Questlove has expanded on his thoughts about the Kendrick Lamar versus Drake feud and why he feels Andre 3000 is battling with imposter syndrome.
During a recent interview with NPR, Questlove clarified his feelings on the historic beef, after some of his posts about it on X drew criticism. Quest previously wrote that no one "won the war" and that "Hip-hop is truly dead." According to Quest, he was triggered by the feud, referring to what he saw this play out in the '90s when 2Pac and the Notorious B.I.G. were killed during their vicious feud.
"I was there at the Source Awards when the shit really hit the fan in 1995. And I was there in 1997," Quest said. "That was a 'What now?' moment for hip-hop — Tupac and Biggie, embroiled in a battle. I've never seen a battle in which it ends well."
He continued, "We're living in a polarizing time. We're living in a time right now where World War III can easily break out at any moment. We're living in a time when civil war can break out at any moment in the United States. We're living in a time where the uncertainty of something jumping off is just in the air. You know what I'm saying? For me it's like, I've seen this movie before — and I'm triggered. The aftereffect of Tupac and Biggie was just a 30-year travel into darkness."
Quest clarified that hip-hop isn't dead as artists such as Little Simz, Westside Gunn, Tobe Nwigwe, and more are keeping the culture alive.
Elsewhere in the interview Quest spoke about Andre 3000, sharing his astonishment that the iconic rapper told him that he felt people doubt him and that's his only motivation.
"My first question was, 'Dude, have you met yourself? Who's doubting André 3000?' He's, like, 'Well, that's exactly the point.' And I said to him, 'So are you playing provocateur right now? Is this your version of the wet willy?'" said Quest. "I kept probing: 'I don't know anyone who doubts you. You're so critically acclaimed. Do you believe us when we tell you that you're a genius?'"
He added, "I'm forgetting his immediate response, but the fact that he left a seven-second pregnant pause told me that he might have imposter syndrome issues, issues with how we built him up to be one of our gods. So I said, 'If we come out the gate and say, 'Yo, man, this album absolutely 112,000% sucks,' or, 'You're a horrible rapper' — then you would have felt motivated to go back in to prove that you are indeed the man?' And I believe he was leaning towards a yes."
