Buzz
The rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake appears to have concluded, with Kendrick Lamar emerging as the clear winner. However, the cultural impact of this rivalry is so vast that even its peripheral drama is trending this week. Let me break it down for you. I'll also discuss the "Block Party" campaign, whether pickles belong in Dr. Pepper, and share my new favorite phrase: "That's poop from a butt."
What is “BBL Drizzy?”
This week’s viral sensation is the countless versions of the song “BBL Drizzy” flooding social media. Here’s the backstory: During the early stages of the Drake-Kendrick feud, Drake released the track “Push Ups,” where he tells Kendrick’s associate Metro Boomin’ to “shut yo ho-ass up and make some drums." Last week, Metro responded by releasing a remix titled "BBL Drizzy," based on a song by King Willonius. The “BBL” in the title allegedly refers to Drake having undergone Brazilian butt-lift surgery. Metro removed the song’s copyright and offered $10,000 to the best remix verse. The challenge went viral, sparking a wave of Drake-dissing tracks worldwide. Essentially, Metro handed out free bats and said, “I’ll pay you to beat that dead horse over there.”
Here are just a few highlights from the tens of thousands of “BBL Drizzy” remixes:
The original version’s smooth 1970s vibe.
YouTube rapper Packgod’s rendition.
Jokey YouTube rapper Yukon’s take.
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A Japanese version of BBL Drizzy.
A merengue cover.
A harp rendition of BBL Drizzy.
If there was any doubt about the winner of the Great Rap War of 2024, Drake is now being dissed by a harp.
Kendrick vs. Drake feud promoting literacy?
Every conflict has unintended consequences, and this one might be boosting literacy. According to Ms. C., a teacher on TikTok, “I have students who hate reading meticulously analyzing these lyrics like never before. They’re uncovering subtle quadruple entendres and explaining them eloquently to their peers.”
Why is “Blockout 2024” trending?
Earlier this week, TikTok user blockout2024 shared this video, proposing that celebrities lose revenue when blocked on social media. In a follow-up video, they explained, "Whether we criticize or praise them, they profit. But if we block their accounts and forget their names, they lose everything."
It’s too early to gauge its effectiveness, but I’d bet heavily on it failing. Online activism rarely succeeds. People often overestimate their impact, and the Block Party campaign assumes Taylor Swift fans prioritize Palestine over her updates. Call me cynical, but I doubt enough people will care to make a difference. Even if a million followers blocked Swift, she’d still have 282 million left—just on Instagram. Regardless of Middle East politics, this feels reminiscent of #Kony2012.
Bumble reveals a dystopian future of dating
Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd painted a chilling vision of online dating in a recent Bloomberg interview. She envisions AI assistants helping users connect by sharing personal details and scanning others’ AI counterparts for matches. "Imagine your dating concierge dating another concierge for you, sparing you from talking to 600 people," Herd said.
While I’m all for avoiding conversations, as many online have noted, this feels like a Black Mirror episode—specifically season 4, episode 4, “Hang the DJ.”
What’s the story with Pickle Dr. Pepper?
This week’s bizarre TikTok food trend: pickles and Dr. Pepper. This video by Kayleeh109 has racked up nearly 3 million views. It suggests filling a Sonic cup halfway with pickles, adding Dr. Pepper, and then drinking it. The thought makes my stomach churn, but I haven’t tried it, so who am I to judge? Based on reaction videos, some people seem to enjoy it—mostly folks from the South. I’m still skeptical. It might just be a prank to trick people into drinking something disgusting.
My all-time favorite Gen-Z phrase: “That’s shit from a butt.”
Countless insults fly online every day, but every so often, a phrase perfectly captures a feeling and goes viral. Enter: “That’s shit from a butt.” While it started as a food descriptor (for things resembling feces), it’s now used for anything terrible. A bad song? Shit from a butt. Jerry Seinfeld’s new Netflix movie? Shit from a butt. Pickles in Dr. Pepper? Shit from a butt.
