“Nobody can out rap London”- Drake weighs in on Skepta’s viral UK Vs US rappers debate at Wireless Festival

On the second day of the Wireless Festival, Drake showed up, which brought back a debate in hip hop circles: how UK rappers compare to those from the US. He took the stage with Skepta and said things that spread on social media and got people talking.

Speaking to the packed crowd, Drake praised London's rap scene. He said the world's best lyricists come from the UK's capital.

While not putting down US artists, he highlighted the high skill level he sees in UK hip hop from London's varied music landscape.

"The best lyricists in the world -- mark my words -- I don't care what nobody says," Drake says as he brought out Skepta to perform. "Nobody can out rap London -- nobody. No disrespect to America. No disrespect to my country. But, nobody can out rap London rappers. This is the best, this is the highest level. This is what I aspire to be."

This happened right before Skepta joined him on stage, which seemed to show Drake's backing for the UK artist and the country's wider rap community.

DRAKE ENDS THE UK VS US DEBATE 🚨

“London rappers are the best lyricists in the world”

“No disrespect to America but nobody in the world can outrap London rappers”

“This is the highest level, this is what I aspire to be” pic.twitter.com/GPQSabUE06

— UK Rap Daily (@UKRapDaily) July 12, 2025

Drake sparks conversation with praise for UK rappers at wireless festival

Drake's remarks came after Skepta dropped a diss track called "Friendly Fire," which took aim at American rapper Joyner Lucas. This song was Skepta's answer to a challenge he started online asking for a lyrical showdown between UK and US rappers.

Lucas was one of the first American artists to take up the challenge. In "Friendly Fire," Skepta stacked his accomplishments against those of Lucas showcasing his sway in the UK music scene.

The wider argument first picked up steam when Skepta listed several US rappers, including A$AP Rocky, in his social media dare. Rocky's name caught people's eye because of his tricky past with Drake.

These two have worked together before but have also been linked through beef and personal ties.

Drake's words at Wireless Festival threw more wood on the fire of the ongoing UK vs US rapper talk, with fans and pundits chiming in on different sites.

While some folks online liked what he said, others doubted it pointing out how big and lasting American hip hop is worldwide. The split in views shows how competitive this music is and how proud listeners are of their local rap scenes.

People had different reactions, but Drake's shout-out to UK rappers showed he respected how British hip-hop has grown and now reaches audiences worldwide.

This moment also highlighted why events like Wireless Festival matter so much - they bring together big names from all over and give local artists a chance to shine on a bigger stage.