Drake reignited the long-simmering debate over lyrical supremacy in rap, this time staking his claim firmly on British soil. During his headlining set at London’s Wireless Festival on Saturday, July 12, the Toronto-born artist made a bold proclamation: the world’s best lyricists hail from London.
“The best lyricists in the world, mark my words. I don’t care what anybody says,” he told the crowd just before bringing out grime legend Skepta. “Nobody can out-rap London. No disrespect to America. No disrespect to my own country. But nobody out-raps London rappers.”
Drake’s statement, delivered with conviction, quickly set off a firestorm online. While fans at Finsbury Park roared in support—especially as Skepta launched into his 2015 anthem “Shutdown”—social media reactions elsewhere were divided. Many pointed to Drake’s own lyrical battles, including his recent loss to Kendrick Lamar, as grounds for skepticism.
“Drake said U.K. rappers are better lyrically than U.S. rappers but couldn’t even get past the guy in L.A.,” one X user posted, referencing the scathing diss tracks that dominated hip-hop discourse earlier this year. Another user sarcastically added, “All those U.S. rappers who were riding for Drake, go ahead and step up now. Defend your boy.”
Drake’s remarks didn’t come out of thin air. The debate was originally sparked by Skepta himself, who recently asserted that British emcees don’t get enough credit for their lyrical depth. His comments reignited a cultural conversation that’s been lingering for years: whether U.K. lyricism is overlooked in favor of its flashier American counterpart.
If Drake was attempting to broker peace by showing respect to London’s rap scene, he may have inadvertently stoked competitive fires. His declaration has drawn fresh battle lines across the Atlantic, especially as British and American artists continue to spar through lyrics.
The timing also feels deliberate. Just one day prior, on Friday, July 11, Skepta fired lyrical shots at Massachusetts rapper Joyner Lucas on the track “Friendly Fire.” By Sunday, Lucas had hinted at a possible response, writing, “Say less, my boy,” on X, implying that he might take the bait.
As rap fans brace for a new round of lyrical jousts, one thing is clear: Drake’s words have added fuel to a transatlantic rivalry that shows no signs of slowing. Whether the best rhymes come from Brooklyn or Brixton remains up for debate—but for now, London has the floor.
Leave a Reply