It’s been quite a rollercoaster for Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and rap enthusiasts lately, with the two artists engaging in a heated exchange of words (and verses) over the past few weeks, sparking a beef that’s grown more serious than many anticipated.
This feud between Lamar and Drake traces back over a decade to 2013 when Lamar dropped bars on the Big Sean track “Control,” expressing his desire to “murder” Drake and other prominent rappers. While Lamar initially clarified that it was all in the spirit of friendly competition, the current state of affairs between the two couldn’t be further from friendly.
In a rap battle that’s delved into everything from rumors about Ozempic to allegations of abuse and grooming, here’s the lowdown:
March: Lamar throws fuel on the fire with ‘Like That’
The feud reached new heights when Lamar featured on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” released on March 22. In his verse, seemingly aimed at Drake, Lamar challenged him to prove himself as a formidable force in the rap game. He also dismissed the notion of a “big three” in rap, asserting that it’s just him.
Mid-April: Drake fires back with ‘Push Ups’ and ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’
Drake officially entered the fray with a full diss track titled “Push Ups” on April 19, taking shots not only at Lamar but also at other artists like Rick Ross and The Weeknd. He followed it up with “Taylor Made Freestyle” on the same day, featuring AI impersonations of Snoop Dogg and Tupac. However, the latter drew backlash from Tupac’s estate and was pulled from streaming platforms.
Late April: Lamar hits back with ‘Euphoria’
Lamar responded with his own diss track, “Euphoria,” on April 30, where he didn’t hold back in calling Drake out, labeling him as a “pathetic master manipulator” and a “scam artist.”
May: The feud intensifies
The exchange escalated with Lamar releasing “6:16 in LA” on May 3, taking aim at Drake’s label and team. Drake retaliated with “Family Matters” later that day, making severe allegations against Lamar, including claims of physical abuse.
The saga continued with Lamar’s release of “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us” on May 3 and May 4, respectively, delving into various rumors and allegations against Drake, including those related to abuse and grooming.
Drake fired back on May 5 with “The Heart Part 6,” bringing up Lamar’s past and making counter-accusations.
In essence, what started as a feud between two rap heavyweights has evolved into a complex and contentious battle, with neither side pulling any punches.
