As Kendrick Lamar’s feud with Drake disrupts the entertainment industry, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal have no desire to get involved.
Lamar is currently topping the Spotify and Apple Music charts after dropping “Euphoria,” a more than six-minute long diss track that takes aim at Drake, extending their ongoing rap beef. And during the NBA on TNT’s halftime report Wednesday night, the network returned from a commercial break playing Lamar’s new song, prompting Kenny Smith to quickly disavow the music choice.
“What are you all putting us in the middle of the rap beef, man?” Smith said with a big smile after he recognized ‘Euphoria’ playing. “Come on, man.”
“Is that ‘Euphoria ‘in the background?” Shaq asked with a chuckle. It’s worth noting Shaq is a platinum rapper himself. “I hear that ‘Euphoria’ in the back.”
While Smith and Shaq had fun with the song choice by TNT, Barkley refused to smile about the diss track or the “rap beef” between Lamar and Drake.
“Rap beef.” Barkley said while shaking his head in disappointment. “Grown a** men.”
It’s safe to assume Barkley probably doesn’t care about the backstory behind Lamar’s diss track. Barkley just looked and sounded disappointed in the mere concept of a “rap beef,” as if it was the most juvenile thing ever.
But what about media beefs, Chuck? Barkley has no issue calling out the “fools” and “idiots” on other networks talking about the Lakers. And he certainly has no issue ripping Skip Bayless at every turn, even once noting he’d like to “kill” the polarizing debate show host. For whatever reason, media beefs between grown a** men are fine, but rap beefs get a scowl.
About Brandon Contes
Brandon Contes is a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. He previously helped carve the sports vertical for Mediaite and spent more than three years with Barrett Sports Media. Send tips/comments/complaints to bcontes@thecomeback.com