Key Glock believes that hip-hop artists should remain true to themselves and stay in their own lane rather than trying to mimic others.

“all you gotta do is just be yourself and stay in your own lane like you go wrong trying to keep up with the next person trying to look like the next person sound like the next person like everything is a trend like just stay down and waste your time and wait till wait till it's your turn”

Artists must remain true to their own strengths and stick to their unique lane rather than attempting to copy what is currently popular in the industry.

“You got to stick to where you good at and instead of trying to jump in other [ __ ] lane. You got to be the boss of your lane.”

Authenticity in hip-hop is prioritized by focusing on personal truth and genuine passion rather than just following popular trends or personas.

“i think very few people can use the words and should use the words in certain situations but guess what that's what i said i said i think i don't [ __ ] know i'm not the end-all be-all”

Dave East believes that an artist should focus on making music for themselves rather than for external audiences or industry expectations.

“This is me. I'm doing this for me, not for the fans, like not the outside voices.”

Artists should maintain their own unique sound rather than feeling pressured to conform to current trends.

“we were doing such different [ __ ] like it had to work because nobody else was doing what we was doing when we first was making music we was making songs without cuss words you know what I'm saying and we live in a we we live in life we live in a black neighborhood”

Danny Brown claims that he is capable of teaching someone the technical mechanics of how to write a rap song.

“I really believe I can teach a person how to rap. It's easy as [ __ ] I mean, all this [ __ ] is math and science.”

G Herbo claims that he considers himself primarily an MC who focuses on the technical craft of rapping.

“I'm a MC. So, it's like I don't care if I'm not even all the way tapped into like my confidence and all of that [ __ ] I'm always going to be able to rap good.”

DaBaby asserts that he is among the best artists in the industry when it comes to raw lyricism and rapping in front of a microphone.

“Like I definitely like I know I understand like I'm one of the best in this right now at doing this, so I ain't shy away from it.”

Tyron Woodley asserts that artists who value lyrical skill and message are currently being overshadowed by rappers who prioritize catchy beats and high commercial numbers.

“what scares me is that these dudes are doing better numbers than anybody that's got any kind of message”

Funk Flex argues that the use of reference tracks for songwriting disqualifies an artist from being considered a lyricist, categorizing them instead as a great entertainer.

“once you bring reference tracks to me into the fold and you are not the person who wrote some of your things and you were saying to me that you wrote your things you become a great entertainer not a lyricist that's me”

The current tension between high-profile hip-hop artists is beneficial for the culture and the genre.

“I think it's great for hip-hop I think it is too I do too I do think stir this [ __ ] up I think it's great for hip-hop”

The recent battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake was beneficial for the genre because it brought attention back to rap.

“I didn't see it coming, but I think I thought it was dope for rap. >> It was like, "All right, [ __ ] care about rap again."”

Gillie Da King believes that while music may play a small part in influencing youth, it does not actually initiate conflicts.

“But I don't think that starts beefs.”

Wallo267 agrees that rap music is not the primary driver for starting beefs in the hood.

“But I don't think that starts the beef, right?”