Drake Drives Rolling Flexes, but Kendrick Lamar’s Car Collection is Effortlessly Cool
I’ll admit, I’m not the world’s biggest hiphop fan. I have enjoyed some of the best albums by both Drake and Kendrick Lamar. But it wasn’t until I investigated these two musical titan celebrities‘ car collections that I realized what polar opposites they are. I’ll lay it out for you.
Drake has a car collection worthy of any A-list celebrity. And he got there by spending a ton of money on limited edition exotics. With his estimated $250 million net worth, it’s unsurprising he’s cut some huge checks. He, or someone who works for him, has also made some fantastic decisions. Here’s the rundown.
Drake owns one of the world’s few Ferrari La Ferraris. The brands first road-legal hybrid came out in 2013 and ushered in a new era for mid-engine supercars.Yeah, these cars resell for up to $5.3 million. But owning one signals you know your hypercars much better than any old chump in a Lamborghini.
To keep his Ferrari company, Drake also owns a Bugatti Veyron special edition called the Sang Noir. He bought this car new for an estimated $2.2 million in 2010 and he even mentioned it in his lyrics. With only 15 of these made, his was the only one originally sold in Canada. For comparison’s sake, when the Veyron came out, Tom Cruise had to settle for a regular trim while Drake one-upped him.
Lots of celebrities seeking a better G Wagon buy a Mercedes SUV and ship it off to the “Brabus” aftermarket tuning company. But Drake when a step further, he had Brabus rip off the doors and build him a one-off 900-horsepower dune buggy. This one-of-a-kind 4WD isn’t even road legal. The plaque inside says, “Built for Aubrey Drake Graham.”
These cars are all world class and exquisite. They are the type of things only the world’s richest–and best connected–drivers will ever touch. Drake drives rolling flexes. And Kendrick Lamar’s collection couldn’t be more opposite.
While Drake spent his formative years in Toronto, Kendrick Lamar grew up in East Los Angeles. In 1987, Kendrick’s father drove him home form the hospital in a Buick Regal. Later he would honor the moment with the line, “As an ’87 Regal with the tree air freshener on the rearview mirror.” And as soon as he could afford it, he bought his own Buick Regal.
Lamar has said he grew up while 2Pac and NWA were taking lowrider culture mainstream. This gave him a healthy appreciation for American cars of the 60s, 70s, and 80s. But the first car he bought when he had his own money was a 1992 Cadillac Seville coupe. Some versions of the story say his dad gave him the car. Whatever the case, he outfitted the car with dope scissor doors. But he left the color and the rims stock to preserve that Radwood-era coolness.
Today, Lamar is worth an estimated $100 million. He went out and bought the 1964 Chevrolet Impala he’d always wanted. It was obviously inspired by his formative years in the capital of low-riders. But it is a car that will always be cool.
Lamar also bought the obligatory garage full of Range Rovers, G Wagons, and even a BMW i8. I’ll add that final one looks at home in a row of exotics, but is a very unique choice. Lamar can afford to chase Drake-level flexes. But he walks a different path. I’ll break it down.
First, let’s talk about album covers. Lamar’s artwork has featured classics such as an old Chrysler Town and Country and a 1990 Cadillac Brougham. These aren’t flexes, they are just people’s cars. But there is something a bit alternative, and cool, about both choices. For the infamous “Alright” music video scene with four men dressed as police officers carrying a car full of rappers, Lamar chose a 1960 Chevrolet Corvair. Again, cool. But in an alternative, hip way. And whenever he raps about cars, he says things that make any enthusiast bob their head.
When Lamar’s little sister graduated college, he took the opportunity to teach her a lesson in saving money and buying a reliable car by getting her a Toyota Camry. He didn’t hide the fact, but posted about his decision.
Meanwhile, his collection grew. Not just with one-off custom exotics. But with tasteful, effortlessly cool classics such as a 1970 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. He pushed back on supercars as status symbols, even rapping on Loyalty, “Is it love for the streets when the lights get dark?/Is it unconditional when the ‘Rari don’t start?”
As an automotive enthusiast, I believe Lamar has something even more valuable than yet another Ferrari in the driveway. He has taste. In fact, with 1980s and 1990s cars quickly becoming icons, I’d say he has his finger on the pulse of the nation. And as a result, his car collection is effortlessly cool.