The rap world is buzzing with excitement over the intense rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, a feud that has escalated dramatically in recent days. Within just three days, both rappers dropped 5-6 diss tracks aimed at each other, with harsh language and personal attacks. What led to this heated exchange? Let’s take a look at the history and deep-rooted rivalries that have fueled this ongoing battle.
From Collaborators to Fierce Rivals
Going back to 2011, both Kendrick Lamar and Drake were rising stars in the rap scene. At the time, Drake was a mentor to Kendrick, frequently praising his talent and even collaborating on tracks like “Poetic Justice” from Kendrick’s album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. Drake also invited Kendrick to open for his Club Paradise Tour in 2012, solidifying their professional relationship.
However, this all changed after Kendrick’s breakthrough album, Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City, which propelled him to global rap stardom. His bold diss track, “Control,” named Drake and several other top rappers as his competition, shaking the rap world with his audacious statement: “I’m trying to murder all of you!” This marked the beginning of their bitter rivalry.
The Spark of Their Diss War
In response, Drake brushed off Kendrick’s challenge, telling Billboard that Kendrick could never “kill” him on any platform. For the next few years, both rappers dropped occasional jabs at each other in their tracks, but the animosity seemed to subside.
However, things reignited in 2023, when Drake collaborated with J. Cole on the track “First Person Shooter,” which reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. J. Cole’s verse rekindled the old beef, referencing Kendrick Lamar and reigniting the debate over who the greatest rapper truly is. Kendrick responded aggressively in 2024 with a fiery verse aimed directly at both Drake and J.Cole, declaring himself the “greatest” rapper, not them.
Personal Attacks and Accusations
As the beef intensified, the diss tracks became more personal. Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle” in April 2024 featured AI-generated rap vocals from Tupac and Snoop Dogg, mocking Kendrick for not responding to his earlier diss. Drake even brought Taylor Swift into the fray, alluding to her new album and implying that Kendrick’s silence was due to fear of her.
Kendrick didn’t hold back, releasing his 6-minute diss “Euphoria,” which mocked Drake’s relationships, questioned his authenticity, and insinuated that Drake was hiding a secret pedophile past. The diss tracks kept coming, with Kendrick even calling out Drake’s parenting and accusing him of hiding multiple children.
The Current Standoff
The war continues, with Kendrick Lamar recently dropping the track “Not Like Us,” where he directly accuses Drake of pedophilia, further intensifying the animosity. As of now, Drake has not responded to Kendrick’s most recent attacks.
This ongoing feud is one of the most dramatic and personal rap battles in recent memory, capturing the attention of fans and adding even more fuel to the fire of this already explosive rap beef.
