know the meanest and most aggressive individuals, but they can’t express themselves the way they want to, so they resort to other things,” he said. “But I have the tools necessary to communicate it effectively. I gotta make records for them. I gotta make Man at the Garden for them. I gotta make Reincarnated for them because they feel that way, but they cannot project it.”
With the interview taking place ahead of his 2025 Super Bowl performance, Lamar was asked what fans should expect. His answer was simple: “Storytelling.”
“I’ve always been very open about storytelling through all my catalog and my history of music,” he said. “And I’ve always had a passion for bringing that to whatever stage I’m on.”
The 2025 Super Bowl is set for Sunday, February 9, and Lamar recently announced SZA as a guest performer.
READ ALSO: Kendrick Lamar’s net worth 2025: What we know about his fortune ahead of Super Bowl
