Drake's highly anticipated "It's All A Blur" tour alongside 21 Savage has finally kicked off, igniting a whirlwind of discussions and speculations. However, amidst all the excitement, one particular aspect of the entire experience stood out as the spiciest and potentially consequential moment Drake's subtle diss towards Childish Gambino's powerful anthem, "This Is America," cleverly incorporated into his visuals during the performance.
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It was an impeccably timed move, occurring precisely when Drake was delivering his electrifying rendition of the iconic track, "Headlines." The screen came alive with multiple headlines, one of which read, "The Overrated And Over Awarded Hit Song 'This Is America' Was Originally A Drake Diss Record." The significance of this interaction between two renowned artists cannot be understated, especially when considering their history and the underlying tensions that have occasionally emerged.
Drake calls Childish Gambino's ‘This Is America’ “overrated and over-awarded” in his tour visuals:
— WhatsOnRap (@whatsonrap) July 7, 2023
“The overrated and over-awarded hit song ‘This Is America’ was originally a Drake diss record.”
pic.twitter.com/jxIVlnw2N3
It's truly mind-boggling to contemplate the origins of Childish Gambino's politically charged masterpiece, "This Is America," initially emerging as a diss track aimed at Drake. Such a revelation sparks intrigue and curiosity, shedding light on the creative dynamics within the music industry. After all, Drake is not known for delving extensively into social issues through his music, which, of course, is not necessarily a criticism.
Nevertheless, the conflicting evidence surrounding this incident leaves us in a state of uncertainty regarding the existence of genuine animosity between them. For instance, photographs captured Drake and Childish Gambino together at the esteemed 2018 Vanity Fair Oscars party, hinting at a camaraderie that extends beyond the realm of musical rivalries. It's plausible that they simply enjoy toying with the media outlets that eagerly devour such news, turning it into a playful spectacle.
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Furthermore, Donald Glover, the multifaceted artist behind the moniker Childish Gambino, provided insight into the genesis of "This Is America" during a recent interview with GQ.
In a surprisingly candid confession, Glover shared, “The idea for the song started as a joke, to be completely honest, This is America’- that was all we had, was, like, that line. And it started as a Drake diss, to be honest [laughs], as like, a funny way of, like, doing it. But then I was like, ‘This st sounds kind of hard, though,’ you know? So I was like, ‘Let me play with it.’ So we just had that for a long time.”
Meanwhile, despite any underlying tensions, it is noteworthy that the Canadian superstar made a cameo appearance (albeit in animated and mute form) in Childish Gambino's visually stunning music video for "Feels Like Summer." Additionally, Glover drew inspiration from Drake for an episode of his critically acclaimed series "Atlanta" aptly titled "Champagne Papi." The episode revolves around the character Vanessa attending a party hosted by Drake, blurring the lines between fiction and reality.
Drake himself acknowledged this surreal homage by responding, "This s**t is surreal, I'm too high for this." These instances of collaboration and mutual acknowledgment suggest that perhaps these two artists are not sworn enemies after all; they might simply engage in playful banter, pushing each other to new creative heights. If, however, they genuinely harbor opposing views or emotions, then the question arises – how will Glover respond? Only time will tell.