The Drake-Kendrick Lamar Saga Continues: Tracks and Claps Backs

The beef between two of hip-hop’s titans, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, has been turning up the warmth within the rap sport with a collection of intense diss tracks that showcase the sharp lyricism and deep-rooted stress between them. It began effervescent up once more in October 2023 when J. Cole stirred the pot by rating himself alongside Drake and Lamar because the “Big Three” of recent hip-hop in Drake’s observe “First Person Shooter.” Kendrick wasn’t having it, and he made his emotions crystal clear in March 2024 on the observe “Like That,” the place he didn’t simply throw shade—he blocked out the solar with traces dissing Cole and Drake, emphatically declaring himself as the one prime canine within the sport.

The ripple impact of Lamar’s daring declaration was quick. J. Cole briefly responded with “7 Minute Drill,” a observe he later pulled and publicly apologized for, displaying the complexity and the excessive stakes of hip-hop ego clashes. Drake, alternatively, stored his playing cards near his chest, vaguely referencing the scenario in a live performance saying nobody may match as much as him, interval.

On April 19, 2024, Drake let unfastened “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The former observe hit the airwaves with a vengeance, calling out not simply Lamar but additionally these within the business who sided with him, together with large names like Metro Boomin, Future, Rick Ross, and the Weeknd. “Taylor Made Freestyle” took issues a step additional by utilizing AI-generated voices of hip-hop legends Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg—an inventive selection that backfired when Shakur’s property stepped in, resulting in the observe’s elimination from social media.

To not be outdone, Kendrick Lamar got here again swinging with “Euphoria” on April 30, a direct response to Drake’s newest tracks. Days later, he dropped one other bomb with “6:16 in LA,” a intelligent twist on Drake’s personal type, alleged to reference the notorious O.J. Simpson trial in a cryptic but slicing method.

The drama didn’t cease there. Might 3 was a very explosive day, with Drake dropping “Buried Alive Interlude pt 2” and “Family Matters.” The latter not solely responded to Lamar’s earlier disses but additionally threw some deeply private accusations into the combo. Lamar instantly retaliated with “Meet the Grahams,” the place he alleged stunning private particulars about Drake’s personal life.

The newest on this saga is Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” launched on Might 4, 2024. Right here, Lamar goes all-in, accusing Drake of relying too closely on different artists for his success and leveling some critical allegations that proceed to escalate this feud to new heights.

Who’s up?