On July 22, 2024, a new game entitled “Family Matters” found its way to the surface, grabbing banner headlines across gaming and music circles. This creative game was birthed by some die-hard Drake fans, popularly referred to as the OVO hive, in what might be termed a light-handed reaction against the “Not Like Us” video game—sections of it reportedly inspired by the Kendrick Lamar diss track.
These rivalry roots could be said to have originated from a light-hearted fanbase conflict between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Having been initially based on their music, this rivalry now takes a turn for interactive digital entertainment. This marriage of pop culture and gaming in a way represents how deeply fans are engaged with their favorite artists and expresses their allegiance to them through creative ways of imagination.
The creation of “Family Matters” is a work that truly reflects the energetically rich and, above all, very creative Drake fan base. Therefore, so-called OVO hive members created a game for the sake of two purposes: first, to entertain; secondly, to praise Drake. It represents an example of how much community and passion can be found within Drake’s fandom.
“Family Matters: The Game” is a rather difficult yet engaging game in which players must shoot the Grammy Award trophies within a moving pixel art rendering of Kendrick Lamar’s mouth. What really multiplies the problem is that Kendrick’s head goes from side to side; this consequently adds an element of skill and precision to every shot. Scoring it off would be a digitized version of the “Family Matters” instrumental, which is at once nostalgic and dynamic.
The objective of “Family Matters” is to score points by successfully shooting Grammys into Kendrick’s mouth. Missing a shot makes Kendrick grimace and make sad sounds, making things a little more light-hearted. These elements set up the game in a way that is playful in nature, furthering the light-hearted rivalry between fanbases.
The cultural impacts that “Family Matters” has on fanbases and the music industry as a whole are very enormous. It evidences creative ways through which fanbases reach out to their most admired artists, turning musical rivalries into interactive entertainment. This game shows how fans can come up with very unique creative expressions that appeal to the wider audience.
“Family Matters” is a new episode in the sage between Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s fanbases. Its success foreshadows the possibility of more work by fans in the future, showing how artists are relating with their fans in this digital age. The more creative outlets fans can find, the more these lines of music and gaming are going to blur, fostering a vibrant and interwoven cultural landscape.
