Kendrick Lamar v Drake Beef, Explained

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Team Kendrick v Team Drake. When you get to the end of this story, you’re going to think “F*ck that guy” but which side will you choose? Here’s how Drake vs. Kendrick became the biggest rap beef of the century.

• The Full Feud, Explained

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Read time: 4 minutes | 880 words

FEATURE

⚔️ Drake vs. Kendrick: Hip-Hop's Biggest Beef

1.The cold war started with one verse. 

Kendrick drops "Control" and suddenly hip-hop's most calculated chess match begins.

Most people don’t realize it, but Drake and Kendrick have been trading subliminals for a decade:

• Drake's "The Language": "F*ck any n*gga that's talkin' that sh*t just to get a reaction"

• Kendrick's "The Heart Part 4": "One, two, three, four, five / I am the greatest rapper alive"

Then March 2024 happened and all hell broke loose. Kendrick hijacks Future and Metro's "Like That," goes straight for Drake's throat. No more chess moves - just "Motherf*ck the big three, n*gga, it's just big me." Pure violence. 🔥

2.Drake took it personally - this wasn't just another diss. 

After years of careful positioning, someone finally got under his skin. What happened next? Complete f*cking chaos.

The response came in waves, each one deadlier than the last:

• "Push Ups" - Drake comes out swinging at everybody

• Weaponizes his IG following to bait Kendrick

• "Taylor Made Freestyle" - Uses AI to mock Pac and Snoop

• Man really thought he had the upper hand 😭

Kendrick had enough of the games - April 30th became judgment day. Drops "Euphoria" out of nowhere, six straight minutes of pure destruction. Before Drake could even process it, "6:16 in LA" hits - turning Drake's timestamp series into a straight-up joke. Pure psychological warfare. ⚔️

Drake tried to end it with "Family Matters" but Kendrick was ready. 30 minutes later - that's right, 30 f*cking minutes - "Meet The Grahams" arrives. We're talking:

• Exposing every skeleton in Aubrey's closet

• Making accusations that can't be taken back

• No more industry politics or playing nice

• The kind of track you can't recover from 💀

But Kendrick wasn't done - "Not Like Us" wasn't just a diss, it was a coronation. Turns the whole thing into a West Coast movement, breaking every streaming record of 2024 with a track that united the entire coast. Kendrick takes the victory lap with the biggest LA concert of the decade, bringing out every legend from Snoop to YG. Plays "Not Like Us" six times back-to-back while the whole West Coast crowns their new king 👑

Drake's December was pure desperation - nothing was working anymore. Shows up on LosPollosTV's Twitch stream mocking Kendrick's "Mustard" bars while his lawyers are battling UMG. Drops "The Heart Part 6" trying to steal Kendrick's signature series. Man was throwing anything at the wall. 😭

The white flag finally came in the most Drake way possible. Posts some deep samurai image - one warrior against an army type. Captions it "That was fun. Summer Vibes up next" like this wasn't the biggest L of his career.

3.When the bars don't work, call the lawyers. 

Drake takes the whole thing to court, suing UMG and exposing the industry's dirty laundry:

• Caught them running streaming bot farms

• $50M in hidden promo money

• Exposed the playlist manipulation game

• Even tried to claim AI voice rights 👨‍⚖️

This wasn't just an L, it was a whole career pivot. Going from rap beef to legal briefs - tell me you lost without telling me you lost. Man really thought he could beat Kendrick with a lawsuit. 📄

The lawsuit echoed Michael Jackson's 2003 battle with UMG. Both artists faced similar accusations during contract disputes, leading to speculation about UMG's tactics.

By December 2024, Drake's empire showed cracks. His Australian tour announcement during Kendrick's historic Super Bowl performance looked like retreat. Industry veterans criticized his legal approach.

This wasn't just another rap beef - it marked hip-hop's corporate era facing its reckoning. Drake, the streaming king who turned hip-hop into a billion-dollar business, found himself outmaneuvered by the culture's conscience.

But numbers don't capture what the culture lost - and gained - when its architect became its cautionary tale. As Kendrick ascends to the Super Bowl stage, the industry watches Drake's next move. The outcome could reshape how hip-hop handles conflict in the streaming age.

Sometimes, even billions can't buy respect.

SONG OF THE WEEK

📀 “Luther” from Kendrick Lamar

“Luther” is the third track on Kendrick’s latest album, GNK. Here’s what you need to know about this song:

• Samples Marvin Gaye's classic "If This World Were Mine"

• Title "Luther" pays homage to Luther Vandross's soul legacy

• "Roman numeral seven" references Kendrick's seventh album "GNX"

• Features SZA's ethereal vocals, creating interplay between her vulnerability and Kendrick's grounded perspective on love

• "She a fan, he a flop" could reference Drake beef, contrasting authentic love with superficial attention

On the Boards: "Luther," "Reincarnated," and "Heart Pt. 6" standout on Kendrick’s latest album. Make sure to leave your review here.

ONE FUNNY THING