Beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake: history and latest moves
8 may 2024 в 19:44
It’s funny to think that Kendrick Lamar and Drake were once collaborators. At the beginning of his career, Kendrick, 36, featured on Drake’s song «Buried Alive Interlude» from the album «Take Care». Kendrick also served as an opening act on Drake’s tour in 2012, and Drake appeared on Kendrick’s song «Poetic Justice» from the 2012 album «Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City».
In 2013, Kendrick called out many famous rappers in his guest verse on the never officially released Big Sean song «Control», - including Drake. «I love you all, but I’m trying to kill you», - rapped Kendrick. While there were different opinions and speculations that one of Drake’s songs was a response to «Control», - the conflict mostly quieted down over the decade. When Kendrick released «euphoria» in late April 2024, many fans were drawn into the conflict between them. Although it’s unclear if the dispute ended, at the time of publication, the last word was left to Drake.
Let’s remember the chronology of the conflict, starting with Drake’s track «For All The Dogs» at the end of 2023.
When Drake released his album «For All The Dogs» in October 2023, one of the standout tracks was «First Person Shooter», - featuring J.Cole. In the song, both Cole and Drake rap about their superstar status and boast about their success. While they celebrated their leadership in the game, Cole expressed gratitude to Kendrick, declaring the trio the «Big 3», - although acknowledging feeling like a great boxer «Muhammad Ali».
Despite Cole’s verse being mostly complimentary, Kendrick responded months later with a verse to show he disagreed when he featured on Future and Metro Boomin’s song «Like That». He attacked both Drake and Cole in the song, proclaiming himself as the best. «To hell with the jabs, first-person shooter, hope they came with three switches», - he rapped. «To hell with the big three. N***a, it’s just a big me».
Kendrick also attacked a line in Drake’s song where he compared himself to Michael Jackson, and Kendrick compared himself to another legend. «Prince lived longer than Michael Jackson».
Shortly before Kendrick attacked in «Like That», - Cole unexpectedly released his album «Might Delete Later». In the final track «7 Minute Drill», - Cole attacked rapper Damn with a multitude of disses against his music and his status in the modern rap scene. The Born Sinner rapper also accused Kendrick of throwing disses to stay relevant. «He's still performing, but fell off like The Simpsons», - he rapped. «If he wasn’t dissing, we wouldn’t be talking about him».
As scheduled, J. Cole quickly retracted his diss track on stage at his Dreamville festival. «There's a part of this shit that makes me feel like this is the lamest shit I’ve ever done in my life, right?» he said. «How many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest rappers to ever touch the microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, right?»
Since then, Cole has not engaged in the conflict.
Just a few days after Cole retracted his diss, Drake’s song «Push Ups» surfaced. In the track, Drake not only attacks Kendrick for his music but also insults Kendrick’s height and, more notably, he insults the rapper’s deal with his former label Top Dawg Entertainment. Drake also attacks several other rappers, such as Rick Ross, who supported Kendrick in the conflict. In addition to all this, Drake showcases his success and wealth. «By the numbers, I’m outta here, you ain’t sneaking up», - he rapped. «By the money, I’m outta here, you ain’t sneaking up».
After Drake’s song, Rick Ross released «Champagne Moments», - in which he responded to the conflict. A few days later, the rapper released «Taylor Made Freestyle», - in which he used artificial intelligence technology to have the voices of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg speak a few lines in the track
In 2013, Kendrick called out many famous rappers in his guest verse on the never officially released Big Sean song «Control», - including Drake. «I love you all, but I’m trying to kill you», - rapped Kendrick. While there were different opinions and speculations that one of Drake’s songs was a response to «Control», - the conflict mostly quieted down over the decade. When Kendrick released «euphoria» in late April 2024, many fans were drawn into the conflict between them. Although it’s unclear if the dispute ended, at the time of publication, the last word was left to Drake.
Let’s remember the chronology of the conflict, starting with Drake’s track «For All The Dogs» at the end of 2023.
When Drake released his album «For All The Dogs» in October 2023, one of the standout tracks was «First Person Shooter», - featuring J.Cole. In the song, both Cole and Drake rap about their superstar status and boast about their success. While they celebrated their leadership in the game, Cole expressed gratitude to Kendrick, declaring the trio the «Big 3», - although acknowledging feeling like a great boxer «Muhammad Ali».
Despite Cole’s verse being mostly complimentary, Kendrick responded months later with a verse to show he disagreed when he featured on Future and Metro Boomin’s song «Like That». He attacked both Drake and Cole in the song, proclaiming himself as the best. «To hell with the jabs, first-person shooter, hope they came with three switches», - he rapped. «To hell with the big three. N***a, it’s just a big me».
Kendrick also attacked a line in Drake’s song where he compared himself to Michael Jackson, and Kendrick compared himself to another legend. «Prince lived longer than Michael Jackson».
Shortly before Kendrick attacked in «Like That», - Cole unexpectedly released his album «Might Delete Later». In the final track «7 Minute Drill», - Cole attacked rapper Damn with a multitude of disses against his music and his status in the modern rap scene. The Born Sinner rapper also accused Kendrick of throwing disses to stay relevant. «He's still performing, but fell off like The Simpsons», - he rapped. «If he wasn’t dissing, we wouldn’t be talking about him».
As scheduled, J. Cole quickly retracted his diss track on stage at his Dreamville festival. «There's a part of this shit that makes me feel like this is the lamest shit I’ve ever done in my life, right?» he said. «How many people think Kendrick Lamar is one of the greatest rappers to ever touch the microphone? Dreamville, y’all love Kendrick Lamar, right?»
Since then, Cole has not engaged in the conflict.
Just a few days after Cole retracted his diss, Drake’s song «Push Ups» surfaced. In the track, Drake not only attacks Kendrick for his music but also insults Kendrick’s height and, more notably, he insults the rapper’s deal with his former label Top Dawg Entertainment. Drake also attacks several other rappers, such as Rick Ross, who supported Kendrick in the conflict. In addition to all this, Drake showcases his success and wealth. «By the numbers, I’m outta here, you ain’t sneaking up», - he rapped. «By the money, I’m outta here, you ain’t sneaking up».
After Drake’s song, Rick Ross released «Champagne Moments», - in which he responded to the conflict. A few days later, the rapper released «Taylor Made Freestyle», - in which he used artificial intelligence technology to have the voices of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg speak a few lines in the track
© Smirnova Olga
