Courtney Love’s Admiration for Kendrick Lamar Raises Eyebrows Over Alleged Racist Past

Courtney Love is making headlines again, but not for her music.

The grunge icon’s recent praise for Kendrick Lamar during an interview with The Standard has fans raising eyebrows, especially given her controversial past. Love’s comments about her “mad crush” on Kendrick and her admiration for artists like Doja Cat, Stormzy, and UK drill rappers are being viewed as either a pivot or a problematic attempt at rewriting history.

“I would love to work with Kendrick Lamar; I have a mad crush on him,” Love told The Standard. “He is also genius. I also love UK femme drill artists, but it has to sound organic, not forced. Additionally, I’m a fan of Stormzy and Doja Cat. […] I’d also love to work with my ‘home guys’ like Ice Cube, Snoop Dogg, and Dr. Dre.”

While the comments might seem harmless, many are calling out Love’s controversial history with race. In particular, her band Hole reportedly performed a 1994 track titled “N***er of Your Dreams” once before shelving it. She has also been accused of making racially insensitive comments during live shows and interviews, including questioning whether Black people listen to rock music and associating them with incarceration.

For fans of Kendrick Lamar, who is known for tackling systemic racism and inequality in his music, Love’s praise feels hypocritical or, at the very least, performative. Some speculate this could be an attempt by Love to reinvent herself or bury past controversies, but others are calling for accountability.

It remains to be seen whether Love’s admiration signals genuine growth or if it’s an effort to stay relevant in an ever-changing music industry. As for Kendrick, the success of his surprise album GNX continues to dominate the charts, solidifying his place as one of the most influential voices in music today.

What do you think about Courtney Love’s comments? Is this a sign of growth, or do her past actions speak louder than her current words? Share your thoughts below!