Drake Vs. Kendrick Lamar: a Full Timeline of the Rappers’ Beef

• Drake and Kendrick Lamar, as soon as collaborators early of their careers, are actually actively beefing.
• Their feud reached a fever pitch in Could 2024, when Lamar dropped the diss observe “Not Like Us.”
• Now, Drake is suing Common Music Group for permitting the tune’s launch.

Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s explosive feud has captivated the hip-hop world — however as Drake notes in his diss observe “Push Ups,” the 2 have an much more tangled, contentious historical past than meets the attention.

“That fucking tune y’all bought didn’t begin the meat with us,” Drake raps. “This shit been brewing in a pot, now I am heating up.”

The tune in query is Future and Metro Boomin’s hit single “Like That,” launched on March 22, 2024. It options Lamar issuing a problem to each Drake and J. Cole, thought of by many to be the three greatest rappers working at this time.

Lamar’s taunt ignited a diss-track warfare in April and Could, with Drake and Lamar hurling eight extra diss tracks backwards and forwards.

At first, followers delighted in a whiff of recent beef. Diss battles are frequent in hip-hop, as rappers use them to showcase their reflexes, tenacity, and songwriting abilities.

Feuds may also be a savvy advertising and marketing tactic to assist artists enhance streams and gross sales. “Like That,” for example, reigned atop the Billboard Scorching 100 for 3 weeks, and “We Do not Belief You” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Later, each Drake and Lamar climbed Scorching 100 with numerous jabs, together with “Push Ups,” “Euphoria,” and “Household Issues.”

Nevertheless, as Drake and Lamar continued to conflict, Drake escalated his assaults to the courts, launching a authorized grievance towards Spotify and suing Common Music Group (his personal label’s umbrella firm), accusing each of artificially inflating streams of Lamar’s fan-favorite diss observe “Not Like Us.”

How did we get right here? This is the whole lot to find out about Drake and Lamar’s relationship, each previous and current.

Hannah Getahun contributed to an earlier model of this story.

Drake and Lamar have been taking photographs at one another since 2013

Drake and Lamar could have began out as pals, or not less than trusted colleagues. They launched two collaborations in 2011 (“Buried Alive Interlude” on Drake’s album and “Poetic Justice” on Lamar’s album) and teamed up with A$AP Rocky for the 2012 hit “F**kin’ Issues.” Lamar additionally opened for Drake’s Membership Paradise Tour in 2012.

Their unhealthy blood probably started when Lamar declared he was higher than all of the rising rap stars, together with Drake and J. Cole, throughout a visitor verse on Massive Sean’s 2013 tune “Management.”

“And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Massive Okay.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Massive Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, Mac Miller / I bought love for you all, however I am tryna homicide you n*****,” he rapped.

Drake apparently responded on his personal tune, “The Language,” from the 2013 album “Nothing Was the Similar” — although he did not name out Lamar by title.

“I do not know why they been mendacity however your shit just isn’t that inspiring,” Drake raps. “Checking account assertion simply appear like I am prepared for early retirement / Fuck any n**** that is speaking that shit simply to get a response.”

Since then, Drake and Lamar have appeared to make small digs at one another in each music and interviews.

In 2015, Lamar launched “King Kunta” as a single from his acclaimed album, “To Pimp a Butterfly.” Within the tune, he mocks an unnamed “rapper with a ghostwriter.”

Though Lamar hasn’t confirmed who the “King Kunta” lyric is about, Drake has been repeatedly accused of utilizing ghostwriters by rappers like Meek Mill and Pusha T.

J. Cole entered the feud after showing on Drake’s ‘First Particular person Shooter’ in October 2023

Drake launched his collaboration with J. Cole, “First Particular person Shooter,” as a single from his newest album, “For All of the Canines.”

Within the braggadocious tune, J. Cole references Lamar as “Okay-Dot” (his former stage title) and Drake as “Aubrey” (as in Aubrey Graham, his authorized title) when itemizing the largest names in hip-hop: “Love once they argue the toughest MC / Is it Okay-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me? / We the large three like we began a league, however proper now, I really feel like Muhammad Ali.”

Drake ends the tune by evaluating his success to that of the late Michael Jackson, one of many best-selling artists in historical past. “First Particular person Shooter” debuted atop the Scorching 100 in October 2023, incomes Drake his thirteenth No. 1 tune on the chart, the identical whole as Jackson.

5 months later, Lamar’s verse in “Like That” straight references these lyrics, in addition to the tune’s title.

“Fuck sneak dissin’, first-person shooter, I hope they got here with three switches,” Lamar raps. “Motherfuck the large three, n****, it is simply massive me.”

