Kendrick Lamar has placed himself right in the middle of a controversy. The award-winning rapper reportedly said that Canadians don’t count as real Blacks, and this had many people up in arms. Included among these persons is controversial activist Dr. Umar Johnson, who called on Canadian rapper Drake to identify his race.
Dr. Umar Johnson took to Instagram on Monday, July 15, and directly addressed the matter in a video, imploring Drake to set the record straight as to whether he identifies primarily as a Black man or mixed-race.
“For my brother Drake, I need you to explain to me if you are a Black man,” said Dr. Umar. “Some people are saying that my brother Drake, whom I love and respect—you identify as mixed race—that you do not identify Black-first.”
Kendrick Lamar faces backlash from Dr Umar for saying Canadian Africans ain’t black PIC.TWITTER.COM/RSFEZRMUWB
— Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) JULY 16, 2024
Drake‘s mixed heritage has been a well-circulated controversy for years, most especially in the light of his ongoing rivalry with Kendrick Lamar. The call for clarity by Dr. Umar spikes another wrinkle into this already complex narrative.
“‘Maybe we can have a sit down when I come to Toronto on October 5th and 6th, but I need you to make that clear for me, brother Drake,” said Dr. Umar. “Brother Drake, I need you to make that clear: are you a Black-first Black man? Or do you identify as mixed race?”
This controversy not only fired up racial identity conversations but also creativity from artists such as Kendrick Lamar. Being an artist undefeated by his strong lyrics and meaningful themes, Kendrick has always been doing whatever it takes to please his fans—conveying a very powerful and empowering message. This situation, however, shows how much of a thin line exists between artists speaking on sensitive matters.
That Kendrick had the guts to make such a bold statement might be part of this creative process called pushing boundaries and challenging societal norms. His decision also speaks to the role artists ought to play in their public discourse. The reaction from Dr. Umar and that of the pubic, in general, seems to say that while creativity is important, so is considering its eventual effect on diverse audiences.
While the debate rages on, everybody—from fans to critics—eagerly awaits just exactly how both Kendrick Lamar and Drake will reply. Will Drake really explain once and for all what he thinks of his racial identity? How hard will Kendrick take a fraught outcome on account of what most perceived as a Calculated shot at Drake? No doubt, this has set open a couple of supper crossroads: race, identity, and prudent words in music.
