Snoop Dogg Praises Drake and Kendrick Lamar for Raising the Bar Amid Rap Feud. Snoop Dogg has commended both Drake and Kendrick Lamar for their contributions to the rap genre amidst their ongoing feud. The legendary rapper, known for his laid-back demeanor and diplomatic stance, expressed his admiration for the way the rivalry has intensified the lyrical and songwriting standards in hip-hop.
In an interview with Entertainment Tonight published on May 28, Snoop, 52, emphasized his neutral position regarding the feud but acknowledged the positive impact it has had on the industry.
“The only thing I want to say about that whole scenario is that I want to give both of them a shoutout for raising the bar as far as lyrics, as far as song-making and writing,”
Snoop stated. “Those are my nephews. I’m not in the middle of it. I support both of them and that’s personal business, not my business.”
Snoop’s praise comes in light of a series of diss tracks exchanged between Drake, 37, and Kendrick Lamar, 36, which have reignited their longstanding rivalry. The conflict dates back to 2013 when Lamar criticized Drake in his verse on Big Sean’s “Control.” Over the years, the two have exchanged subtle disses, but tensions reached a peak in March 2024 with the release of multiple diss tracks featuring accusations of domestic abuse and sexual assault.
In his remarks, Snoop highlighted the rivalry’s effect on the rap community. “They made you rap again,” he said, alluding to a shift away from the recent trend of mumble rap. “You can’t mumble your way and gimmick your way to a song no more, buddy. So, thank y’all.”
Drake’s latest release, “Taylor Made Freestyle,” further fueled the fire. The track featured AI-generated verses mimicking Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur, aiming pointed lyrics at Lamar. The faux Snoop rapped lines like, “But still, you gotta show this f—king owl who’s boss on the West / Now’s a time to really make a power move,” and, “World is watching this chess game, but are you out of moves? / Dot, you know that the D-O-G never f—king doubted you /But right now it seem like you posted up without a clue of what the f—k you ’bout to do.”
Snoop took to social media to express his bewilderment over the AI verses, sharing a humorous video on Instagram. “They did what? When? How? Are you sure?” he joked. “Y’all have a good night and to all … Why everybody calling my phone, blowing me up? What the f—k? What happened? What’s going on?” He added in the caption,
Other prominent musicians have also weighed in on the feud, offering diverse perspectives. Stevie Wonder told TMZ earlier in the month that “any kind of war is bad for the world” and criticized the distraction it creates from more pressing global issues such as ongoing wars and homelessness. “I just think that the world needs to focus on what’s going on, because those things are just distractions,” Wonder said.
Similarly, Questlove expressed his dismay on Instagram, stating, “This wasn’t about skill. This was a wrestling match level mudslinging and takedown by any means necessary — women & children (& actual facts) be damned,” he wrote. “Same audience wanting blood will soon put up ‘RIP’ posts like they weren’t part of the problem. Hip-hop is truly dead.”
Despite the controversy, Snoop Dogg’s endorsement underscores the elevated standards in rap music brought about by the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud. As the genre evolves, these clashes, while contentious, push artists to hone their craft and elevate their lyrical prowess.
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