The web is buzzing proper now, and now we have Drake and Kendrick Lamar on the heart of it. Ever since their rap beef resurfaced on the web, everybody has stored their ears to the bottom eagerly awaiting the discharge of the following diss monitor. Notably, Drake and Kendrick have been concerned in a rap feud because the early 2010s however it wasn’t till the discharge of “First Individual Shooter,” a monitor on Drake’s “For All of the Canines” album that includes J. Cole final October, that every one hell broke free. In a single verse, Cole advised that he, Drake, and Kendrick had been the “huge three” of the present period of hip-hop
Nevertheless, the feud escalated in March 2024 after the premiere of “Like That” by Future, Metro Boomin, and Kendrick. On this monitor, Kendrick ripped into Cole and Drake for suggesting they’re on the identical degree. (Cole has since copped out of the feud). And, as anticipated, the fan base of Drake and Kendrick Lamar have gone above and past on social media, evaluating the rappers to resolve who reigns supreme.
At this level, nothing is off the desk. Each rappers have gone at one another, monitor after monitor, however what significantly piqued our curiosity was a diss monitor Kendrick launched on April 30, titled “Euphoria,” a attainable reference to the HBO TV present of the identical identify the place Drake is an govt producer. Right here, Kendrick calls himself Drake’s “largest hater,” earlier than unleashing a tirade on the music. Nevertheless, a lyric that significantly stood out to us was when he rapped, “…I hate the way in which that you just costume.”
We’ve heard sufficient lyrical comparisons between Drake and Kendrick to final a decade! Let’s speak about their model…
“I’m best-dressed transferring ahead,” Kendrick Lamar proclaimed on “The Hillbillies,” a 2023 monitor that includes Child Keem. It wouldn’t usually be referred to as into query when a rapper boasts about being fashionable, however it’s within the case of Kendrick, who has brazenly declared his hate for Drake’s model of dressing.
Though Drake has made it clear he isn’t obsessive about trend in his music “Finesse,” by which he raps, “Style week is extra your factor than mine,” the Canadian rapper is aware of effortlessly pull off dandy appears. The late Virgil Abloh mentioned so himself in a 2019 interview with Vogue, “Drake is the head of up to date artists and has the ability set to create an surroundings fulfilled by his set design. These traits assist an ideal palette to create compelling new males’s silhouettes.”
Each Drake and Kendrick are undisputed icons within the rap sport. However in terms of their wardrobes, the similarities are simply as attention-grabbing as their variations. Certain, there are the core hip-hop staples that bind them, akin to hoodies, graphic tees, baseball caps, and sneakers. This retains them rooted within the style whereas permitting room to showcase their distinctive model.
Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake: A trend showdown
Kendrick typically sports activities a extra minimalist aesthetic, sticking to impartial colours and easy silhouettes, whereas, Drake tends to experiment with bolder prints and colours. Nevertheless, they’ve each been recognized to rock high-end designer items. Kendrick has been noticed in Chanel, Gucci, and Prada, whereas Drake has a penchant for manufacturers like Moncler and Burberry.
The distinction in Drake’s and Kendrick’s model, nevertheless, goes past the superficial. One might consider Drake as a chameleon who adapts his look to remain related and trendy. He’s extra curated and trend-driven, typically rocking the newest designer items and seeming to take inspiration from numerous sources, together with UK grime trend.
Alternatively, Kendrick pushes the boundaries together with his intentional strategy. His model feels extra private and genuine, reflecting his West Coast roots. His trend decisions appear much less about chasing traits and extra about expressing his character.
The early days (2011-2015)
Began from the underside: Drake
Throughout his early years within the highlight, Drake’s private model was understandably not the rave amongst trend critics, however it was definitely recognizable and match the picture he was cultivating as a younger rapper on the rise. He captured the zeitgeist of the occasions, evolving his model alongside his music.
Drake’s trend sense was closely influenced by the colourful hip-hop scene in his hometown of Toronto. He embraced a streetwear aesthetic, typically pairing graphic tees, hoodies, and baseball caps with darkish denim and sneakers. Drake’s love for luxurious manufacturers additionally started to emerge throughout this era, as he began incorporating items from labels like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Burberry into his ensembles. His collaboration with the OVO (October’s Very Personal) model, which he co-founded, additionally started to form his model presently.
Rooted in Compton: Kendrick
In his early appearances, coinciding with the discharge of his debut album “Part.80” in 2011, Kendrick’s trend decisions had been ingrained in Compton’s hip-hop tradition. His model embodied a laid-back West Coast vibe, that includes outsized jerseys, saggy denims, and traditional sneakers. In truth, Kendrick was already carrying Pyrex Imaginative and prescient hoodies weeks after Virgil Abloh launched the model within the early 2010s. He was devoted to aesthetics that resonated together with his dedication to authenticity. “I ain’t rockin’ no extra designer shit, White T’s and Nike Cortez, this crimson Corvette’s nameless,” Kendrick declared on Large Sean’s 2013 monitor “Management.”
