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The Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud has seemingly reignited the rap game, at least in the eyes of some of hip hop’s pioneers.
Though better known for his acting these days, Ice Cube was a founding member of the legendary group N.W.A. and had his fair share of rap classics and rap beefs.
On Shaquille O’Neal’s The Big Podcast with Shaq, the elder O’Shea Jackson weighed in on the beef du jour, saying that he approves of Drake vs. Kendrick, as long as it doesn’t turn violent.
Mike Marsland/WireImage; Santiago Felipe/Getty; Arturo Holmes/MG23/Getty
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“I approve of the beef,” Cube said. “I always approve of rap battles. That’s the essence of the game.” He then referenced perhaps the first major rap battle, 1981’s Kool Moe Dee vs. Busy Bee, adding that the tradition goes back “even further than that.”
“As long as it doesn’t get physical, ‘cause that’s not rap. When it get physical, that’s just street crime,” the Friday star continued. “So as long as it stay on wax, it’s a beautiful thing.”
As for who’s winning this battle, Cube has his money on Compton. Naturally.
“I think Kendrick is up, I think he’s landed the more hard and effective punches, so to speak,” the 55-year-old said. But he’s not ready to count out Toronto’s own just yet, adding, “If I was Kendrick, I’d stay cocked and loaded, you know, ready for whatever’s coming.”
By most accounts, the battle is over and Lamar has emerged victorious since Drake deleted from his Instagram his final, lackluster addition to the beef, “The Heart Part 6.” And while the feud with Lamar may have tarnished his reputation, and maybe hurt his feelings, Drake remains atop the rap heap, for now. But Ice Cube still sees their beef as a good thing for hip hop in general.
“It’s interesting. To me, it always pumps energy into the music, ‘cause it takes it back to the essence and so, long as it don’t get violent it’s fun,” the “It Was a Good Day” rapper said, but making sure to reiterate, “The minute it get violent, it ain’t rap no more,”