Fresh off of the release of "Euphoria," Kendrick Lamar has returned with a second diss against Drake: "6:16 in LA." The title mocks Drake's tracks on If You're Reading This, It's Too Late, which features names like "6PM in New York."
The use of the numbers "6:16" have been widely picked apart online. Netizens across Reddit, Twitter, Rap Genius and TikTok mused on the meaning.
An immediate guess is a dig at Drake's use of an AI version of Tupac Shakur on his recent attempt at a diss, "Taylor Made." Shakur's birthday is June 16, or 6/16. Others saw the black glove on the single's cover art and pointed to June 16, 1994, when OJ Simpson's trial began.
Another "sneak diss" in the date is Father's Day falling on 6/16 this year. On "Euphoria," Lamar repeatedly attacked Drake's parenting, or lack thereof.
"I got a son to raise, but I can see you don't know nothin' 'bout that" quipped Lamar. He continued, rapping "Teachin' him morals, integrity, discipline, listen, man, you don't know nothin' 'bout that."
One Reddit user pointed out the Bible verse Corinithians 6:16, which reads, "Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, 'The two will become one flesh.'" This is presumed to be a reference to Sophie Brussaux, the mother of Drake's child, Adonis, who was once a pornstar. She is now an artist and painter.
"Who am I if I don't go to war?" asks Lamar on "6:61 in LA." His fight against Drake began with his verse on Future and Metro Boomin's "Like That" and has only spiraled further out of control as figures like Rick Ross and Kanye West entered the picture.
Lamar continues to throw punches at Drake over the chilled-out track. "6:16 in LA" lacks the sonic attacks and booming production that "Euphoria" offered, but is nonetheless a compelling, entrancing record.
"Can't toosie slide up out this one," chides Lamar, mocking Drake's song "Toosie Slide," which was seemingly invented just for a TikTok dance.
"Are you finally ready to play have-you-ever? Let's see/Have you ever thought that OVO is workin' for me?/Fake bully, I hate bullies, you must be a terrible person/Everyone inside your team is whispering that you deserve it," raps Lamar. He implies that Drake's label, OVO, is done with him and ready to hang the rapper out to dry.
Lamar concludes the track with a Michael Jackson reference, which is in itself a reference to his own "Like That" verse where he noted that Prince outlived Michael Jackson. In his metaphor, Drake represents Jackson while Lamar is Prince. Drake famously compared himself to Jackson in his J. Cole collaboration, "First Person Shooter."
"It's time that you look around on who's around you/Before you figure that you're not alone, ask what Mike would do," Lamar raps, mocking Drake's affection for the deceased singer.
Lamar also addresses Drake's "Taylor Made" diss, through none other than Jack Antonoff.
Antonoff, perhaps best known for his work with Taylor Swift, threw his hat into the rap beef arena as he co-produced "6:16 in LA." Drake's track's name stems from the rapper's belief that Lamar was too afraid to drop his response to Drake's "Push Ups" because he was afraid of being eclipsed by Taylor Swift releasing The Tortured Poets Department.
How can Lamar be afraid of Swift when he's working with her most well known producer?
Drake hinted at a response track to "Euphoria" when he appeared at Nicki Minaj's Toronto show. He has yet to release a reply to "Euphoria" or "6:16 in LA."
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