Drake, Kendrick Lamar beef's unlikely Calgary connection
The ongoing feud between two of rap's biggest stars can trace its roots back to an old promotional scheme refined in Calgary decades ago.
Known in the world of professional wrestling as "kayfabe," the scripted conflict and drama outside of the ring was developed by the Hart family to drive ticket sales and hype events.
"It's a way to drive interest, creating a largely fictional conflict for promotion," said Darin Flynn, a linguistics professor at the University of Calgary who teaches a course in the language of rap.
Flynn says when it works, the money can flow.
But sometimes, outsiders not in on the script get involved and the lines between reality and art become blurred.
It has led performers to act out, and is common enough that there is a term for it: "shooting."
"Shooting is literally the term that is used when an element is introduced that wasn't planned," Flynn said.
The "beef" between the two former collaborators spilled out of the entertainment world and into the public conversation on Tuesday after a security guard at Drake's Toronto mansion was shot around 2 a.m.
The man was taken to hospital with critical injuries.
Toronto police have not said the shooting is connected to the war of words, which has included allegations of pedophilia and spousal abuse among other things.
Drake is known for a long list of massive commercial hits.
Kendrick Lamar is a critically acclaimed Grammy winner and the first musician outside of jazz or classical music to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize.
The string of "diss tracks" released over the past week has driven sales for both artists.
Past rap beefs, such as between Nas and Jay-Z in the early 2000s, had duelling tracks share the same producer, at times giving the wink to the planned nature of the conflict.
There is some worry about the fallout from the war of words – that if some of the more disturbing allegations are true it could affect radio and other businesses that play their music.
"If for some reason it were no longer appropriate to associate ourselves with Drake, that could have a negative impact on what we do as a business," said Tyler Hall of Virgin Radio 98.5.
"Drake is one of our most popular artists."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP wants Liberals to scrap proposed election date change that could secure pensions for many MPs
The federal New Democrats want to amend the Liberal government's electoral reform legislation to scrap the proposal to push back the vote by a week and consequently secure pensions for dozens of MPs, CTV News has learned.
Drive one of these vehicles? You may pay 37 per cent more than average insurance costs due to thefts
As the number of auto theft incidents rises in Canada, so have insurance premiums for drivers, even the ones whose vehicles aren't stolen.
Doug Ford suggests immigrants behind Jewish school shooting
Ontario Premier Doug Ford suggested immigrants are to blame for the shooting of an empty Jewish school in Toronto over the weekend, despite police saying they have little information on the suspects.
Supreme Court won't hear appeal in Montreal brainwashing experiments case
The Supreme Court of Canada will not review a Quebec ruling that bars people from suing the U.S. government in Canada over its role in notorious brainwashing experiments at a Montreal psychiatric hospital.
Donald Trump can sue niece over NY Times article, court rules
A New York state appeals court said Donald Trump can sue his niece Mary Trump for giving the New York Times information for its Pulitzer Prize-winning 2018 probe into his finances and his alleged effort to avoid taxes.
Shania Twain shares how she forgave her ex-husband's cheating: 'It's his mistake'
Shania Twain recently addressed the infidelity that rocked her marriage to Robert 'Mutt' Lange, whom she divorced in 2010 after he had an affair with her friend, Marie-Anne Thiébaud.
Teen pleads guilty to manslaughter in death of homeless man in downtown Toronto
One of eight teen girls charged in the death of a homeless man in downtown Toronto has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Princess of Wales to miss major military display next month amid cancer treatment
Catherine, Princess of Wales, will not be returning to royal duties with an appearance at the Colonel’s Review, a military parade in London in early June, as she continues her treatment for cancer.
Police arrest 19-year-old suspect after Montreal triple homicide
Police have made an arrest following a deadly street fight that ended with three people killed in Montreal's Plateau-Mont-Royal borough last week.