Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track Secret Revealed
A new analysis of Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss track "euphoria" reveals a hidden detail: reversed audio on the track samples a Richard Pryor line from the film *The Wiz*. The discovery highlights the lyrical depth of the feud, as Lamar also recently delivered a commencement address at Compton College urging independent thinking.
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake escalated significantly in 2024, but their rivalry dates back over a decade to 2013. It began when Lamar, on Big Sean's track "Control," called out several rappers, including Drake, proclaiming himself the best. Though once collaborators on tracks like "Poetic Justice," this verse marked a turning point from friendly competition to a more pointed rivalry. The reversed audio on "euphoria" samples Richard Pryor from *The Wiz*, where his character admits, "Everything they say about me is true. I'm a phony." This choice is a direct jab at Drake's authenticity, a central theme of Lamar's critiques. The film connection is layered, as Drake has often compared himself to Michael Jackson, who starred as the Scarecrow in that same movie. Lamar's six-minute track "euphoria" was a direct response to Drake's "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle." In his song, Lamar methodically deconstructs Drake's persona, questioning his racial identity, his use of slang, and his standing in the hip-hop community. The song's title itself is a dig, referencing the teen drama series *Euphoria*, on which Drake is an executive producer, to allude to critiques about his interactions with younger women. Days after "euphoria," Lamar released "6:16 in LA," alleging that members of Drake's own OVO camp were feeding him information. This was followed in rapid succession by Drake's "Family Matters," where he accused Lamar of domestic abuse, and Lamar's immediate, darker response, "Meet the Grahams." The battle reached a fever pitch with Lamar's "Not Like Us," which made serious accusations against Drake and his associates. Amidst this lyrical warfare, Lamar's commencement speech at Compton College struck a contrasting tone. He urged graduates to "change the narratives" and championed the power of independent thought, telling them, "You have the heart and the courage to be independent thinkers. There's nothing more valuable than that." He spoke about overcoming personal hardship and representing his community with pride on a global stage.
