Beyond the bars: What the Kendrick-Drake beef says about pop culture
In 2024 and early 2025, the music industry witnessed one of the most high-profile rap feuds in recent memory: Drake vs Kendrick Lamar.
What began as subtle jabs and veiled shots escalated into a lyrical arms race that captivated fans, flooded social media, and reshaped the modern hip-hop landscape.
But beyond the headline-grabbing diss tracks, this beef tapped into something deeper - the enduring power of rap battles to shape not just the genre, but pop culture as a whole, writes Music News Blitz’s Lamiya Huda.
The Grand National Tour: New records broken for Kendrick Lamar and SZA
Kendrick Lamar and SZA started their Grand National Tour on April 19, 2025, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, following their collaboration on the Super Bowl LIX halftime show and their history of working together to make music.
The kick-off to the tour was an overwhelming success from the first night by breaking the record of the highest-grossing Hip-Hop concert of all time, replacing Eminem’s earlier record in 2019.
It has been reported by Touring Data that the show grossed over $9.1 million with over 47,000 fans who paid an average of $192.70 per ticket, more than the $8.7 million made by Eminem previously.
J Cole is getting more personal than ever on The Fall Off
J. Cole's upcoming album, The Fall Off, is shaping up to be a deeply personal and lyrically rich project, according to insights from producer DZL.
In a recent interview, DZL - who collaborated with Cole on the 2024 mixtape Might Delete Later - shared that the album will showcase "top-tier raps" and offer listeners a more intimate look into Cole's life.