Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd show Kendrick Lamar and Drake how it’s done

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Last year, Kendrick Lamar and Drake were involved in a well-known dispute that seems to have lessened recently. Each released a diss track in response to the other, leading many to believe that Kendrick Lamar emerged victorious from their exchange.

However, the enjoyment was somewhat dampened by the sense that these two renowned hip-hop artists seemed to harbor mutual disdain towards each other. Their music took on a more confrontational tone, with Lamar’s tracks often carrying an artistic edge while still insinuating that Drake had been involved in questionable behavior with a minor.

Way back before the feud between Drake and Lamar, musicians often expressed their animosity towards one another in songs, although these weren’t called diss tracks at the time. Instead, the underlying message was evident. For instance, Neil Young and Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd were embroiled in a conflict that played out through their music.

Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd were fans of one another

Born in Canada but raised in America, this individual seemed to harbor little fondness for the American South. He penned a couple of songs criticizing the region, specifically “Alabama” and “Southern Man”. In response to these songs, a band hailing from Florida, Lynyrd Skynyrd, produced the track “Sweet Home Alabama”.

In that song, which peaked at number 8 on the Billboard charts in 1974, there was a verse that went, “Apparently, Mr. Young sang about her. I also heard Neil Young criticize her. I hope Neil Young will recall, a Southern man doesn’t require his presence, anyway.

Lynyrd Skynyrd expressed their feelings towards Neil Young’s perceived disregard for the South in their music. Interestingly, both artists were admirers of each other. Despite the strong sentiments conveyed through their songs, there was no malicious intent or personal attack intended. Instead, a mutual respect existed between them.

Frequently, he openly expressed his affection for “Sweet Home Alabama.” Notably, he performed this song live on at least two occasions, always showing reverence towards the original creators of the piece.

In a 1979 interview with Rolling Stone, Young expressed his preference for playing ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ over ‘Southern Man’, stating, “I find it more appealing to perform ‘Sweet Home Alabama’. Upon first listening, I was captivated by their guitar skills. Later, when I realized my name was mentioned in it, I thought, ‘This is quite remarkable.’

In simpler terms, Gary Rossington, the former guitarist of Lynyrd Skynyrd who recently passed away, expressed on Sirius XM radio that they have always admired and still continue to appreciate Neil Young.

In a tribute, original singer Ronnie Van Zant acknowledged their admiration for Neil Young, stating, “We adore Neil Young and his music.

Essentially, two musical artists may engage in playful banter and produce fantastic songs from it, but this rivalry doesn’t necessarily imply that they dislike each other’s work. In fact, if an artist didn’t appreciate another artist’s output, they might not bother creating a song about them at all.

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2025-06-22 19:00