Jun 13, 2019; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Recording artist Drake reacts to play as he joins Toronto Raptors fans to cheer on their team in the NBA Finals against Golden State Warriors at the Jurassic Park watch party at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports via Imagn Images
Twitter’s trending rap topic of the week circled back around to this three-part marathon.
No matter whose side you’re on, there are solid reasons for picking pretty much any track from the Kendrick Lamar and Drake battle as its best. Thanks to some recent viral discussions and trending takes, fans on Twitter are particularly debating the worth, longevity, impact, and quality of Drizzy’s “Family Matters,” his three-part onslaught and the longest cut out of any feud release. Many OVO fans are happy to see it getting the love it deserves, although K.Dot supporters quickly reminded them that the Toronto superstar was dealing with a different beast. Some pointed to the song’s lyrical achievements, the multi-faceted attacks at various rappers, or how the West Coast tried to claim victory quickly with “Not Like Us” and, of course, the “meet the grahams” surprise.
Did “Family Matters” Age Well? Drake & Kendrick Lamar Fans Debate
As such, fans still have a lot of Kendrick Lamar and Drake material to talk about, but nothing quite matches up to that late April and early May stretch. Maybe die-hards want to reemphasize a musical focus amid contentious legal petitions and Internet narratives. We’d much rather see that at the forefront, even if it indulges in some revisionist battle history here and there. As great as “Family Matters” is, its context and actual impact in the moment works to its detriment, whether you agree with that sentiment or not.
Meanwhile, it seems like we will have more Drake music very soon, so fans will not have to reminisce on previous drops for much longer. This week, he once again teased his upcoming collab album with PARTYNEXTDOOR. As for Kendrick Lamar, his GNX rollout and upcoming performances continue his victory lap, but that trophy-raising doesn’t fully take away from the strength of “Family Matters” as a song.