Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Feud: A Rapidly Escalating Rivalry
Nov. 2011: Kendrick Lamar Featured on Drake’s Take Care Album
In 2011, Drake and Kendrick Lamar collaborated on Drake’s Take Care album. Drake, who was already a superstar, showcased his genius by inviting Lamar to shine on the track “Buried Alive Interlude.” Lamar’s impressive bars included lines like: “So blame it on Mr. OVOXO, the reason why I’m breathing all the vanity I know.”
Feb. 2012: Drake Invites Kendrick Lamar to Open on Club Paradise Tour
Drake continued to embrace Kendrick Lamar’s talent by inviting him to open on his Club Paradise Tour. Drake recognized Lamar’s potential and the impact he could have on the tour’s success. Kendrick’s appearances on “Buried Alive Interlude” and the tour were both well-received, further fueling their amicable relationship.
Oct. 2012: Drake and Kendrick Lamar Collaborate on “Fuckin’ Problems” and “Poetic Justice”
After the Club Paradise Tour, Drake and Kendrick Lamar joined forces once again. They teamed up on A$AP Rocky’s “Fuckin’ Problems” and then collaborated on Lamar’s debut album with the track “Poetic Justice.” Their chemistry was undeniable, leading to a commercial success and leaving fans hungry for more.
Aug. 2013: Kendrick Lamar Takes Aim at Drake on Big Sean’s “Control”
Kendrick Lamar made waves in the rap world when he dropped his powerful verse on Big Sean’s “Control” in 2013. In this verse, he boldly called out several rappers, including Drake, essentially challenging them to step up their game. Drake responded to Kendrick’s diss, dismissing it as an ambitious thought and stating that Kendrick couldn’t “murder” him on any platform.
Oct. 2013: Kendrick Lamar Comes at Drake During BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher
The Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud continued to heat up when Kendrick performed a cipher verse at the BET Hip-Hop Awards in 2013. In his verse, he referred to Drake’s “Control” diss and took shots at him with lines like: “Nothing’s been the same since they dropped ‘Control’/ And tucked a sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes.”
Dec. 2013: Drake Covers VIBE Magazine And Addresses the Kendrick Diss
Drake addressed his shots at Kendrick in an interview with VIBE Magazine. He explained that their feud became a focal point during his album rollout and stood his ground against Kendrick’s challenging stance. Drake acknowledged Kendrick’s talent but emphasized that he was not easily rattled.
2015-2016: Subtle Shots Fired From Both Sides, But Nothing Groundbreaking
Over the next couple of years, Drake and Kendrick traded a few lyrical jabs on various tracks. They subtly referenced each other in their songs, reflecting the underlying tension and competitiveness. While these bars added fuel to the fire, no major confrontations or groundbreaking diss tracks emerged during this period.
Oct. 2023: Drake and J. Cole Link Up on “First Person Shooter”
Drake and J. Cole scored a major hit with their collaboration on “First Person Shooter.” In this song, J. Cole inadvertently reignited the feud when he mentioned the “Big 3” of him, Kendrick, and Drake. Drake wasn’t pleased with being ranked alongside Kendrick and later took a stab at him in a leaked diss track.
Mar. 22, 2024: Kendrick Goes Full Attack Mode on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That”
Kendrick came out swinging in the song “Like That” with scathing disses aimed at Drake and J. Cole. He didn’t hold back, firing a full clip of verbal shots, asserting his dominance in the rap game and ridiculing Drake’s attempts to diss him.
Mar. 25, 2024: Drake Seemingly Responds to Kendrick’s Diss During His Concert
Drake addressed the ongoing feud during one of his concerts, confidently asserting his status and dismissing any challenge from Kendrick. He proclaimed his dominance and didn’t hesitate to share his unwavering self-belief.
April 2024: Drake Releases “Push Ups” Diss Track
Drake released his diss track “Push Ups” on streaming services, taking direct aim at Kendrick. He mocked Kendrick’s physical appearance, made references to their respective deals, and took shots at other artists in the industry. The diss track generated significant buzz.
April 24, 2024: Drake Fires Second Diss Track “Taylor Made Freestyle”
Drake upped the ante with his follow-up diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Utilizing AI-generated vocals, Drake rapped in the voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg, expressing disappointment in Kendrick’s lack of response to his previous diss track. Tupac’s estate threatened to sue Drake over the unauthorized use of his vocals.
April 30, 2024: Kendrick Strikes Back With “Euphoria”
Kendrick responded to Drake’s diss tracks with his own comeback, “Euphoria.” This six-minute track showcased Kendrick’s aggressive and relentless verbal assault on Drake. Kendrick called out Drake for using the N-word, questioned his fashion sense, and challenged his status as a hip-hop artist.
