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 Might 2024, when Lamar dropped the diss monitor “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 monitor “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-about by many to be the three largest rappers working as we speak.

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

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

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

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

How did we get right here? This is all the things to learn 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 associates, or at the least 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 dangerous blood possible 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 Identical” — although he did not name out Lamar by identify.

“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 Canine.”

Within the braggadocious tune, J. Cole references Lamar as “Okay-Dot” (his former stage identify) and Drake as “Aubrey” (as in Aubrey Graham, his authorized identify) 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 Sizzling 100 in October 2023, incomes Drake his thirteenth No. 1 tune on the chart, the identical complete as Jackson.

5 months later, Lamar’s verse in “Like That” immediately 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 huge 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 monitor, “7 Minute Drill,” seems to be a direct response to Lamar, who Cole implies is dropping reputation.

“He nonetheless doing exhibits, 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 huge 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” (“huge”), respectively.

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

“I simply wish 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 deceive 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 damage 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 bother 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 immediately dissed Drake, they enlisted The Weeknd and A$AP Rocky to do their bidding.

Within the eighth monitor, “All To Myself,” The Weeknd references his determination 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 might 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 / Bought us laughin’ within the Lambo,” The Weeknd raps.

On the later monitor, “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 girls, what, you damage or one thing? / I smash earlier than you birthed, son, Flacko hit it first, son,” Rocky raps.

Rocky and Drake had seemed to be associates till the “F**kin’ Issues” rapper started thus far Rihanna, who beforehand had a will-they-won’t-they relationship with Drake.

Nonetheless, Rocky’s diss wasn’t precisely unprovoked. In “Worry of Heights,” the fourth monitor on “For All of the Canine,” Drake mocks each Rocky and Rihanna, implying intercourse together with his ex-girlfriend was “common” and saying Rocky “cannot go away” as a result of they’ve kids collectively, evoking a traditional sexist trope generally known as “child trapping.”

Drake and Kendrick’s diss monitor battle begins in earnest

In the future after the discharge of “We Nonetheless Do not Belief You,” Drake dropped his response, setting off a back-and-forth alternate of barbs in diss tracks that will final by the spring.

April 13, 2024: “Push Ups” (Drake)

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

Ross shortly 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 monitor 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, notably 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 monitor aimed explicitly at Drake.

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

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

Might 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 crimson minivan just 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 similar Chinese language restaurant Lamar raps about in “Euphoria.”

Might 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 immediately addressing his then-6-year-old son, Adonis, his mom, Sandra, and his father, Dennis.

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

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

All through the four-and-a-half-minute diss monitor, Lamar accuses Drake of pedophilic conduct and associating with questionable folks, 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 quilt artwork for “Not Like Us” is an aerial shot of Drake’s residence in Toronto, lined in pins that resemble these utilized by intercourse offender registries.

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

Drake’s response to “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us” denies lots of Lamar’s claims within the monitor and says he is “disgusted” by the suggestion that he is “fucking younger ladies.” He additionally says Lamar’s group is crammed with “clowns” who’re feeding him false data. The tune’s title is a reference to Lamar’s “The Coronary heart” collection.

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

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

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

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

Amid the incidents, Drake complained on Instagram in regards to the media helicopters surrounding his residence.

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

On June 19, 2024, Lamar hosted a one-off live performance to have a good time Juneteenth known 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 evening together 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 provide you with slightly respect,” referring to reviews 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 evening by performing “Not Like Us” 5 occasions 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 broadly 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 Sizzling 100, Lamar launched a music video full of references to Drake.

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

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

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

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

Whereas “GNX” does not embody any explicitly anti-Drake tracks like “Euphoria” or “Not Like Us,” it consists of 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 monitor, “Wacced Out Murals.”

The album’s tenth monitor is known as “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 in opposition to 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 courtroom in opposition to 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 generally known as “pay-for-play”), to inflate streams of “Not Like Us.”

The submitting additionally claims that “Not Like Us” precipitated 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 courtroom. The second petition claims that UMG “funneled funds” to the radio conglomerate iHeartRadio with a purpose to increase spins of “Not Like Us.”

Drake’s attorneys 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 outstanding artists, Drake, by falsely accusing him of being a intercourse offender, participating in pedophilic acts, harboring intercourse offenders and committing different legal 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 informed BI.

“No quantity of contrived and absurd authorized arguments on this pre-action submission can masks the truth that followers select the music they wish 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 courtroom, Drake claimed UMG “authorised, revealed and launched a marketing campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap monitor” which was “supposed to convey the precise, unmistakable and false factual allegation that Drake is a legal pedophile, and to counsel that the general public ought to resort to vigilante justice in response,” per The New York Instances.

The swimsuit additionally accuses UMG of valuing “company greed over the protection and well-being of its artists,” citing the safety guard who was injured outdoors Drake’s residence for example of the tune’s repercussions. (The quilt artwork for “Not Like Us” is a photograph of Drake’s residence in Toronto, lined in crimson sex-offender markers.)

Drake withdrew his November authorized motion filed in New York in opposition to UMG and Spotify in favor of submitting the brand new defamation swimsuit in federal courtroom.

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 identify in both of his televised speeches, however a lot of the group sang alongside to “Not Like Us” as he made his solution 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 as we speak.”

“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 stay endlessly.”

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 published, he clearly rapped a number of strains that reference his nemesis, together with “Say, Drake, I hear you want ’em younger” — whereas trying immediately 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 selection for a visitor on condition that she and Drake sparked courting rumors again in 2015. Seven years later, Drake mocked the star athlete and her husband, Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, in within the 2022 monitor “Center of the Ocean.”

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