Kendrick Lamar and Drake Feud: Revealing the Reasons Behind the Feud

The world of hip-hop has witnessed its fair share of feuds over the years, but few have been as intense and intriguing as the one between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. These two rap giants have been trading subtle jabs and openly diss tracks for years, leaving fans and critics alike to dissect and analyze every lyrics.

The Early Days: A Tale of Mutual Respect

Before the feud began, Kendrick Lamar and Drake were once on good terms. In fact, Drake even praised Kendrick's debut album, "Section.80," on Twitter. Kendrick, in turn, expressed admiration for Drake's early mixtapes.

In fact, when Kendrick Lamar was up-coming, Drake offered him help by introducing him onto his album "Take Care". He also introduced him to his 2012 tour, Club Paradise Tour. Lamar also featured Drake in his second studio album, 2012’s Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, on the song “Poetic Justice.”

However, as time went on, their relationship began to fray. The exact reason for the fallout is unclear, but it's rumored that Drake's perceived commercialization of hip-hop clashed with Kendrick's more socially conscious approach.

How The Fallout Began

It all started when Kendrick Lamar appeared on Big Sean's Control.He made a dig at Drake and some other rappers including J.cole in the song. In the lyrics verse he said "I got love for you all, but I'm trying to murder you."

When asked about the jab, Drake responded the Bill Magazine: I didn't really have anything to say about it. It just sounded like an ambitious thought to me. That's all it was. Suggesting he was not going to be provoked.

J.Cole Enters The Feud

Drake didn't respond much to Kendrick Lamar's jab until october last year when he released his eighth album For All The Dogs, which featured a collaboration with J Cole inFirst Person Shooter. Where J Cole referred to himself, Drake, and Lamar as the “Big Three” of the modern hip-hop scene.

The song debuted at the top of the US singles chart, becoming Drake's 13th and Cole's first number-one song. This achievement meant that Drake is tied with Michael Jackson for the most number one singles by a male solo artist.

Kendrick Lamar Hits Back

In Rapper Future songLike That which was produced by Metro Boomin, Kendrick Lamar had a featured verse which criticized J.Cole previous song. In the standout verse he said “Motherf-ck the big three, it’s just big me.”

He followed up by calling Drake and J.Cole's best verses insubstantial - "a light pack" - and declared he was the Prince to Drake's Michael Jackson.

Remember, Metro Boomin' is a former Drake collaborator who fell out with the Canadian Superstar. Metro, whose real name is Leland Wayne, produced the majority of Drake's 2015 album What A Time To Be Alive, but a promised sequel never materialised, allegedly leading to bad blood between the pair.

J.Cole Steps Away From The Beef

Weeks after "Like That" came out, J.Cole released a new album called "Might Delete Later", in the album one of the songs called “7 Minute Drill” included a jab at Kendrick.

He raps Your first sh-t was classic, your last sh-t was tragic/ Your second sh-t put n----s to sleep, but they gassed it/ Your third sh-t was massive, and that was your prime. In the same song J.Cole admitted he has respect for Lamar, but wouldn't hesitate to destroy him if the insults continued.

On April 12, J.Cole decided to remove the song from all streaming platforms stating " the song didn’t sit right with his spirit" also saying his actions are some of the lamest, goofiest sh-t he's participated in.

I ain't gonna lie to y'all the past two days felt terrible," he told the audience, explaining that he'd caved into pressure to respond to Lamar's diss. He said.

Drake Reignites the Fire

Rap fans eagerly anticipated Drake’s response, and he didn’t hold back, dropping not one but two tracks on April 19: Push Ups and Taylor Made Freestyle. In these songs, the Toronto rapper takes aim at Kendrick Lamar, calling him a “pipsqueak” and mocking his stature with the line, “How the f-ck you big steppin’ with a size-seven men’s on?” Drake also takes a swipe at Lamar’s collaborations with pop artists, referencing his feature on Taylor Swift’s 2015 remix of Bad Blood and Maroon 5’s Don’t Wanna Know in 2016. On Push Ups, he raps, “Maroon 5 need a verse, you better make it witty / Then we need a verse for the Swifties,” poking fun at Lamar’s forays into the pop world.

In his tracks, Drake also took direct shots at Lamar’s height, referring to him as a “midget” (Lamar stands at 5’4”) and accusing him of being a puppet for his record label, claiming he’s pressured into collaborating with pop artists to stay relevant.

Euphoria

Kendrick’s response, “Euphoria,” dropped on April 30, 2024, and immediately sent shockwaves through the hip-hop community. The title itself is a nod to Drake’s role in the HBO series Euphoria, but it also serves as a metaphor for the fleeting, artificial highs that Kendrick associates with Drake’s persona and music.

“Euphoria” is a six-minute opus that unfolds in distinct sections, each serving a specific purpose. Kendrick doesn’t just attack Drake—he deconstructs him, piece by piece, in a way that feels both personal and philosophical. He rapped Let me say I'm the biggest hater, I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress

Not Like Us

The title itself, “ Not Like Us, ” is a direct shot at Drake’s perceived outsider status in hip-hop. Kendrick positions himself as the embodiment of authentic West Coast rap culture, while framing Drake as an interloper who appropriates Black culture for personal gain. The hook drives this point home: “You not like us, you not like us / You don’t ride for the culture, you just bite the buzz.” This line cuts to the core of Drake’s image, accusing him of being a cultural tourist rather than a true contributor.

Kendrick doesn’t hold back on the personal front. He digs into Drake’s biracial identity, his Canadian roots, and his alleged lack of authenticity. He raps "You claim the 6, but you don’t rep the streets / You claim the crown, but you don’t bleed the creed."

With “Not Like Us,” Kendrick Lamar didn’t just jab Drake—he delivered a knockout punch. It’s a track that combines personal attacks, cultural critique, and lyrical brilliance into one unforgettable moment. Whether Drake can recover remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: Kendrick has once again proven why he’s in a league of his own.

The Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud is a complex and multifaceted rivalry that has captivated the hip-hop world. Through a breakdown of the diss tracks and underlying reasons behind the beef, we've gained a deeper understanding of this epic feud. As the world of hip-hop continues to evolve, one thing is certain – the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud will remain a fascinating and intriguing chapter in the genre's history.