A recent Instagram post has sparked much speculation about Drake going on tour in the United States. The post captioned “Coming to a city near you,” amassed 1.1 million likes.
However, he has been known to dislike America, noting that the first time he had ever experienced racism was in the U.S.. Drake had explained that many question his ability to speak about the Black American struggle, citing that it’s due to his half Jewish ancestry and Canadian beginnings. After the Grammys, Drake criticized the Recording Academy for placing his song, “Hotline Bling,” in a rap category despite it being pop, alleging that it was only placed that way due to stereotypes with people of the same race being known for rap music.
Additionally, since Drake is only half Black, many view him as a ‘culture vulture,’ aiming to use Black American culture for his own benefit and to further his career. Drake is subject to the criticisms of many, some including Kendrick Lamar, who is known to have repeatedly called him a ‘white boy’ in his song, Champagne Moments, which is a diss track against Drake.
Lamar accuses Drake of lacking authenticity in his career, arguing that it is not possible for him to accurately represent his people as a biracial Canadian from a middle class Jewish household.
In his song “Euphoria,” Lamar suggests that Drake relies on collaborators to sharpen his credibility, rapping, “How many more Black features ‘till you feel black enough,” and “You not a colleague, you a colonizer.”
Drake has responded with lyrics that reflect the tension he feels with his cultural identity and America, some lyrics including: “Black America love to remind me what my mama look like / As if I’d ever forget.” and “I used to get teased for being Black / and now I’m here and I’m not Black enough.”
The debate continues into the present, with many critics pointing out his use of Black slang and street narratives that may not be from Drake’s own lived experience.
For some, Drake’s success proves that hip-hop is global and fluid, but for others, his career raises questions about who gets to claim authenticity in a culture born from struggles.
As Drake hints at his next tour, the question remains whether the public and fellow rappers will focus on his music or his complicated place in music culture.
