It’s been described as one of the biggest feuds in hip-hop history, flaring up between two giants of the industry: Kendrick Lamar and Drake. What started as friendly collaborations over a decade ago has morphed increasingly hostile lyrical exchanges filled with personal jabs and bitter competition.
The roots of this rivalry can be traced back to 2013 when Kendrick dropped his now-infamous verse on Big Sean’s track "Control," calling out Drake and several of their contemporaries with the declaration, "I got love for you all, but I’m trying to murder you." This was the tone-setter for the subsequent animosity, where Drake responded with assertions of his superiority, claiming Kendrick wasn’t affecting him “at all.” This initial spark ignited what would become a complex and sometimes tumultuous relationship.
Fast forward to March 22, 2024, when Kendrick unleashed his latest attack on Drake during his feature on Future and Metro Boomin’s song "Like That." Lamar didn’t hold back. He rapped pointedly about Drake and J. Cole, dismissing them as mere components of what he referred to as "the big three." The atmosphere charged with tension, Kendrick reiterated, "Motherfk the big three, na, it’s just big me," signaling his intention to establish supremacy.
Drake, ever the showman, did not remain silent. Shortly after Kendrick’s scathing verse, at his concert in Sunrise, Florida, on March 24, he addressed the audience, saying, "A lot of people ask me how I’m feeling. I’mma let you know how I’m feeling. The same way I want you to walk out this building tonight." He emphasized his self-assurance, declaring, "there’s not a na on this earth who could ever fk with me." Such declarations highlighted the fierce competitiveness inherent to their exchanges.
The timeline of events is rich with collaborative beginnings and subsequent diss tracks. From their earlier collaborations on Drake’s 2011 track "Buried Alive Interlude" and Lamar's "Poetic Justice" to the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards, where Kendrick openly taunted Drake, the evolution has been stark. A notable moment occurred when Kendrick continued to send subliminal shots during his 2013 BET cipher: "Nothing’s been the same since they dropped ‘Control.’"
Through 2015 and 2016, their feud simmered, fueled by cryptic references and muted jabs, each artist seemingly waiting for the right moment to deliver the next blow.
Then came October 2023, when J. Cole’s collaboration with Drake, "First Person Shooter," again reignited their bitter rivalry. Cole’s casual mention of the "hardest MC" sparked renewed interest and competitiveness among fans, pitting the two against each other once more.
By late March 2024, Kendrick’s tensions erupted again as he went all out on his track "Like That." His lyrics were painful and pointed, throwing veiled insults Drake’s way, questioning his authenticity and claiming dominance. This track marked another high point of the feud, as it wrapped together the accumulating grievances between the two artists.
Drake's response was swift, with the leak of the track "Push Ups" addressing Kendrick's jabs. This was followed by another AI-assisted diss, "Taylor Made Freestyle," where Drake mashed up verses with voices of hip-hop legends, intertwining Lamar’s impact with the premise of his narrative.
Kendrick, undeterred, retaliated with the nearly six-and-a-half-minute track "Euphoria," where he hit back at Drake with personal critiques about his parenting, appearance, and authenticity. Lamar's chilling threats and biting lyrics only proved the feud was far from settled.
The back and forth escalated remarkably with both artists launching attacks almost simultaneously, making headlines with releases like "Family Matters" from Drake and Kendrick’s responses like "Meet the Grahams" and "Not Like Us.” Each diss track topped the charts, making the feud not just personal but commercially lucrative as well.
What emerged throughout this timeline was not just lyrical conflict but new facets of their rivalry, with accusations flying beyond music. Drake alleged inflated streaming numbers for Kendrick’s "Not Like Us," claiming collusion with their shared label, Universal Music Group, to bolster the latter’s financial standing through deceit, which UMG vehemently denied.
Fast forward to May 2024, Kendrick released "Euphoria" and "6:16 in LA," both receiving significant acclaim and leading to his eventual Grammy nominations. Surprisingly, Kendrick’s "Not Like Us" climbed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there, even winning Grammy Awards for its explosive content and commercial success.
By the time of Kendrick's Super Bowl 2025 halftime show, it was evident the feud had become deeply entrenched — and he was seemingly reveling in his victories. Lamar took to the grand stage with authority, referencing his conflict with Drake humorously during his performance, teasing about legal issues surrounding their quarrel.
Now, as 2025 gets underway, fans and critics alike are left questioning — where do they go from here? What more can be said after such fierce exchanges? Lamar's statements hinted at no reconciliation as he delivered one final blow with tracks such as "Wacced Out Murals," where he remarked, "I never peaced it up, this sh*t don’t sit well with me," assuring fans of the feud's endurance for the time being.
With Drake set to continue his career and fight back with potentially more responses, the tail of this saga promises to be full of surprises. Both stars are firmly entrenched on their respective paths, and whether fans want resolution or more battles, one certainty remains — this feud has reshaped the dynamics of contemporary hip-hop.