Jay-Z sat down for a rare interview withGQthat was published on Tuesday (March 24), which marks the rap legend’s first cover story in nearly a decade.
Among the myriad topics discussed was Hov’s take on whether hip-hop has surpassed the need for rap battles, as he pointed to things getting taken too far in the blockbuster Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud in 2024.
“I love the sparring and the music you get, but in this day and age, it’s so much negative stuff that comes with it, you almost wish it didn’t happen,” he said. “Now people that like Kendrick hate Drake no matter what he makes … It’s like an attack on his character and I don’t know if I love that, I don’t know if it’s helpful to our growth, where the fallout lands … It’s too far.”
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At 56 years old, Jay admits his age may be influencing his opinion on growing from rap feuds, as he’s long matured from the days of sparring with Nas well over two decades ago.
“Maybe I’ve grown in a space where I sound like the old guy wagging the finger,” Jay said. “I think we can achieve the same thing, as far as sparring with music, with collaborations more so than breaking the whole thing apart.”
The Brooklyn icon doesn’t appreciate fans taking things too far by bringing family and kids into the battles. With social media omnipresent, he also doesn’t think that fans can move on from battles properly.
“It’s too far. It’s bringing people’s kids in it. I don’t like that,” he added. “It takes up so much oxygen, it’s like trying to tear down people’s lives. I don’t know if it’s worth it at this point.”
Jay finished with a pointed message about rap battles: “I don’t know if battling needs to be part of the culture anymore.”
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Kendrick rode the momentum from his feud with Drake into a Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2025, which Hov plays an integral role in helping select each year’s halftime performer. However, that selection wasn’t made to undermine his “Light Up” collaborator.
“I chose the guy that was having a monster year. I think it was the right choice. It wasn’t in some sort of alliance to a battle,” he said. “Not just me, they drag everybody in there like everyone’s part of this conspiracy to undermine Drake. Like what? I’m f–king Hov!”
Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” diss served as the killshot in his 2024 battle with Drake. The Mustard-produced anthem went on to top the Billboard Hot 100 and broke the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart, while also collecting Grammy Awards for record of the year and song of the year.
