The world is still buzzing with the drama of the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, filled with unanswered questions and speculation. Fans have been particularly curious about the rapid turnaround and high-profile production of Kendrick’s diss tracks. Thanks to Nicolas de Porcel, Kendrick’s mastering engineer, we now have an inside look at the intense and thrilling process behind these tracks. Speaking to EngineEars, a platform founded by Kendrick’s collaborator MixedByAli, de Porcel shared the high-pressure yet exhilarating environment that defined these sessions.
“It was a little crazy,” de Porcel recalled about mastering Kendrick’s tracks aimed at Drake. “I got a call and it was like, ‘Stay on call, you’re gonna be working.’ I would get the song and like six minutes would elapse and they’d be like, ‘How we looking?’ It was very high pressure. As Dot was releasing these records, it was like, I was turning in the masters [and] it would drop like 12 minutes later. It was amazing.”
These tracks include “Euphoria,” “Meet The Grahams,” and “Not Like Us,” all of which were released on streaming platforms. Another track, “6:16 In LA,” was exclusively released on Instagram, although it’s plausible that de Porcel had a hand in its production as well. De Porcel’s impressive resume includes work with hip-hop legends like Pharrell, Killer Mike, André 3000, Future, and 21 Savage, making this historic moment in hip-hop another notable achievement in his career.
The rapid production and release of these tracks have added to the legend of Kendrick Lamar’s technical prowess and de Porcel’s adept handling of the pressure. The mastery required to deliver such high-quality work in such a short time frame is a testament to the skills and dedication of everyone involved.
As fans eagerly await what’s next, many hope that Kendrick Lamar and Drake will move past their feud to focus on creating more groundbreaking music. With both artists rumored to be dropping albums this year, the anticipation is at an all-time high. Whether they will continue to fuel their rivalry through music or choose a more collaborative path remains to be seen. Regardless, the legacy of their battle and the incredible work behind it will not be forgotten anytime soon.
