Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson sat down with D.L. Hughley, one of the Original Kings of Comedy, in the latest episode of All The Smoke. They discussed the Drake and Kendrick Lamar rap beef and the nuances of this generation of comedians.
The Drake and Kendrick Lamar rap beef continues to be a HOT TOPIC as it is the first hip-hop feud to spill over into sports, with Lamar giving a Super Bowl halftime performance that will forever be remembered mainly because of his performance — and the memes that came out of it— of his Drake diss track, “They Not Like Us.” Regardless of your stance, it is clear that Lamar has reached new heights regarding his skill as an artist. Hughley gives Drake his props, sharing that he is immensely talented, but when it comes to Lamar, he says he has never seen an artist who believed he was everything he thought he was at the moment when no one thought he could be. He added nobody thought he could do what he did but himself, and due to Lamar’s unwavering belief in himself, he, in turn, elevated an entire coast.
Lamar’s message of unity brought together Bloods, Crips, and those in the Latino community who may have not gotten along. As Hughley explained, his metric was to get people from all walks of life to see themselves in Lamar. A feeling that Hughley does not necessarily feel from Drake’s music, which he noted provides good vibes, but it never really spoke to him. In the same breath, he highlighted the proverbial glow-up Lamar had going from dropping a diss record to performing at the Super Bowl. Hughley affirmed that Lamar is a BRILLIANT ARTIST in an often underestimated art form and expressed tremendous pride that he came from South Central Los Angeles. Stak added that Lamar provides SUBSTANCE to the rap game.
As someone whose name is etched in comedic lore, Hughley also shared his thoughts on this new generation of comedians. He stressed that there are currently a lot of talented young comedians in the game — so much so that he has created a special event called Wednesdays at the DL in Pasadena, where he showcases young comics. He compares critiquing the current generation of comics to Eric Dickerson’s critique of Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. Hughley shared that Dickerson never saw the type of athletes and defenses Barkley is rushing against, so he doesn’t think it’s fair to compare the eras for the two running backs because, in his words, you get what you get from every moment that you are in. Ultimately, that is the same approach he takes toward this new generation of comedians. Instead of comparing his come-up to theirs, he supports them by sharing his platform. He admits that this generation of comics is more collaborative, whereas his generation had a more individualistic mindset. From the 300 or so comics he has seen from the months of his Wednesday showcases, he sees that as a common thread — young comics want to work together.
Watch or listen to the full episode below and keep an eye on DraftKings Network for new episodes of All The Smoke every Thursday at 6 p.m. ET!
SHOW BREAKDOWN
D.L. Hughley: “I Have Something To Say” | Full Episode | ALL THE SMOKE
- Legendary comedian and best-selling author D.L. Hughley joins All the Smoke to share his unfiltered thoughts on politics, the evolution of comedy, and more. In this candid conversation, Hughley explains why he felt the need to speak up and why he decided to join the show, saying, “I felt like I had something to say.” D.L. also opens up about the state of comedy today and reflects on Katt Williams’ explosive 2024 interview. He reveals the real reason he turned down an appearance on Club Shay Shay and takes us down memory lane, reminiscing about the Showtime Lakers and the historic ‘Kings Of Comedy’ tour. Plus, Hughley shares his thoughts on the ongoing Drake vs. Kendrick debate and gives us an exciting update on his upcoming projects.
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