Sticking by his phrase, Kendrick’s appears usually steered away from huge model logos or ostentatious items from luxurious homes. For example, the outfit he wore for the premiere of The Superb Spider-Man 2 is a testomony to this: a Levi’s denim T-shirt, denims, a New York Yankees baseball cap, and naturally, a pair of all-white Chuck Taylor’s, protecting his model true to the West Coast.
With time passing, Kendrick started incorporating bucket hats and Champion attire, along with the affect of the California gangster aesthetic. Nevertheless, following the discharge of “To Pimp a Butterfly” in 2015, his trend advanced. He embraced Afrofuturism, typically incorporating African prints, blazers with dashikis, and different eclectic parts into his wardrobe.
Rise to stardom (2016-2020)
Type freestyle: Drake
Undeniably, Drake likes to experiment with a variety of appears till he finds what works. This strategy permits him to embrace a extra numerous vary of kinds, together with athleisure matches, classic finds, and high-fashion fits. Take Drake on the 2019 Grammys, the place he accepted the award for Finest Rap Music, donning a customized Tom Ford that included a gray windowpane go well with, a retro turtleneck, and a diamond necklace.
Following the discharge of his critically acclaimed album “Views,” Drake continued his love affair with streetwear, however with an elevated contact. He changed fundamental tees and hoodies with high-end labels like Off-White and Stone Island. However he didn’t cease there. He collaborated with Jordan Model for the OVOXO x Jordan assortment to create unique items that showcased his private model and love for trend.
Threads of rise up: Kendrick
Gone are the saggy garments of Kendrick’s earlier years. With a give attention to the rising Black designers on the time, Kendrick adopted graphic tees with relaxed tailoring. His trend decisions mirrored the rebellious spirit of his critically acclaimed album “DAMN.” This era marked a shift in direction of a extra laid-back but subtle look, reflecting his inventive maturity and evolving character.
Moreover, Kendrick’s involvement within the “Black Panther” soundtrack of 2018 introduced forth a brand new dimension to his trend model. Influenced by the regal and Afrofuturistic themes of the film, he integrated royal headwear and cultural references into his apparel.
A contender for the model crown (2021-Current)
Drake’s model
From his early days to this point, Drake has persistently demonstrated his impeccable style in trend. He has transitioned from beaming ear-to-ear in bar mitzvah to donning high-end denim and luxurious coordination. Right now, Drake is thought to rock puffer coats and shearling jackets by main trend homes like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, and most particularly Tom Ford.
“For Drake, Tom Ford has change into a second pores and skin,” says Drake’s stylist Mellany Sanchez about his 2019 Grammys look. “It’s a model he wears extra typically than he wears sportswear, extra typically than he wears the rest. It’s a model that he lives in.”
Currently, Drake has developed an affinity for the saggy look. This isn’t shocking since he’s recognized for notoriously hopping on trend traits as they pop on his radar. He has equally been noticed experimenting with stacks of knickknack.
Kendrick’s model
Whereas Kendrick isn’t usually put into the identical highlight in terms of trend, in comparison with artists like Tyler, the Creator and Playboi Carti, he has pulled off some nice matches inside the previous decade. On the sixtieth Annual Grammy Awards, Kendrick carried out carrying an archival Craig Inexperienced jacket from the British designer’s Spring/Summer season 2015 assortment.
As well as, on the Pepsi Tremendous Bowl LVI Halftime Present in 2022, he arrived in a Louis Vuitton go well with from Virgil Abloh’s Fall/Winter 2022 assortment, paired with jewellery from Tiffany & Co. This wasn’t the primary time Tiffany & Co. got here via for Kendrick. For his “Mr. Morale & The Large Steppers” album, the jewellery firm made him a crown of thorns, embellished with 8000 diamonds. It was, and nonetheless is, Kendrick’s most iconic trend assertion.
We might be remiss to not point out Kendrick’s go-to designers who he name-drops on “The Hillbillies”: Grace Wales Bonner (“I ain’t even gotta truth examine, all I’m carrying is Wales Bonner”) and Martine Rose (“Put on Martine after I board jets”). Any true fan of Kendrick would know he loves carrying Martin Rose. The London-based label was largely chargeable for the matches he opted for within the Hillbillies music video.
Kings in their very own proper
Drake and Kendrick Lamar characterize two distinct ends of the hip-hop trend spectrum. Drake, the trendsetter, drips in designer labels. Whereas, Kendrick, the acutely aware artist, prioritizes consolation and goal over flash. But, each deserve recognition as kings of their respective realms. Drake’s affect on mainstream trend is simple, whereas Kendrick makes use of clothes as a robust instrument for social commentary.
So, who’s the king of trend? The reply lies in your perspective. Do you worth trendsetting swagger or purposeful expression? In the end, Drake and Kendrick Lamar remind us that trend, like music, is a type of private expression. They might rule completely different kingdoms, however each reign supreme in their very own sphere.
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