Nicolas de Porcel, the mastering engineer behind Kendrick Lamar’s recent diss tracks targeting Drake, has shed light on the demanding process of refining the Compton rapper’s high-profile songs.
Speaking with EngineEars, de Porcel described the intense pressure of working on the tracks. The engineer noted that he would receive a song and be asked for updates within minutes.
The final masters were often turned in just moments before the tracks were released. The process was so rapid that tracks would sometimes drop just twelve minutes after de Porcel completed his work.
De Porcel was involved in engineering three of Kendrick Lamar’s four diss songs aimed at Drake: Euphoria, Meet the Grahams, and Not Like Us. His work has also extended to other prominent figures in hip-hop, including Future, André 3000, 21 Savage, Pharrell, and Killer Mike.
Kendrick Lamar has maintained a low profile since the release of his video for Not Like Us, which topped the charts, and his celebrated performance at the Pop Out concert in Inglewood. Despite not directly addressing the outcome of the beef with Drake, Lamar’s peers in the hip-hop community have shared their views on the battle.
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Many consider the feud a significant moment in hip-hop, highlighting the difference between mainstream and what some consider “real” hip-hop. Observers have noted that the high-profile exchange was a bold move, as it showcased the willingness of top artists to engage in competitive discourse, setting an example for emerging artists about the genre’s diverse dimensions.