One month after ‘Like That’ dropped, Cole fired again at Lamar, then apologized two days later

J. Cole did not touch upon Lamar’s “Like That” verse till April 5, 2024, when he launched a 12-track EP, “May Delete Later,” that includes Gucci Mane, Ari Lennox, and others.

The primary verse of the ultimate observe, “7 Minute Drill,” seems to be a direct response to Lamar, who Cole implies is shedding reputation.

“He nonetheless doing reveals, however fell off just like the Simpsons / Your first shit was traditional, your final shit was tragic / Your second shit put n***** to sleep, however they gassed it / Your third shit was large and that was your prime / I used to be trailing proper behind and I simply now hit mine,” Cole raps.

Followers imagine Cole is referencing 2012’s “Good Child, M.A.A.D Metropolis” (“traditional”), 2022’s “Mr. Morale & the Massive Steppers” (“tragic”), 2015’s “To Pimp a Butterfly” (“gassed”), and 2017’s “Rattling” (“large”), respectively.

Nevertheless, two days after the tune was launched, Cole apologized to Lamar throughout his efficiency on the Dreamville Competition in Raleigh, North Carolina.

“I simply need to come up right here and publicly be like, bruh, that was the lamest, goofiest shit,” Cole stated in a video shared on X. “And I pray that y’all are like, forgive a n**** for the misstep and I can get again to my true path. As a result of I ain’t gonna misinform y’all. The previous two days felt horrible.”

Cole stated he felt conflicted as a result of he respects Lamar however felt strain from his friends and followers to reply.

Cole stated releasing “7 Minute Drill” (and the discourse it impressed) did not “sit proper with my spirit,” including that he hoped Lamar, who he describes as “one of many best motherfuckers to ever contact a fuckin’ microphone,” wasn’t harm by his phrases.

Representatives for Lamar and Cole didn’t reply to a request for remark from Enterprise Insider.

Future and Metro Boomin stirred extra hassle with ‘We Nonetheless Do not Belief You’

On April 12, 2024, Future and Metro Boomin launched their second collaborative album, “We Nonetheless Do not Belief You.” Whereas neither rapper straight dissed Drake, they enlisted The Weeknd and A$AP Rocky to do their bidding.

Within the eighth observe, “All To Myself,” The Weeknd references his choice to not signal with Drake’s OVO label earlier in his profession, which reportedly led to a falling out between the 2 Canadian stars.

“They may by no means diss my brothers, child / Once they bought leaks in they operation / I thank God that I by no means signed my life away / And we by no means do the large speak / They shooters makin’ TikToks / Acquired us laughin’ within the Lambo,” The Weeknd raps.

On the later observe, “Present of Arms,” Rocky references the rumor that he had intercourse with Sophie Brussaux, the mom of Drake’s son, earlier than Drake did.

“N***** in they emotions over ladies, what, you harm or one thing? / I smash earlier than you birthed, son, Flacko hit it first, son,” Rocky raps.

Rocky and Drake had gave the impression to be pals till the “F**kin’ Issues” rapper started to this point Rihanna, who beforehand had a will-they-won’t-they relationship with Drake.

Nevertheless, Rocky’s diss wasn’t precisely unprovoked. In “Concern of Heights,” the fourth observe on “For All of the Canines,” Drake mocks each Rocky and Rihanna, implying intercourse along with his ex-girlfriend was “common” and saying Rocky “cannot depart” as a result of they’ve youngsters collectively, evoking a traditional sexist trope often known as “child trapping.”

Drake and Kendrick’s diss observe battle begins in earnest

Sooner or later after the discharge of “We Nonetheless Do not Belief You,” Drake dropped his response, setting off a back-and-forth change of barbs in diss tracks that might final via the spring.

April 13, 2024: “Push Ups” (Drake)

Drake spends many of the four-minute observe dissing Lamar, though he reserves just a few photographs for Future, Metro Boomin, J. Cole, The Weeknd, and Rick Ross.

Ross rapidly recorded and launched a response, “Champagne Moments,” through which he calls Drake a “white boy,” claims the rapper bought a nostril job, and accuses him of stealing his move from Lil Wayne.

April 19, 2024: “Taylor Made Freestyle” (Drake)

This observe is greatest recognized for Drake’s ill-advised use of AI to generate verses from the late Tupac Shakur, aka 2pac, and Snoop Dogg. Many followers criticized this transfer, significantly as Shakur was unable to consent.

Snoop Dogg responded to the tune with a jokey Instagram video through which he reacts to messages about Drake utilizing his voice.

On April 24, 2024, Billboard reported that Shakur’s property had despatched Drake a cease-and-desist letter for abusing his likeness, calling it a “blatant abuse” of his legacy.

Two days later, Drake eliminated “Taylor Made Freestyle” from social media and streaming platforms.

