Rakim: Drake & Kendrick Lamar Battle Was ‘Very Needed’

Rakim believes that the recent battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar was a significant moment for Hip Hop, one that “put a lot of things in perspective.”

During an interview in Billboard published on Friday (July 26), writer Angel Diaz asked the God MC if he’d been following the feud. Diaz framed it as Drizzy symbolizing the “mainstream” for many fans, while K.Dot represented the genre in a more traditional sense.

This perspective elicited a thoughtful response from Ra.

“I think that [the battle] was important, because these brothers are at the top of the game, and revered in hip-hop,” he replied. “You know, a lot of people in that position won’t accept any challenge, because they have too much to lose. So, it was incredible that these brothers put their mainstream success aside and said, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’

“The battle put a lot of things in perspective — it showed the difference between real hip-hop and mainstream hip-hop,” Rakim continued. “Younger artists now understand that there’s a distinction. Many of them didn’t even recognize that before.

“They just listened to what was popular, not realizing that many people don’t categorize what they were hearing as real hip-hop. This battle was very necessary for the genre. I tip my hat to those brothers.”

Rakim, who is often reclusive, has been conducting interviews lately to promote his new album, G.O.D’s Network – REB7RTH, his first since 2009’s The Seventh Seal.

Although the God MC provides vocals—both verses and hooks—on six of the project’s seven songs, his primary role on the album was not as a rapper but as a producer. He also contributed scratches.

“I always was attached to making beats,” Ra told Grammy.com. “But I reached a point where I’m confident with my production skills. I got the opportunity to produce the album and jumped at it.”

G.O.D’s Network — REB7RTH features numerous guest artists, including Kurupt, Masta Killa, Method Man, and B.G. Additionally, there are contributions from four deceased rappers, thanks to executive producer Matt “M80” Markoff.

Nipsey Hussle, Fred the Godson, and Prodigy all have rhymes on the album, while DMX makes an appearance through a prayer. All of the vocals, according to Markoff, were “in my stash or under my ownership.”