Well, somebody was bound to say it and we guess it had to Ye… The Yeezy boss is once again stirring the pot by casting doubt on Kendrick Lamar’s cultural credibility and reigniting questions about authenticity in the intersection of hip-hop and pop. Never one to keep quiet, the outspoken artist has recently set his sights on Lamar, taking a subtle yet pointed jab that also nods to his infamous history with Taylor Swift.
In a not-so-cryptic social media post, Ye appeared to question Lamar’s artistic choices, specifically referencing the Compton rapper’s 2015 collaboration with Swift on her Bad Blood remix—a move that helped Swift expand her reach into hip-hop-adjacent territory.
“I know that Kendrick did not like Taylor Swift dancing to the A minor line,” Ye wrote. “How is that ‘culture’?”
The remark, vague depending on how you look at it but unmistakable in its intent, seems to critique not only the visual of Swift dancing to a line in minor key—perhaps during one of her live performances—but also Kendrick’s role in supporting what Ye views as a dilution of hip-hop authenticity. Lamar had recently re-recorded his verse for Swift’s re-released version of Bad Blood, a part of her larger effort to reclaim her masters.
Get this, Ye’s swipe isn’t just about the song; it’s layered. It calls into question Lamar’s position as a guardian of cultural integrity while resurfacing Ye’s long-standing tension with Swift. This rivalry began with the infamous 2009 MTV VMAs incident and has evolved into a decade-long media saga.
Beyond the personal tea, Ye’s critique touches a broader nerve in the music world: the ongoing debate over how hip-hop interacts with mainstream pop and whether those collaborations elevate or dilute the culture.
Say what you want about Ye, and his wild, and often extremely offensive commentary, at least he posts what he’s thinking and not what the narrative says he should post.