One of hip-hop's most heated rivalries, the continuing beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, will continue through 2025. The meat probably started with song verses and escalated to lawsuits, but the fans are here for it, and so is the music business.
Drake and Kendrick Lamar had a longstanding feud dating back to 2023, which turned into a catastrophic war in 2024. Kendrick's verse on Future and Metro Boomin's "Like That" track reignited the feud, with Lamar taking the bait as a "black man in a black man's world," setting himself up as a more serious artist than Drake's mainstream appeal. This set the stage for a string of diss tracks that would take over the charts and the headlines.
Kendrick Lamar, "Not Like Us" (May 4, 2024) The song made accusations of inappropriate relationships and nicknamed Drake and his crew "certified pedophiles." The track also prominently features the track's provocative lyrics and loud and compelling production, which resonated with audiences and fans alike, leading it to break numerous streaming records and become one of the most streamed diss tracks in history.
The song gained even more commercial popularity after Lamar gave a live rendition during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, which drew more than 127 million viewers. The performance featured suggestive lyrics and a smirk from Lamar, but it only heightened public interest and speculation.
Drake would respond with "The Heart Part 6" on May 5, 2024, to "Not Like Us." The aim of the track was ostensibly to respond to Lamar's allegations and establish Drake's version of the story. But it has gotten mixed reviews and was construed by many as a less intimidating response.
Drake also filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), claiming the label marketed Lamar's defamatory song, causing personal and career damage beyond the music itself. According to the lawsuit, UMG allegedly continued promoting the song despite being aware that it was causing harm , including a gunman's attack on Drake's home and damage to his businesses. The trial is expected to last three weeks, with no discussions of settlement occurring.
The feud has raised broader questions about the limits of artistic expression, defamation, and the role of record labels in promoting controversial material. Lamar's "Not Like Us" ruled the charts and led to five Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. When he released the track, streams of his back catalog increased by 50%, securing his position in the industry.
On the other hand, Drake's popularity has taken a hit in light of the drama. Recently, his visuals for "Nokia" are suspected of taking a quiet jab at Lamar's visuals, suggesting that the feud continues to inform their art.
The rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, however, has entered the realm of legal and cultural arguments over the terms of use when sampling a beat and the shifting political winds in the music industry. With both artists pumping out new material while also dealing with the legal nightmare their beef has become, the world continues to stay captivated, knowing full well that we're witnessing the evolution of hip-hop as we've never seen it before.