Young Thug’s jail calls continue to leak the rapper’s personal thoughts on a variety of topics and individuals at the top of today’s hip hop, such as Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Thug has never been one to temper his opinions, and his latest remarks about Kendrick Lamar cut straight to the heart of hip-hop’s ongoing debate about influence and reach. While reflecting on his 2023 album Business Is Business, the Atlanta rapper drew a sharp line between Kendrick and Drake, suggesting the Compton MC’s selective approach to collaboration has limited his cultural impact.
“You supposed to be a n**** blessing ns,” Thug said of Kendrick. “That’s why these ns will never be bigger than Drake, EVER in life.” The comment underscored a belief that Drake’s reign as rap’s most dominant figure stems not only from chart-topping consistency but also from his willingness to extend his platform to others.
Over the past decade, Drake has elevated peers and newcomers alike, hopping on early records by Migos, Future, and Lil Baby while continuing to cross genres and international borders. Those co-signs often carry artists into wider recognition, while simultaneously fortifying Drake’s own global presence. For Thug, that level of generosity is key to maintaining cultural dominance.
Kendrick, by contrast, has built his legacy on restraint. His features are rare and often purposeful, usually reserved for close collaborators or projects aligned with his vision.
While that approach reinforces his reputation as a meticulous craftsman—backed by a Pulitzer Prize and multiple Grammys—it leaves fewer opportunities for other artists to share in the visibility that a Kendrick verse guarantees. Thug framed that selectiveness as a missed opportunity, a stark contrast to the way Drake has woven himself into nearly every corner of hip-hop’s ecosystem.
The critique also sheds light on Thug’s own reliance on community. Business Is Business, released as he faced ongoing legal battles, leaned heavily on contributions from Drake, Future, and Travis Scott. In Thug’s eyes, Kendrick’s absence from that network speaks volumes about differing philosophies on collaboration and legacy.
More than a personal jab, Thug’s words reignite a larger conversation about what defines greatness in hip-hop today. Is it the ability to craft selective, genre-defining art, as Kendrick has done, or the willingness to expand reach through generosity, as Drake embodies?
For Thug, the answer is clear—and it favors the artist who plays for the culture as much as for himself.
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