Everybody Danced On His Grave – M.I Abaga Weighs in on the Kendrick Lamar and Drake Rivalry
The hip-hop world is ablaze with controversy, a battlefield of lyrical warfare where two titans, Kendrick Lamar and Drake, clash in a feud for dominance. Fans watch with bated breath, their allegiances split between the poetic precision of Kendrick and the chart-topping prowess of Drake. In the midst of this storm, a voice from Africa—Nigerian rap icon M.I Abaga—steps forward, not to fan the flames, but to illuminate the deeper layers of this historic rivalry.
M.I, a veteran in the African rap scene, watches the unfolding spectacle with a knowing gaze, recalling his own battles in the unforgiving trenches of the Nigerian rap industry. Once dismissed as “boring,” he knows all too well the sting of criticism, the ruthless judgment of an audience that thrives on spectacle. And so, as Drake faces an avalanche of backlash, M.I sees a reflection of his own journey in the Canadian superstar’s struggle.
"They danced on his grave," M.I muses, speaking on the Afropolitan platform. "Not just the hip-hop heads—everyone. The critics, the tech bros, the casual fans… they all took turns taking shots. But if Drake rises from this, it will elevate him beyond everyone."
There is something almost mythological about it—an artist at the peak of his power, suddenly cast down, his dominance questioned, his empire seemingly crumbling. But M.I, a master of reinvention himself, recognizes the power of narrative in music. He believes Drake is crafting a second act, one where the struggle transforms into legend.
"Drake knows how to make music resonate. If anyone can turn this into a comeback story for the ages, it’s him. His first era was about his rise to rap royalty, but now? Now, life is handing him a new story to tell. And he’s the best storyteller we have."
Yet, even as he sympathizes with Drake, M.I finds himself seeing Kendrick Lamar in a new light. The Compton wordsmith, long lauded for his introspective lyricism and razor-sharp storytelling, has shown a level of strategic brilliance that has forced even his skeptics to reconsider.
"Before this, Kendrick wasn’t even in my top 10," M.I admits. "But now, I see him as top 3, at the very least. Still, you can’t dismiss Drake just because Kendrick is having his moment. Drake has been delivering for 15 years straight. You can’t deny his influence."
The rivalry, in M.I’s eyes, is more than just a battle for hip-hop supremacy—it is a masterclass in resilience, artistry, and the unpredictable cycles of fame. He reflects on his own experiences, the times when no matter what he did, the industry dismissed him, questioned his artistry, refused to see his impact.
"I felt for Drake because I’ve lived it," he says. "I know what it’s like to be counted out."
And so, as the world watches and debates, as fans pick sides and dissect every lyric, M.I Abaga salutes both warriors. This, he declares, is what hip-hop is about—the hunger, the passion, the stories that refuse to die.
One thing is certain: the dust will settle, the charts will shift, and history will be written. And when the final verse is spit, only one question will remain—who will stand tallest when the echoes of battle fade?
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