Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud stands as one of the most significant rivalries in modern hip-hop. This conflict has escalated far beyond mere lyrical exchanges, involving legal disputes and dissent against their common record label. The animosity fueled the creation of a song that recently clinched two major Grammys and is set to take center stage during this weekend’s Super Bowl performance.
Their relationship wasn’t always hostile; both artists collaborated on tracks such as “Buried Alive Interlude” by Drake in 2011, Lamar’s “Poetic Justice” in 2012, and A$AP Rocky’s hit “(Expletive) Problems” the same year. However, that collaboration phase quickly faded. The tension began in 2013 when Lamar made waves by calling out various rappers, including Drake, in Big Sean’s track “Control.” His bold proclamation was, “I got love for you all, but I’m trying to murder you,” illustrating his intent to overshadow his peers.
Drake’s reaction came through an interview with Billboard, where he dismissed the notion of Lamar outperforming him. The rivalry continued, with both artists taking jabs at each other sporadically. As Drake dealt with other beefs, notably with Pusha T in 2018, Kendrick kept the flames alive, particularly after a potential resurgence of their feud in October 2023, when J. Cole referenced both rappers in his verse on “First Person Shooter.”
Things escalated significantly in March 2023, when Lamar dissed Drake in the song “Like That,” referring to himself as “the big me” in a call back to J. Cole as “the big three.” Lamar’s lyrics made direct references to Drake’s 2023 album, likening himself to Prince while comparing Drake to Michael Jackson, emphasizing his belief of outliving the latter.
In response, a leaked track titled “Push Ups” from Drake echoed with criticism, stating that he held a superior position in the rap hierarchy. Later, he released a second diss track utilizing AI to pull in verses from iconic rappers such as Tupac and Snoop Dogg, drawing on their influence on Lamar. However, this attempt faced backlash from Tupac’s estate, leading to a retraction from Drake.
Lamar’s five-minute track “Euphoria” later came out, attacking various facets of Drake’s life, from his parenting to his identity, issuing a stark challenge about his understanding of fatherhood. Following this, another diss titled “6:16 in LA” directly questioned the company Drake keeps, insinuating OVO, Drake’s label, could potentially be working against him.
Drake countered with “Family Matters,” bringing forth allegations regarding Lamar’s personal life and infidelity. Soon after, Lamar released “Meet the Grahams,” mocking Drake’s role as a father and implying he harbored darker secrets. A flurry of diss tracks from both sides ensued through early May as they aimed barbs at each other’s reputations, culminating in Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” This song broke new ground, achieving tremendous streaming success and topping the Billboard charts.
As the summer rolled in, Lamar celebrated in Los Angeles with a concert, performing hits from the ongoing feud while celebrating his hometown’s culture. The announcement of Lamar headlining the Super Bowl provided further hype around his career and status. As both artists continued to pursue their individual paths, the rivalry seemed to die down slightly, but it re-emerged with legal disputes later in 2023, as Drake filed lawsuits against Universal Music Group, accusing them of unfair practices that benefited Lamar.
Drake’s defamation lawsuit claimed that the promotion of “Not Like Us” impacted his brand negatively, linking it to serious ramifications in his life. Subsequently, Lamar triumphed at the Grammy Awards, winning multiple accolades for his diss tracks and celebrating the victory with a shoutout to his community. This ongoing saga reveals a deep-seated tension in the rap industry that keeps both artists relevant, as fans eagerly anticipate each new development in their storied conflict.
