SUMMARY

They are two of the biggest names in hip hop, Kendrick Lamar and Drake, and they're locked in a rap battle that's capturing global attention and having a big impact on the music industry. Amna Nawaz discussed this feud and its implications with Sidney Madden of NPR.

View the transcript of the story.

News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching. You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here.

WARM-UP QUESTIONS

• Who are Drake and Kendrick Lamar?
• When did they start their feud?
• What are the two artists battling about?
• Why has the story caught worldwide attention?
• How do you think the serious nature of the fight involving race and the treatment of women including serious allegations about underage relationships and domestic abuse changes the nature of the story?

FOCUS QUESTIONS

How do you think the fight between two rap artists should be resolved? If you are fans of either or both artists, how do you feel about the fact that their fight is so public and the insults so deep?

Media literacy: What else would you like to know about the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Why did Drake used A.I.-generated lyrics to goad Kendrick into engaging with him? Does Drake's not creating his own lyrics affect his case?

Alternative: See, Think, Wonder: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO:

There will be some new watchers who don't feel as though a personal battle between two hip hop stars should receive so much news attention. However, this greatly underestimates the power of arts & culture in our lives. Learn more about the history of hip hop here by:

• Watching this clip from PBS' Fight the Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World.
• Here's another highlight clip:

• You can also read this article about the history of hip hop.

In addition to the important history rap music has played in American culture and beyond, research studies have analyzed how music affects our mental health. Watch this Student Reporting Labs (SRL) video to learn more:

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