Ye has once again made waves with his latest comments, this time drawing a controversial comparison between Drake and R. Kelly while discussing Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
In a video shared on his social media, Ye expressed admiration for Lamar’s show, calling it his favorite Super Bowl halftime performance since Michael Jackson. He highlighted the simplicity of the production, the impactful flag display, and Lamar’s impressive vocal control, particularly during “HUMBLE.”.
Despite some mixed online reactions, Ye claimed that people he spoke to in person felt it was “the best halftime show”.
“It was super simple. The flag was fresh. When they did be ‘HUMBLE.,’ the way that people’s heads was moving I was like shook. This is super fresh. The man’s voice control, all that. And then, of course, they build up the controversy on whether he’s gonna do the record. Then, at the end, I saw people saying this is the worst halftime show. And everybody that I talk to in person said this is the best halftime show,” Ye said.
However, it was Ye’s next comments that stirred up controversy. He compared Drake’s current reputation to that of R. Kelly, arguing that powerful Black men are often pitted against each other.
“So, this is my point right here. One Black superstar is in jail. The next Black superstar is on stage. They take one rapper to take another rapper down. You gotta remember Drake was almost like the new generation R. Kelly. The way R. Kelly had the radio and all that type of stuff. The idea that was put out in the Kendrick song is what R. Kelly is actually locked up for.”
Ye fka Kanye West speaks on Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show 👀
— Kurrco (@Kurrco) February 10, 2025
“I really loved the show, it was my favorite halftime show since like Michael Jackson era” pic.twitter.com/WwcUmEbjTf
The comparison to R. Kelly, who is currently serving multiple prison sentences for racketeering and sexual exploitation, immediately raised eyebrows. Just last week, six of Kelly’s victims filed a new lawsuit demanding their $10.3 million judgment, of which they have reportedly only received $500,000.
Ye’s comments tie directly into Lamar’s ongoing feud with Drake, which intensified after “Not Like Us” became a defining diss track in their rap battle last spring. The song, which took aim at Drake’s credibility, branded him as a culture vulture and pedophile. It dominated hip-hop conversations, cementing Lamar’s victory in the lyrical war.
Though months have passed since the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef, “Not Like Us” remains a cultural anthem, especially after winning five Grammy Awards last week. The track took center stage again when Lamar performed it at the Super Bowl, despite speculation on whether he would include the controversial song in his set.
Drake, however, has not taken the allegations lightly. He has since filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) for distributing the track, marking the latest legal battle in the fallout from the feud.
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