Drake-Lamar rap feud: You can’t place Lamar above Drake, says M. I. | The Guardian Nigeria News

Nigerian rapper Jude Lemfani Abaga, popularly known as M.I. Abaga or simply M.I., has weighed in on the ongoing hip-hop battle between American rap icon Kendrick Lamar and Canadian superstar Drake.

He revealed that he resonates with Drake’s current struggles, recalling a time when the Nigerian rap community unfairly labelled him “boring” despite his contributions to the industry. M.I. firmly stated that no one should place Kendrick Lamar above Drake.

Speaking on Afropolitan, the Crowd Mentality hitmaker noted that Drake’s potential comeback could redefine his career and cement his dominance in hip-hop.

“If Drake is able to make a comeback, it will elevate him above everyone. Because not just the music industry, but also tech boys, everybody came and danced on his ‘grave,’” M.I stated.

He further emphasised Drake’s storytelling prowess, asserting that if anyone could craft a powerful comeback album, it would be him.

Reflecting on Kendrick Lamar’s rise in the rap hierarchy, M.I admitted that while he didn’t initially rank the To Pimp a Butterfly rapper among his top 10, recent events have propelled him into at least the top three.

“Kendrick wasn’t in my top 10 before this moment. But I think this has put Kendrick, at the very least, in the top 3. I don’t see how, objectively, you can place Kendrick above Drake just because they were active at the same time. Drake was consistently dropping hits for 15 years. You can’t deny what Drake has done,” he said.

The veteran rapper acknowledged that the hip-hop faceoff was both intense and entertaining, giving credit to both Kendrick and Drake for delivering a spectacle that had fans worldwide glued to their screens.

M.I, often regarded as one of Nigeria’s greatest rappers, has had a career spanning over two decades, influencing the growth of hip-hop in Africa. With multiple awards and a discography filled with classics like Talk About It, The Chairman, and Illegal Music, he continues to shape the industry with his lyrical prowess and thought-provoking narratives.