April 30, 2024: “Euphoria” (Kendrick Lamar)

After laying low for a lot of April, Lamar surprise-released “Euphoria,” a scorching six-minute diss observe aimed explicitly at Drake.

Could 3, 2024: “6:16 in LA” (Kendrick Lamar)

Days later, Lamar launched one other diss observe on his Instagram. The title could consult with Shakur’s birthday, June 16, or probably Father’s Day, which ties into Lamar’s insults about Drake’s parenting abilities.

Could 3, 2024: “Household Issues” (Drake)

The identical day, Drake launched this seven-and-a-half-minute response to Lamar’s back-to-back diss tracks, together with a music video that depicts a pink minivan much like the one on the duvet of Lamar’s “Good Child, M.A.A.d Metropolis,” being pushed throughout the border to Canada and destroyed.

Later within the video, Drake is proven having dinner on the identical Chinese language restaurant Lamar raps about in “Euphoria.”

Could 3, 2024: “Meet the Grahams” (Kendrick Lamar)

Lamar dropped “Meet the Grahams” lower than an hour after Drake launched “Household Issues.” The tune is framed as an open letter to Drake’s household, with Lamar straight addressing his then-6-year-old son, Adonis, his mom, Sandra, and his father, Dennis.

Could 4, 2024: “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar)

The following morning, Lamar unleashed one other diss observe: his crown jewel, “Not Like Us.”

All through the four-and-a-half-minute diss observe, Lamar accuses Drake of pedophilic habits and associating with questionable individuals, together with Baka Not Good, a rapper signed to OVO who pleaded responsible to assault in 2015. (As Enterprise Insider beforehand reported, Drake’s entourage has a historical past of violence, however he has by no means been publicly accused of sexual misconduct.)

The duvet artwork for “Not Like Us” is an aerial shot of Drake’s dwelling in Toronto, lined in pins that resemble these utilized by intercourse offender registries.

Could 5, 2024: “The Coronary heart Half 6” (Drake)

Drake’s response to “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us” denies a lot of Lamar’s claims within the observe and says he is “disgusted” by the suggestion that he is “fucking younger women.” He additionally says Lamar’s staff is full of “clowns” who’re feeding him false info. The tune’s title is a reference to Lamar’s “The Coronary heart” sequence.

Drake additionally appeared to recommend he is bowing out of the feud with Lamar.

After the discharge of Not Like Us,’ a safety guard exterior Drake’s Toronto mansion was shot

On Could 7, 2024, a spokesperson for the Toronto Police Service confirmed to BI that Drake’s safety guard suffered a gunshot wound whereas standing exterior his entrance gates.

There have been additionally stories of a number of individuals making an attempt to interrupt into the property.

Amid the incidents, Drake complained on Instagram concerning the media helicopters surrounding his dwelling.

Lamar carried out ‘Not Like Us’ 5 instances at his Juneteenth live performance

On June 19, 2024, Lamar hosted a one-off live performance to have fun Juneteenth referred to as “The Pop Out: Ken & Associates,” which was live-streamed on Amazon Prime Video and Twitch.

The occasion featured up-and-coming West Coast rappers and main Californian stars, together with Dr. Dre, Jay Rock, and Tyler the Creator. Lamar closed the night time along with his personal set, kicking it off with “Euphoria.”

Throughout the efficiency, Lamar added a brand new line, “Give me Tupac’s ring again and I would offer you a bit of respect,” referring to stories that Drake had purchased a hoop that belonged to Shakur.

Later within the set, Lamar carried out “6:16 in LA” and “Like That.” Lamar ended the night time by performing “Not Like Us” 5 instances in a row (six together with an instrumental model). He was joined onstage by a crowd of West Coast performers, athletes, and gang members.

The live performance was extensively hailed as Lamar’s victory lap.

On July 4, 2024, Lamar launched the long-awaited music video for ‘Not Like Us’

Precisely two months after releasing “Not Like Us,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Scorching 100, Lamar launched a music video filled with references to Drake.

Throughout one scene, Lamar is joined by his fianceé, Whitney Alford, and their two younger youngsters.

The video ends with Lamar placing an owl in a cage; the emblem for Drake’s label, OVO, is an owl.

Lamar stunned followers by dropping his new album ‘GNX’ earlier than the top of the 12 months

After months of silence, Lamar surprise-released the 12-track album on November 22, 2024.

Whereas “GNX” would not embrace any explicitly anti-Drake tracks like “Euphoria” or “Not Like Us,” it contains a number of obvious references to their feud and its ripple results.

“Snoop posted ‘Taylor Made,’ I prayed it was the edibles / I could not imagine it, it was solely proper for me to let it go,” Lamar raps within the album’s opening observe, “Wacced Out Murals.”

