"I hate the way you walk, I hate the way you talk, I hate the way you dress."¹

Those are the lyrics from 'Euphoria' by the rapper Kendrick Lamar. Released last month, the song is filled with stinging criticisms of another rapper, Drake.

Drake is the most commercially successful hip hop artist of the century. But Lamar is considered the most talented rapper of his generation. Recently they have gone to war, releasing multiple tracks attacking each other.

For many, Drake and Lamar represent two different paths for rap. Drake is an entertainer, creating music for the widest possible audience. Lemar is an artist, producing difficult albums that receive plenty of critical praise.

Some argue that Drake has transformed rap with his accessible style. Others argue that Drake is a fake, who does not write his own music. Lamar agrees, calling his sound "a light pack".

Feuds have always been part of rap, including the ones between Jay Z and Nas, or Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G. This stemmed from regional rivalry between musicians from the East and West coasts of the United States.

Rap lyrics are often boastful, teasing and confrontational. Many hip hop artists sharpen their skills at rap battles, where they compete in freestyle improvisations to mock each other in the wittiest way.

Some fans think the feud between Drake and Lamar is good for music. Supporting one team or another can even bring people together, as a respected DJ from Los Angeles has argued, claiming that Lamar's songs "might legitimately spark a national renaissance for West Coast music".²

However, other fans think they could use their talents a better way. As Jeff Ihaza, a senior music editor at Rolling Stone magazine commented on the feud: "It feels like such a colossal waste of energy."³

But this is also about whether rap music should try to appeal to as many people as possible, or keep its tradition of abrasive lyrics and outsider status.

A similar debate can be found in sports, in business, and in many forms of culture. If you try to create something that everyone likes, you end up with a boring product. But, if you only try to please the fans, you never attract new followers. The best artists create a balance between the two.

Does it matter?

Yes: Drake and Kendrick Lamar represent two different futures for rap. People care about their rivalry because they care about the genre selling out to music labels.

No: Two of the most talented and successful rappers of their generation should be trying to make music that lasts. Instead, they are wasting their time exchanging playground insults.

Or... Art is not like sport: there are no winners or losers. And the best artists can embrace tradition while also breaking new ground.