Haley Joel Osment recently shared his reaction to being referenced by Kendrick Lamar in his chart-topping rap beef against Drake. Lamar mistakenly called Osment megachurch pastor Joel Osteen in his song “Euphoria,” but Osment believes the mix-up was intentional. He received a flood of texts about the mention while shooting in Ireland and thinks Lamar purposefully scrambled the names to make a point, as Lamar is known for being precise in his lyrics. The feud between Lamar and Drake escalated with Lamar’s diss track, which referenced Osment’s roles in “A.I. Artificial Intelligence” and “The Sixth Sense.”
Drake initiated the beef with Lamar by posting the “Taylor Made Freestyle” on Instagram, using artificial intelligence to generate voices like Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur to insult Lamar. This prompted Lamar to fire back with “Euphoria” and three other diss tracks against Drake. In the lyrics, Lamar pondered if he was battling a ghost or artificial intelligence, comparing his opponent to Joel Osteen and referencing Osment’s film roles. Some fans believed Lamar intentionally said Osteen to suggest that Drake manipulates his image for profit, similar to Osteen, while others saw it as a misstep.
Despite the confusion over the Joel Osteen mention, Lamar sealed his victory in the feud with the release of “Not Like Us,” the follow-up track to “Euphoria.” In this song, Lamar referenced Osment’s iconic line from “The Sixth Sense,” further solidifying his clever wordplay and lyrical prowess. The track quickly became the most-streamed diss track on Spotify, solidifying Lamar’s position as the victor in the ongoing beef. Overall, the feud between Lamar and Drake has been a hot topic in the rap world, with fans and critics alike dissecting every lyric and move made by both artists.
The nod to Osment in Lamar’s songs showcases the rapper’s knack for wordplay and cultural references, as well as his ability to provoke thought and discussion within the hip-hop community. Lamar’s deliberate choice to reference Osment’s roles in two popular films adds depth to his lyrics and solidifies his place as one of rap’s most clever and insightful artists. The feud between Lamar and Drake has captivated fans and critics alike, with the famously precise Lamar using his lyrical talents to take down his opponent and emerge victorious in the public eye.
As the dust settles on the Lamar versus Drake beef, fans will undoubtedly continue to dissect and analyze the lyrics and references made by both artists. Lamar’s clever wordplay and keen cultural references have solidified his status as a force to be reckoned with in the rap world, while Drake’s response and future moves will be eagerly awaited by fans and critics alike. Regardless of the outcome, the feud between these two artists has sparked conversation and debate within the hip-hop community, showcasing the power of music to provoke thought and discussion.
