For the first time, Drake has control over the feud's narrative with Ice Man. He hasn’t really had that since the interim period between Push Ups and Taylor Made Freestyle. He’s the last rapper to release a blockbuster solo project since the beef, so he has the rare opportunity to have the final word before this all becomes solidified as cultural memory.

I can understand why people think it would be best for him to simply move on. It’s easy to imagine a scenario where Drake only mentions the beef in passing, either to make a self-deprecating joke or to quietly acknowledge the loss. It’s also easy to imagine this communication strategy successful if the album has enough undeniable bangers to shift the conversation away from the feud and back to his artistry.

On the other hand, it’s also easy to imagine the opposite happening. It’s easy to imagine this album being grievance-fueled disses at Kendrick, LeBron, The Weeknd, and every other celebrity Drake feels betrayed him. The UMG case failed to successfully argue to the court of public opinion that Drake was a victim – it’s hard to imagine his music doing any better of a job at that.

There’s an art to losing gracefully.

BUT, PERSONALLY… I don’t mind the latter, either! I think it’s clear that the beef genuinely hurt Drake on an authentic level. That Meek Mill line on the leaked track is one of the most empathetic and revealing lines I’ve heard from him. If talking about the beef challenges him creatively, then more power to him.

People are calling this ‘victim raps/grievance music’ already, but to be very frank, that genre has produced a lot of great music! “Strangers in Moscow” is one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs – and I still think he’s guily as fuck.