The Los Angeles Public Library has taken a humorous stance in the ongoing feud between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake. On their TikTok account, the library posted a light-hearted video suggesting their allegiance to Lamar, who hails from Los Angeles County.
Last week, Lamar dropped a music video for his diss track “Not Like Us,” featuring multiple references to owls. These references are believed to be nods towards Drake’s label, October’s Very Own (OVO), known for its owl mascot.
Over the weekend, the library added to the banter by sharing a video on their social media platforms. The clip stars a puppet resembling an owl, prompting the library to humorously ponder, “Do we need to retire our owl puppet?” This video quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 1 million likes on TikTok by Monday, drawing laughter from viewers who found the library’s involvement in the rap rivalry amusing.
The library isn’t the only brand to get in on the action; even Duolingo’s owl mascot, famous for its viral TikTok presence, joined the fray earlier in May with a video of Duo, the owl, engaging in a mock battle with a bear mascot. The caption playfully referenced Lamar’s influence with the hashtag #bbldrizzy.
Lamar’s recent Juneteenth concert further solidified his song “Not Like Us” as a West Coast anthem among fans. Despite the rap beef, Lamar emphasized unity during the concert, aiming to bring together Los Angeles and the entire West Coast in a display of solidarity.
“Let the world see this,” Lamar proclaimed at the concert’s close. “You ain’t seen this many sections on one stage keeping it together and having peace.”
In the realm of social media banter and rap rivalries, even the local library is not immune to joining the conversation with a touch of humor and local pride.