"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', a song by the rapper Kendrick Lamar released at the end of April. It is six minutes long and filled with stinging criticisms of another rapper, Drake.

Drake is the most commercially successful hip hop artist of the century. His music blends rap and R&B, as well as borrowing from other genres. But Lamar is considered the most talented rapper of his generation, and the first hip hop artist to win a Pulitzer Prize.

To begin with the two rappers were friends, with Drake supporting Lamar's early career. Over time their friendship shifted to a low-key rivalry. But, in the last few months, 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 easy music for the widest possible audience. Lemar is an artist, producing difficult albums about serious subjects, which receive plenty of critical praise.

Some argue that Drake has transformed rap with his vulnerable lyrics and accessible style. Others argue that Drake is a fake, who does not write his own music or care about the genre's subversive history. Lamar agrees, calling his sound "a light pack".

Feuds have always been part of rap. Famous examples include Jay Z versus Nas, and Tupac Shakur versus Notorious B.I.G. This stemmed from regional rivalry between musicians from the East and West coasts of the United States, as well as their music.

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. Rappers also release "diss tracks", where they dismiss their peers with outlandish insults.

Some fans think the feud between Drake and Lamar is good for music. It has resulted in lots of publicity and some impressive verbal jousting. 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 in a better way. Despite the social media interest, people will surely get bored of watching these two performers trade insults. As Jeff Ihaza, a senior music editor at Rolling Stone magazine commented: "It feels like such a colossal waste of energy."³

But this debate is about more than insults. It 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 are the ones who can 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.