Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud — the largest beef in latest rap historical past — defined
In one of many greatest beefs in latest hip-hop historical past, Drake and Kendrick Lamar are feuding — to the purpose that police have been requested about their feud after a safety guard was shot exterior Drake’s Toronto mansion on Tuesday. However it wasn’t at all times this fashion.
Over a decade in the past, the pair collaborated on a couple of songs: On Drake’s 2011 observe “Buried Alive Interlude,” on Lamar’s 2012 launch “Poetic Justice,” and on A$AP Rocky’s “(Expletive) ’ Issues” that very same 12 months.
That did not final very lengthy. In 2013, Pulitzer Prize winner Lamar was featured on Massive Sean’s “Management,” during which he known as out a slew of latest rappers together with Drake, J. Cole, Meek Mill, Pusha T, A$AP Rocky, Massive Ok.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T and even Massive Sean amongst them.
“I obtained love for you all, however I’m making an attempt to homicide you,” he rapped. “Attempting to verify your core followers by no means heard of you.”
Drake responded in a Billboard cowl story, saying “I do know good and nicely that Kendrick’s not murdering me, in any respect, in any platform.” Shortly afterward, on the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards, Lamar took one other jab at Drake.
Over the following few years, the rappers launched disses at one another with much less frequency. Drake had different beefs with different performers, like Meek Mill in 2015, and most infamously Pusha T in 2018, the place the latter rapper dropped “The Story of Adidon,” revealing Drake is a father.
In October 2023, J. Cole maybe by accident reignited the meat on “First Individual Shooter” with Drake. He rapped “Love after they argue the toughest MC / Is it Ok-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?” referencing Lamar and Drake’s beginning identify, Aubrey Graham. “We the massive three like we began a league / however proper now, I really feel like Muhammad Ali.”
Which brings us to the present second. This is a timeline of the developments in latest weeks — it must be famous that diss tracks between rappers usually embody exaggerated truths and unsubstantiated rumors for dramatic impact, and that police haven’t mentioned the feud led to Tuesday’s capturing.
“The large three,” Lamar raps, referencing J. Cole’s boast. “It’s simply massive me.”
He references Drake’s 2023 album “For All of the Canine,” and in addition compares himself to Prince and Drake to Michael Jackson: “Prince outlived Mike Jack.”
J. Cole quickly releases a response, “7 Minute Drill,” however rapidly apologizes for it onstage at his Dreamville Competition in Raleigh, N.C.
Drake’s response is leaked and later premiered by DJ Akademiks. “You ain’t in no Massive Three, SZA obtained you wiped down, Travis obtained you wiped down, Savage obtained you wiped down,” he raps about Lamar.
It additionally assumed Drake takes intention at Future, Metro Boomin, Rick Ross and The Weeknd — Ross releases a response observe shortly afterward.
Drake’s second diss observe used synthetic intelligence know-how to incorporate verses from Tupac and Snoop Dogg, two of Lamar’s influences. In his personal verse, Drake accuses Lamar of delaying his response observe due to the upcoming launch of Taylor Swift ‘s “The Tortured Poets Division.” (Lamar collaborated with Swift on “Dangerous Blood.”)
Tupac’s property threatened to sue Drake in response, so he eliminated the music from his social channels.
Snoop Dogg responded to the information in a video on Instagram. “They did what? When? How? Are you positive?” he mentioned. “I’m going again to mattress. Good night time.”
That is the place it will get extra difficult. Lamar’s “Euphoria” hits like an opus, unleashing a slew of allegations towards Drake. He comes after Drake’s abilities as a rapper, use of AI, look, racial identification, and parenting.
“I obtained a son to boost, however I can see nothin’ ’bout that,” Lamar raps.
The title is a reference to the HBO collection “Euphoria,” of which Drake is an government producer.
Lamar teases that he’ll go “back-to-back” together with his tracks.
In Lamar’s subsequent diss, titled after a time and site like Drake is wont to do, Lamar targets the corporate Drizzy retains. “Have you ever ever thought that OVO was working for me? / Faux bully, I hate bullies,” he raps, referencing Drake’s document label. “You should be a horrible particular person / Everybody inside your group is whispering that you simply deserve it.”
In line with Billboard, the music was produced by Sounwave and Jack Antonoff — the latter notably Swift’s longtime producer. It additionally samples Al Inexperienced’s “What a Great Factor Love Is,” on which certainly one of Drake’s family performed guitar.
Drake hits again with a music video and an almost eight-minute response, during which he alleges abuse and infidelity in Lamar’s relationship with HIS fiancee.
Virtually instantly afterward, Lamar releases “Meet the Grahams,” which begins with the rapper addressing Drake’s son: “I am sorry that man is your father.” Lamar additionally addresses Drake’s dad and mom, and “a child lady,” alleging that Drake has a secret daughter.
He additionally labels Drake a “predator,” with out elaborating.
Hours later, Lamar doubles down, releasing “Not Like Us,” produced by DJ Mustard.
“Say, Drake, I hear you want ’em younger / You higher not ever go to cell block one,” Lamar raps.
Referencing Lamar’s “The Coronary heart” collection, Drake drops “The Coronary heart Half 6” in response. Within the music, which samples Aretha Franklin’s “Show It,” Drake challenges Lamar’s allegations, doubles down on his personal towards him, and says that he doesn’t have a secret daughter.
He sounds notably torpid on the music — doubtlessly taking a last bow with verses like, “You already know, at the least your followers are gettin’ some raps out of you / I’m glad I might encourage you.”
