Kendrick Lamar's powerful night at the 2025 Grammy Awards has stirred reactions across the music industry, particularly from his long-time rival Drake, who many perceive to be on the losing end of this battle. The Compton rapper took home five prestigious Grammys for his diss track "Not Like Us," including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, on February 2, 2025, at the ceremony held at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
During the awards, Lamar was praised not only for his artistry but also for becoming just the second rapper to ever win the Grammy for Record of the Year, following Childish Gambino's achievement in 2019. While Drake was absent from the event, Kendrick's historic wins undoubtedly marked another chapter in their heated feud, which has spanned over a decade. Lamar's accolades amplify the fallout from their intense rap battle, especially considering the wildly popular "Not Like Us" directly references allegations against Drake.
Drake's father, Dennis Graham, was present at the Grammys, and when asked about his son's rival's success, he dismissed any concern about Lamar's diss track winning five awards. "I don't care enough aboutthat s--t," Dennis told TikTok user Joy of Everything, adding, "All the best to him, man. I don’t dothat bulls--t." His comments suggest he holds no animosity toward Lamar, even as the feud between his son and the Compton rapper escalates.
While Kendrick accepted his awards, he chose to avoid any mention of Drake altogether, focusing instead on his roots. "This is my neck of the woods... since I was scrapping to write the best raps and allthat," he said. For Lamar, the night was about celebrating not just his victory but about recognizing Compton's influence on his music.
The seeds of this feud were sown long ago. Tensions flared up again at the end of 2023 when Drake and his collaborator J. Cole released "First Person Shooter," with its lyrics hinting at the trio's standing within hip-hop. Lamar responded with his track "Like That," declaring, "motherf--k the big three, it's just big me." This rivalry has led to multiple exchanges of jabs through various tracks, with Kendrick's "Not Like Us" taking center stage, where he took the confrontation even more personally, describing Drake with disparaging remarks.
Despite Drake's absence from the Grammys, the stakes were high, as many fans took to social media to weigh in on Kendrick's wins, branding the event as one of the best nights for the Grammys in years. "Kendrick Lamar took home five awards... amplifying Drake's defeat," noted fans across various platforms, embracing the narrative of Lamar’s triumph over his adversary.
Notably, Kendrick's track ``Not Like Us'' plays heavily on accusations against Drake, including allegations of inappropriate behavior. Although Drake denied these claims in his own response track, "Heart Part 6," stating, "Drake is not a name you gonna see on no sex offenders list," the narrative continued to spin, eleving Lamar's track even higher. Following the Grammys, social media erupted with commentary, with fans referencing how Drake reportedly views Kendrick’s Grammys success as trivial.
Further intensifying the situation, Drake has been embroiled with legal issues, having previously initiated lawsuits against Universal Music Group, alleging they inefficiently promoted Kendrick's diss track. Despite these allegations, UMG continues to rebut Drake's claims, asserting their methods of promotion were standard and not harmful to his career.
Controversy continued at the Grammys with Kendrick's song, which strikes at Drake's alleged predatory behavior, being played during the event, causing mixed reactions. Observers noted how celebrities like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift danced along during Lamar's performance, showcasing how the industry appears to rally behind Kendrick as he celebrates his accolades. The ceremony's playful atmosphere, contrasted with the serious undertones of the lyrical battle, provided fodder for fans eager to dig deep and explore the underlying rivalries.
Despite the tumult, 2025 is shaping up to be busy for both rappers. Drake is set to kick off his 16-date tour across Australia and New Zealand, promoting his upcoming collaborative album with PartyNextDoor, which releases on Valentine's Day. Meanwhile, Kendrick is expected to make headlines once again, set to perform at the Super Bowl halftime show on February 9, where many predict he will deliver another jab at Drake through his continuing diss tracks.
No matter how you slice it, Kendrick's wins at this year's Grammys have reignited discussions about the intense rivalry between him and Drake. Fans eagerly await their next moves, knowing full well the world of hip-hop thrives on such competition, setting the stage for more lyrical exchanges to come. The rap game has always been about competition, but with this latest showdown, it appears the stakes have never been higher.