6 chapters across the catalog
Kendrick Lamar Halftime Show, The View on NFL "Choose Love"
Legal experts are monitoring Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance due to potential defamation liability for the NFL regarding his "Not Like Us" diss track against Drake. Meanwhile, hosts of The View criticized the NFL's decision to replace "End Racism" end zone stencils with "Choose Love," suggesting the league is kowtowing to President Trump's presence at the game.
NPR culture correspondent Chloe Veltman discusses how the Kendrick Lamar and Drake "beef" was amplified by fans on social media. The conflict, involving viral diss tracks and animated shorts, demonstrated the power of fan-created content in shaping mainstream entertainment trends.
Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar Lawsuit, Joe Rogan Celebrity Status
Rapper Drake has filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), alleging the company used bots to artificially inflate the popularity of Kendrick Lamar's diss track "Not Like Us." The hosts compare the music industry's manufactured feuds to professional wrestling. They also discuss Joe Rogan's level of fame, debating whether he has reached "George Clooney level" celebrity status.
The show concludes with a preview of upcoming content regarding the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud. The hosts sign off from Fredericksburg, Texas, and Northern Silicon Valley, followed by a series of "End of Show Mixes" featuring themes of bird flu, government skepticism, and Antony Blinken's guitar playing.
Media outlets criticized the Grammys for a lack of female winners despite Adele's sweep the previous year. Critics also complained about Bruno Mars winning over Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar, arguing that "happy" pop songs should not beat albums with dark, political, or anti-Trump messages.
60th Grammy Nominations, Diversity and Racial Trends
The 60th Grammy Awards nominations for Album of the Year featured no white men for the first time in history, with artists like Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Childish Gambino leading the categories. NPR coverage celebrated this as a sign of cultural progress and a long-overdue recognition of hip-hop. The discussion notes that this shift occurs as traditional album sales continue to decline in favor of streaming.
