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Even Minor League Baseball Teams Want a Piece of Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Feud

Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

Since the Compton native's debut album Section.80 arrived alongside the Toronto lifer's opus Take Care in 2011, the two rappers have been the subject of breathless comparisons from music fans. They collaborated, won awards, set records, and defined hip hop's commercial might in the 2010s.

Unless you've been living under a rock over the last month, you doubtlessly know that the two icons have erupted in open warfare—trading increasingly sordid allegations in one of the most jaw-dropping rap feuds in history. Now, a sagacious minor league baseball team is seeking to take advantage of the beef's publicity.

ANNOUNCING BEEF NIGHT 🚨
Join us next Thursday, May 16th as we dive into the legendary Beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar!
Whose side are you on??? pic.twitter.com/iEDv3NJhIa
— Hudson Valley Renegades (@HVRenegades) May 7, 2024

On Tuesday, the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades of the South Atlantic League announced "Beef Night" on May 16 against the Jersey Shore BlueClaws—a promotion commemorating the rivalry.

Fans can vote for which artist they prefer when they buy tickets—which are priced at $6 for Drake's nickname for Toronto and $6.16 for Lamar's track "6:16 in LA." Additionally, if a fan's chosen artist releases a song before the game, they receive a free burger.

While Los Angeles enjoys its day in the sun (most nonpartisan analysts agree Lamar is "winning" the feud), kudos to the rap haven of Fishkill, N.Y. for finding a way into a pop culture moment to remember.

6 May 24 Jimm Sallivan

Orioles Announcers Possess Varying Degrees of Expertise on Kendrick Lamar-Drake Beef

Kevin Brown and Ben McDonald called Sunday's Baltimore Orioles-Cincinnati Reds game on MASN. The away team crushed the home Reds, 11-1, leaving plenty of opportunity for Kevin Brown to really explore the space. By the time Adley Rutschman singled in the seventh inning, Brown was referencing the Kendrick Lamar-Drake beef.

"Gets a piece! Flares it over De La Cruz, which is basically like hitting a ball over a skyscraper! And Ramon scores on the RBI single. He's got more hits this week than Kendrick Lamar."

"He's got more hits this week than Kendrick Lamar" -Orioles broadcaster Kevin Brown pic.twitter.com/wTb4cUPclu
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 5, 2024

This reference was met with complete silence before McDonald said, "I know there's a joke in there somewhere." Without missing a beat Brown shot back that the reference, "went over your head just like it went over De La Cruz's."

Brown surely cannot be surprised that McDonald didn't get it. Just last season he had to explain to McDdonald who blink-182 was. Expecting a guy who apparently missed out on mainstream music culture over the last two decades to know who is involved in the latest rap beef seems unlikely. The man isn't even stay up to date on ice cream flavors.

Along those same lines, Brown did the audience a disservice by not asking McDonald if he has ever heard of Drake. In fact, he should probably make it a point of emphasis to see how many times he can make a popular culture reference that McDonald doesn't get. The Orioles currently have one of the best records in baseball and own the best run differential in the American League. There should be plenty of low stakes late game situations to really get creative.