Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria”: A Deep Dive into the Diss Track Phenomenon
Rivalries tend to spawn some of hip-hop’s most interesting music, and in the fast moving world of hip hop that is a very good thing. For instance, Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 release titled Euphoria directly targets fellow rapper Drake as a diss track. Besides fueling their already ongoing beef, this track also revealed Lamar’s lyricism and his artistry at its strategic best.
Background of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake Feud
The beef between both Drake and Kendrick Lamar stretches back to 2013 when Lamar referred to Drake on his verse on Big Sean calling him out among other rappers in a competitive spirit. This rivalry between the two simmered over the years and the two artists would take subtle jabs towards each other in their music. However, despite these collisions, they didn’t seem interested in harming one another … until 2024.
In April 2024, Drake released diss tracks Push Ups and Taylor Made Freestyle that contained implied criticism of Lamar. In retaliation, Kendrick Lamar released ‘Euphoria’ on April 30, 2024, further kicking up the lyrical battle between the two.
Release and Reception of “Euphoria”
Unexpectedly, through YouTube, “Euphoria” was released to fans and the industry. The song quickly went viral, becoming the most streamed day for a hip hop song in 2024 on Spotify with 9.2 million streams on day one.
The Source
The sharp lyricism and directness of the track was lauded by critics. Lamar methodically dismantled Drake’s persona in the song, with the song’s structure divided into three distinct parts aiding greatly.
Analyzing the Lyrics of “Euphoria”
The track kicks off with its backing vocals coming from the 1978 ‘The Wiz’ where the character says, ‘Everything they say about me is true.’ I’m a phony.” This indicates that the image Drake has built for himself is a façade so the tone is set for this song.
In “Euphoria,” Lamar mentions several aspects of Drake’s career and personal life.
Lamar lies: Drake is an artistic scam, and not a real artist, as he has been successful only on the basis of scam.
Influence of the industry: He comments on Drake’s hold on the music industry and writes that it kills anything that is considered art form.
Lamar Attacks Drake personally by mentioning things such as the many allegations of inappropriate behavior, and whether or not he has fathered a child or not.
The beat itself changes in intensity, matching the ever rising tension in the lyrics, but it all adds up to these very pointed critiques over a dynamic beat.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
“Euphoria,” had a substantial affect on popular culture and hip-hop community. It spread like wildfire and ignited the conversation about authenticity in rap, industry rivalries, personal boundaries artists are willing to cross in their music, and more.
The title of the song is a direct reference to HBO series Euphoria, for which Drake acted as a producer. This too is another layer to an ongoing diss and the implications are that Drake being a part of the series is another one of his false fronts.
After the EP came out, Drake quoted a clip from the film 10 Things I Hate About You where there’s a poem with it sounding quite similar when compared towards Lamar’s lyrics. For many this was not a direct rebuttal but rather a deflection.
FAQs.
1. Why is the title of this film called ‘Euphoria’?
The name Euphoria is twofold. Taking references from the HBO series by the same name for which Drake is one of the executive producers, this one seems to be a critique’ of his forays into areas other than music. Moreover, the word “euphoria” means an extreme state of joyfulness and ironically refers to the image of Drake he puts forth to the public.
2. How did “Euphoria” perform commercially?
When “Euphoria” was released, it became the biggest streaming day on Spotify for a hip hop song on 2024 with over 9.2 million streams. It also became number one Spotify in the US charts and Number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 then Number 3.
3. How did Drake reply to “Euphoria” ?
In response, Drake implied as much by uploading a short video of the poem from the film. This time, his_users__ liked it, and his followers agreed. For many, this move was seen as a deflection and not a direct rebuttal to Lamar’s critiques.
4. Did “Euphoria” receive any awards?
Though “Euphoria” itself did not receive awards, the accolades afterwards set the stage for the next release (Grammy awards to the track “Not Like Us” and the wins for Record of the Year and Song of the Year).
5. What did Kendrick Lamar do to their career from ‘Euphoria’?
Lamar solidified his reputation as a formidable lyricist unafraid to call out peers in “Euphoria.” Subsequently, the success of the track and the ensuing discussions cemented him as one of the leading figures in current hip-hop.
6. How much of an influence did ‘Euphoria’ have on the hip hop community?
When “Euphoria” came out the debates of authenticity, rivalry and personal boundaries in hip hop was once again aroused. The diss track caused artists and fans to ponder the essence of diss tracks and the morality of airing personal beef with music.
Conclusion
Kendrick Kendrick’s Lamar’s “Euphoria” is a landmark in the hip-hop diss track arena for its direct addressing of another artist and its intricate lyricism that commented on society. The track is a perfect example of how powerful the medium of music can be for expressing personal feelings and questioning society, cementing Lamar as one of the most important voices in modern rap.