During a recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” Dua Lipa made her hosting debut and tackled the intriguing world of hip-hop rivalries. Lipa, taking on the role of Wanda Weems, a local culture critic, in a sketch on the fictional “Good Morning Greenville” show, provided a humorous yet insightful analysis of the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
Against a backdrop of photos of Drake and Kendrick Lamar connected by red yarn, Lipa dove into the latest diss tracks exchanged between the two rap giants. With her character’s quirky charm, Lipa dissected Lamar’s “Euphoria” and Drake’s “Push Ups” tracks, uncovering supposed revelations and adding a playful twist to the feud’s narrative.
The sketch served as a lighthearted nod to the recent spate of diss tracks between Drake and Lamar, reignited by Lamar’s pointed lines about Drake and J. Cole in Future and Metro Boomin’s track “Like That.” From questioning masculinity to witty references, the feud has captured the attention of hip-hop enthusiasts worldwide.
However, this feud didn’t arise out of nowhere. Drake and Lamar have a history of collaboration, including Lamar’s features on Drake’s “Buried Alive Interlude” and their joint effort on “Poetic Justice” in 2012. Yet tensions began brewing in 2013 when Lamar took shots at Drake and other rappers on Big Sean’s track “Control.”
Through Lipa’s portrayal of the eccentric culture critic, SNL offered a unique perspective on the intricacies of rap rivalries. The sketch highlighted not only the lyrical exchanges but also the cultural significance and narrative development inherent in these feuds.
As Lipa’s SNL appearance demonstrated, hip-hop rivalries serve as more than just entertainment—they reflect cultural dynamics and provoke meaningful conversations. With Maya Rudolph slated to host the next episode, SNL continues to serve as a platform for insightful cultural commentary, one sketch at a time.