The album’s tenth observe is named “Coronary heart Pt. 6,” permitting Lamar to reclaim the title from Drake.

“GNX” garnered optimistic preliminary opinions from critics, rounding off a transformative and triumphant 12 months for Lamar.

Drake’s firm launched two authorized actions towards Common Music Group and Spotify

On November 25, 2024, Drake took his feud with Lamar into authorized territory.

Drake’s firm, Frozen Moments, filed a pre-action petition in a New York court docket towards Common Music Group (UMG) — the file firm that owns Lamar’s label Interscope and Drake’s label Republic Data — in addition to the streaming big Spotify.

The petition accuses each UMG and Spotify of utilizing illicit strategies, corresponding to bots and payola (in any other case often known as “pay-for-play”), to inflate streams of “Not Like Us.”

The submitting additionally claims that “Not Like Us” induced Drake to endure “financial hurt.”

Hours after the submitting made headlines, Billboard unearthed one other motion by Drake’s firm, filed the identical day in Texas court docket. The second petition claims that UMG “funneled funds” to the radio conglomerate iHeartRadio with a view to enhance spins of “Not Like Us.”

Drake’s legal professionals alleged that UMG might have blocked “Not Like Us” from being launched as a result of it “attacked the character of one other considered one of UMG’s most distinguished artists, Drake, by falsely accusing him of being a intercourse offender, participating in pedophilic acts, harboring intercourse offenders and committing different felony sexual acts,” per Billboard.

“The suggestion that UMG would do something to undermine any of its artists is offensive and unfaithful,” a spokesperson for UMG instructed BI.

“No quantity of contrived and absurd authorized arguments on this pre-action submission can masks the truth that followers select the music they need to hear,” the spokesperson added.

Representatives for Lamar and Drake didn’t instantly reply to BI’s requests for remark. A consultant from Spotify declined to remark.

In January, Drake sued UMG for spreading a ‘false and malicious narrative’

In a defamation lawsuit filed January 15 in federal court docket, Drake claimed UMG “permitted, revealed and launched a marketing campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap observe” which was “meant to convey the precise, unmistakable and false factual allegation that Drake is a felony pedophile, and to recommend that the general public ought to resort to vigilante justice in response,” per The New York Instances.

The go well with additionally accuses UMG of valuing “company greed over the security and well-being of its artists,” citing the safety guard who was injured exterior Drake’s dwelling for example of the tune’s repercussions. (The duvet artwork for “Not Like Us” is a photograph of Drake’s dwelling in Toronto, lined in pink sex-offender markers.)

Drake withdrew his November authorized motion filed in New York towards UMG and Spotify in favor of submitting the brand new defamation go well with in federal court docket.

Representatives for Drake and UMG did not instantly reply to requests for remark from BI.

Lamar received 5 Grammys for ‘Not Like Us,’ together with file and tune of the 12 months

Lamar was the most-awarded artist on the 67th annual Grammy Awards, the place “Not Like Us” swept its nominations for greatest music video, greatest rap tune, greatest rap efficiency, file of the 12 months, and tune of the 12 months.

Lamar didn’t point out Drake by title in both of his televised speeches, however a lot of the gang sang alongside to “Not Like Us” as he made his method to the stage.

Lamar did reward “all of the West Coast artists,” calling them “the cats that impressed me to be the emcee I’m at this time.”

“That is what it is about, man, as a result of on the finish of the day, nothing extra highly effective than rap music,” Lamar stated whereas accepting tune of the 12 months. “I do not care what it’s. We’re the tradition that is gonna all the time keep right here and reside perpetually.”

Lamar did not mince phrases whereas performing ‘Not Like Us’ on the Tremendous Bowl

One week after the Grammys, Lamar took the sphere in New Orleans to headline the 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present.

Lamar carried out a medley of latest hits, together with “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us” because the penultimate tune.

Though Lamar omitted the phrase “pedophile” from the printed, he clearly rapped a number of strains that reference his nemesis, together with “Say, Drake, I hear you want ’em younger” — whereas wanting straight on the digicam — and “Tryna ring a bell and it is most likely A minor,” which appeared to have the entire crowd singing alongside.

At one level through the tune, the digicam minimize to Serena Williams crip strolling — an attention-grabbing alternative for a visitor provided that she and Drake sparked relationship rumors again in 2015. Seven years later, Drake mocked the star athlete and her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, in within the 2022 observe “Center of the Ocean.”

In “Not Like Us,” Lamar chastises Drake for disparaging Williams: “N**** higher not communicate on Serena.”

On the finish of Lamar’s halftime efficiency at Caesars Superdome, lights within the crowd spelled out the phrases, “Recreation over.”

It is a creating story. Examine again for updates.