The hip-hop world has witnessed many a clash of titans, but the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake stands out for its subtlety, clever wordplay, and sheer star power. While both rappers have achieved legendary status, their musical styles and approaches to fame have created an undercurrent of tension that has occasionally boiled over into lyrical warfare.
The ongoing feud has everyone’s attention. While their beef is trending now, the feud between them has been there for over a decade. So, let’s delve into the history of this legendary rap beef between two of the most renowned rappers.
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The Root Cause Of The Feud Between Drake And Kendrick Lamar: From Admiration to Ambivalence
The roots of the feud can be traced back to 2011 when Kendrick appeared on Drake‘s song ‘Buried Alive Interlude.’ This early collaboration hinted at a mutual respect between the two. However, things began to shift in 2013 with Kendrick’s explosive verse on Big Sean’s track ‘Control‘.
Lines like “I got writer’s block, fightin’ writer’s block, tryna punch a concept in ya soft spot” were interpreted by many as a veiled jab at Drake’s reliance on ghostwriters. However, in ‘Control’ Lamar disses a lot of other rappers besides Drake. And Drake never explicitly responded, but the seeds of discord were sown.
Over the next few years, the tension simmered. Kendrick continued to drop subtle hints in his lyrics, while Drake maintained a public facade of indifference. This period was marked by a sense of “will they, won’t they” regarding a full-blown diss track exchange. However, nothing came out of it.
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What Reignited The Feud Between Drake And Kendrick?
Ever since Kendrick dropped ‘Like That’ firing shots at J Cole and Drake and claiming that he’s better than them things have been escalating. Instead of subtle jabs, ‘Like That’ was a straight diss towards the ‘Big 3’. In March 2024, things finally escalated. J. Cole, a frequent collaborator of Kendrick’s, released a diss track titled ‘7 Minute Drill‘ aimed at Kendrick.
While the track was quickly deleted, it ignited a firestorm of speculation. Drake responded to Lamar with a flurry of his own diss tracks, ‘Push Ups‘ and ‘Taylor Made.’ The latter caused controversy for its use of AI-generated vocals from deceased rapper Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, leading to legal threats from Tupac’s estate
Kendrick’s response, the recently released ‘6:16 In LA,’ was a masterclass in wordplay and strategic jabs. To this, Drake released his own diss title ‘Family Matters’ and made some serious allegations against Lamar. He accused Lamar of Domestic Violence against his wife.
This still wasn’t the end of it, on the same day as ‘Family Matters‘ Kendrick dropped one more diss track titled ‘Meet The Grahams‘. In this, he accused Drake of not being a part of his daughter’s life. While not with another track, Drake responded via his Instagram story joking about whether someone could find his hidden daughter.
Impact And Implications Of The Rap Feud On The Rap Industry
The Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud reflects a larger discussion within hip-hop about artistic integrity, authenticity, and the ever-evolving relationship between rappers and fame. Kendrick, known for his introspective lyrics and social commentary, stands in contrast to Drake’s focus on chart-topping anthems and luxurious lifestyles.
Their feud became a matter of clash between artistic purity and mainstream appeal. The impact of the feud extends beyond sparking internet debates and fueling thinking pieces. It injects a dose of drama and unpredictability into the often stagnant world of hip-hop. It pushes both rappers to sharpen their lyrical skills and experiment with new flows.
And most importantly, it keeps fans engaged and hungry for more music. The future of this feud remains uncertain. Will Drake respond with another diss track? Will they eventually call a truce? Only time will tell. But one thing is for sure: the back-and-forth between Kendrick Lamar and Drake will continue to be a captivating chapter in the ever-evolving story of hip-hop.
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