Over the summer, the culture was shaken by the biggest rap beef this decade, between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. From “First Person Shooter” to “Not Like Us,” hip-hop listeners hung on each rapper’s every word and rebuttal, and for the first time in years, the genre felt exciting.

Months after the beef had “ended,” Lamar released a track on Instagram dubbed “Watch the Party Die,” in which he lamented that hip-hop, in its current state, has lost its way and – as the title suggests – needs to die. It’s interesting, coming from Lamar, the supposed winner of the beef, and begs the question: is hip-hop dead?

On this episode of Switched On Pop, engineer Brandon McFarland takes us on a journey over the course of history, to answer the question: can hip-hop ever truly die? And if this form of it is not sustainable, what’s next?

Tracklist:

Drake - First Person Shooter ft. J. Cole

Future, Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar - Like That

Drake - Push Ups

Kendrick Lamar - Euphoria

Drake - Family Matters

Kendrick Lamar - meet the grahams

Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us

Kendrick Lamar - Watch The Party Die

Glass Animals - Heat Waves

Desiigner - Panda

Migos - Versace

Public Enemy - Bring The Noise

THE CARTERS - APESHIT

Ariana Grande - 34+35

Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Jay-Z - D.O.A.

Cher - Believe

T-Pain - I'm Sprung

Lil Wayne - Lollipop ft. Static

Kanye West - Heartless

Drake - Over

Travis Scott - Mamacita ft. Rich Homie Quan, Young Thug

Lil Yachty - Poland

DRAM feat. Lil Yachty - Broccoli

Charlie XCX - 360

Too $hort - Oakland California

Geto Boys - Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta

Geto Boys - Mind Playing Tricks On Me

Blondie - Rapture

Playboi Carti - Magnolia

Playboi Carti - Rockstar Made

Lil Uzi Vert - New Patek

Lil Uzi Vert - Suicide Doors

Lil Uzi Vert - XO Tour Llif3

Juice WRLD - Lucid Dreams (Forget Me)

Future - Fuck Up Some Commas

Tyler, The Creator – Sticky

tisakorean - LET ME HEAR YOU SCREAM

Travis Porter ft. Tyga - Ayy Ladies

AgusFortnite2008, Stiffy & DJ Smokey – COF COF

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Trek Files 28: Uccidere per amore