It seems that in the world of hip hop, where authenticity and credibility are highly valued, questioning someone’s blackness can have serious implications. Kendrick Lamar’s diss tracks aimed at Drake sparked a heated debate about what it means to be authentically Black in the rap industry, and cultural critic Michael Eric Dyson was quick to criticize Lamar for using Drake’s racial identity against him.
In his column for The Philadelphia Citizen, Dyson expressed his disappointment in the way Lamar chose to attack Drake. He argued that labeling Drake as inauthentically Black was not only unfair but also played into the hands of white supremacist ideologies that seek to police the boundaries of Blackness.
Dyson’s comments highlight a larger issue within the hip hop community – the pressure to conform to a certain image of Blackness in order to be accepted and respected. By questioning Drake’s blackness, Lamar inadvertently perpetuated harmful stereotypes and reinforced the notion that there is only one way to be authentically Black in the music industry.
The debate surrounding Drake’s blackness also raises questions about the intersection of race, nationality, and identity in the world of hip hop. Drake, who is Canadian and of mixed heritage, has faced criticism in the past for not fitting into traditional notions of Blackness. However, his success in the industry and his ability to connect with diverse audiences speak to the complexity and fluidity of identity.
Ultimately, the feud between Lamar and Drake serves as a reminder of the importance of embracing and celebrating diversity within the hip hop community. Instead of tearing each other down based on narrow definitions of blackness, artists should strive to support and uplift one another, recognizing that there is no one-size-fits-all definition of what it means to be authentically Black in the music industry.
