The ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has taken the rap world by storm, surpassing mere lyrical sparring to become a full-blown conflict that has seen legal battles and a revolt against their record label. This clash has not only showcased their verbal dexterity but has also led to a Grammy-winning song and anticipation for a performance at the upcoming Super Bowl.
While they were once collaborators on various tracks, tensions escalated in 2013 when Lamar called out several fellow rappers, including Drake, in a controversial verse on a Big Sean song. This sparked a series of responses and subtle jabs between the two artists over the years. Drake, known for his beef with Pusha T in 2018, found himself back in the spotlight when J. Cole mentioned both him and Lamar in a recent song.
The rivalry hit a new peak with a series of diss tracks exchanged between the two artists in 2023. Lamar took shots at Drake on the track “Like That,” prompting Drake to fire back with a leaked response titled “Push Ups.” Drake then escalated the feud by enlisting AI technology and involving Taylor Swift in a second diss track, leading to legal threats from Tupac’s estate.
Lamar retaliated with the scathing track “Euphoria,” where he criticized Drake’s rapping skills, use of AI, appearance, racial identity, and parenting. The feud continued with Lamar releasing another track, “6:16 in LA,” further fueling the intense rivalry between the two rap heavyweights.
In his latest diss track, Kendrick Lamar takes aim at Drake’s company and associates, suggesting that they may be working against him. He calls out Drake’s record label, OVO, and questions the authenticity of Drake’s persona. The song, produced by Sounwave and Jack Antonoff, samples Al Green’s music and includes references to Drake’s personal life.
Drake responds with a music video and a lengthy rebuttal, accusing Lamar of misconduct in his relationship with his fiancée. Lamar quickly fires back with another track, “Meet the Grahams,” where he addresses Drake’s family and hints at a secret daughter. The feud escalates as Lamar releases “Not Like Us,” implying controversial allegations about Drake.
Despite the tension, Drake softens his approach in his own track, “The Heart Part 6,” challenging Lamar’s claims and denying the existence of a secret child. The rivalry peaks when Lamar’s “Not Like Us” reaches the top of the charts and garners significant streaming numbers.
Lamar celebrates his success with a hometown concert in Los Angeles, joined by Dr. Dre for iconic performances. His victory lap continues as he is announced as the halftime headliner for the upcoming Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Drake counters by taking legal action against Universal Music Group, alleging manipulation of streaming numbers for Lamar’s songs.
The feud between the two artists intensifies, with Lamar receiving multiple Grammy nominations for his diss tracks. The conflict between them extends beyond music to legal battles and industry controversies.
A potential lawsuit looms as two companies are instructed to preserve documents; Universal Music Group (UMG) rejects the claims as “offensive and false” while Spotify remains silent, denying any manipulation of streaming numbers. Meanwhile, popular artist Drake announces his return to Australia after eight years, coinciding with Kendrick Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl.
In a legal move, Drake files a lawsuit in Texas, targeting the radio play of his song “Not Like Us.” The lawsuit suggests that UMG colluded with iHeartMedia to inflate the song’s popularity. iHeartMedia does not offer a comment in response to the allegations.
Drake escalates the legal battle by filing a defamation lawsuit against UMG, accusing the label of promoting false pedophilia allegations in his song and inciting listeners to vigilante actions. The lawsuit blames the label for adverse effects on Drake’s personal life and career.
Kendrick Lamar triumphs at the Grammy Awards, winning five accolades including Song of the Year and Record of the Year for “Not Like Us.” Despite the legal disputes, Lamar remains humble in victory, dedicating his success to his city and expressing gratitude for the support from Los Angeles neighborhoods.
These events unfolded starting from May 7, 2024, with updates on February 5, 2025, to include legal proceedings, Grammy wins for Lamar, and the upcoming Super Bowl performance by Lamar along with Drake’s anticipated tour in Australia.
