The ongoing feud between rap giants Drake and Kendrick Lamar is having unintended consequences on the hip-hop genre, according to social media personality DJ Akademiks. During a recent livestream, Akademiks suggested that the rivalry has stalled the progression of hip-hop by keeping media narratives stagnant.
“During the Drake vs Kendrick beef, numbers went crazy, biggest money period of my career, I’m sure it was the same for other media outlets too,” he stated, as captured in a clip shared by CY Chels on X. He emphasized that the media’s focus on this conflict has led to a lack of new storytelling in the genre. “Hip-hop runs on storytelling, not just sound. When media keeps recycling one beef, it stops building new narratives, new stars, and new moments,” he explained.
Akademiks has previously highlighted the long-term impact of the feud on hip-hop’s evolution. His remarks come amid speculation about Drake‘s future projects, including his upcoming album, tentatively titled ICEMAN, which is expected to be released in 2026.
In an interview with VladTV last October, Akademiks advised Drake to refrain from mentioning Kendrick in his new album. He argued that continuing the feud serves little purpose for Drake’s career at this stage. “When I mean leave him alone, we’ve got to leave the moment. There’s no more direct engaging. There ain’t no more with diss songs. It’s over,” he stated.
Akademiks elaborated on Drake’s position, suggesting that further conflict with Kendrick or any other rappers would yield no benefits. “In any of these situations, you have nothing to gain. Would you go on a business deal you got nothing to gain?” he queried.
According to Akademiks, Drake’s career is already established, making further engagement in feuds unnecessary. “When you look at Drake’s career as a whole, why would he engage? It’s over. He’s already solidified,” he concluded.
As anticipation builds for Drake’s next album, fans and industry insiders alike are keen to see how the evolving dynamics between the artists will influence the future of hip-hop.
