The rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been one of the most captivating sagas in hip-hop history. What began as a collaborative friendship in the early 2010s has since devolved into one of the most explosive rap beefs of all time. Here’s a breakdown of their rocky relationship, from their early days as allies to their current status as bitter adversaries.
November 2011: Kendrick Lamar Featured on Drake’s Take Care Album
Drake, fresh off the success of his debut album Thank Me Later, solidified his superstar status with Take Care. The album featured a standout interlude, “Buried Alive,” with Kendrick Lamar, who was then an up-and-coming West Coast rapper. Lamar’s verse showcased his lyrical prowess, and the collaboration hinted at a promising partnership.
February 2012: Drake Invites Kendrick Lamar to Open on Club Paradise Tour
Drake extended an olive branch to Lamar by inviting him to open on his Club Paradise Tour alongside A$AP Rocky. This move further cemented Lamar’s rising profile in the rap game. Years later, Drake would reference this decision on his track “4 PM in Calabasas,” rapping:
“When they told me take an R&B ni–a on the road / And I told ’em no and drew for Kendrick and Rocky.”
October 2012: Drake and Kendrick Lamar Collaborate on A$AP Rocky’s “Fuckin’ Problems” and Lamar’s “Poetic Justice”
The two rappers joined forces again on A$AP Rocky’s hit “Fuckin’ Problems,” alongside 2 Chainz. Later, Drake appeared on Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city track “Poetic Justice,” which peaked at No. 26 on the Billboard Hot 100. Little did fans know, this would be their last official collaboration.
August 2013: Kendrick Lamar Takes Aim at Drake on Big Sean’s “Control”
Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s “Control” sent shockwaves through the rap world. He called out nearly every major rapper, including Drake, declaring, “I got love for you all, but I’m trying to murder you n—as.” Drake downplayed the diss in a Billboard interview, calling it an “ambitious thought.”
October 2013: Kendrick Lamar Continues the Shots at BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher
Lamar doubled down on his “Control” verse during the BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher, rapping, “Nothing’s been the same since they dropped ‘Control’ / And tucked a sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes.” Drake responded in a VIBE cover story, stating he “stood his ground” but refused to escalate the feud.
2015-2016: Subtle Shots Fired from Both Sides
The tension simmered as both artists took subtle jabs at each other. Lamar questioned Drake’s authenticity on “King Kunta,” rapping, “A rapper with a ghostwriter? What the f–k happened?” Drake fired back on The Game’s “100,” dismissing Lamar’s “conscious” rap style.
October 2023: Drake & J. Cole Link Up on “First Person Shooter”
Drake and J. Cole’s collaboration “First Person Shooter” reignited the feud. Cole’s line, “Love when they argue the hardest MC / Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?” seemingly woke the sleeping bear in Lamar.
March 22, 2024: Kendrick Goes Full Attack Mode on Future & Metro Boomin’s “Like That”
Lamar unleashed a scathing verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” directly targeting Drake and J. Cole. He dismissed the idea of a “Big Three,” declaring, “Motherf–k the Big Three, n—a, it’s just big me.”
March 25, 2024: Drake Seemingly Responds During His Tour
During a concert in Sunrise, Florida, Drake addressed the diss indirectly, stating,
“I know that no matter what, there’s not a n—a on this earth that could ever f–k with me in my life.”
April 2024: Drake Releases “Push Ups” Diss Track
Drake fired back with “Push Ups,” mocking Lamar’s stature and his deal with Top Dawg Entertainment. The track also took aim at Rick Ross, The Weeknd, and others.
April 24, 2024: Drake Drops “Taylor Made Freestyle” Using A.I. Voices
Drake upped the ante with “Taylor Made Freestyle,” using A.I. to mimic the voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg. The move backfired when Tupac’s estate threatened legal action, forcing Drake to remove the track.
See also: Kendrick Lamar vs Drake: Who Won The Rap Battle?
April 30, 2024: Kendrick Strikes Back with “Euphoria”
Lamar responded with the six-minute diss track “Euphoria,” calling out Drake’s use of the N-word, his fashion sense, and his hip-hop credibility.
May 3, 2024: Kendrick Drops “6:16 in LA”
Lamar released his second diss, “6:16 in LA,” accusing Drake of having a mole in his camp and questioning his loyalty.
May 3, 2024: Drake Fires Back with “Family Matters”
Drake retaliated with “Family Matters,” alleging infidelity in Lamar’s relationship and taking shots at A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, and others.
May 4, 2024: Kendrick Releases “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us”
Lamar dropped two diss tracks in one day. “Meet the Grahams” accused Drake of being a deadbeat father and hiding a daughter, while “Not Like Us” labeled Drake and his team as “certified ped*philes.”
See also: Serena Williams Crip Walk at the Super Bowl Has Much More to Do With Drake
May 5, 2024: Drake Responds with “The Heart Pt. 6”
Drake denied Lamar’s allegations on “The Heart Pt. 6,” claiming he baited Lamar with fake information about a daughter.
May 13, 2024: “Not Like Us” Tops the Billboard Hot 100
Lamar’s “Not Like Us” debuted at No. 1, solidifying his dominance in the feud.
June 19, 2024: Kendrick Performs “Not Like Us” Five Times at L.A. Concert
Lamar’s Pop Out concert in Inglewood, California, became a cultural moment as he performed “Not Like Us” five times, uniting the West Coast.
July 4, 2024: Kendrick Drops “Not Like Us” Music Video
The video featured subliminal shots at Drake, including an owl piñata and an owl in a cage.
September 8, 2024: Kendrick Named 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Performer
Lamar’s crowning moment came when he was announced as the 2025 Super Bowl halftime performer, further fueling speculation about his rivalry with Drake.
See also: Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Flared Jeans Stole the Halftime Show and We Love Them
November 2024: Drake Files Lawsuits Against UMG Over “Not Like Us”
Drake accused UMG of inflating streams for Lamar’s “Not Like Us” and filed defamation lawsuits, claiming the label allowed the release of a song with “inflammatory allegations.”
January 3, 2025: Drake Addresses the Fallout on ‘Fighting Irish’ Freestyle
On January 3, 2025, a freestyle titled “Fighting Irish” by Drake surfaced on YouTube, but it was quickly taken down. The track featured a reflective Drake, contemplating the aftermath of his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar.
“The world fell in love with the gimmicks, even my brothers got tickets, seemed like they loved every minute / Just know the s–t is personal to us and wasn’t just business,”
-he raps, signaling that there was far more at stake than just competition in hip-hop.
January 15, 2025: Drake Files Defamation Lawsuit Against UMG
The legal drama continued when Drake filed a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) on January 15, 2025. This lawsuit came after Drake withdrew an earlier legal action accusing UMG and Spotify of manipulating streams for Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” Drake alleged that UMG had boosted the song’s popularity using bots, a tactic he claimed was part of a strategy to damage his career and reduce his bargaining power in future contract negotiations. At the time, Drake had signed a $400 million deal with UMG in 2022, adding weight to his claims that the label was undermining him.
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January 2025: ‘Not Like Us’ Hits One Billion Spotify Streams
Despite the drama, Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” hit a major milestone in January 2025, surpassing one billion streams on Spotify. The achievement cemented Lamar’s position at the top of the charts and solidified the track as a cultural phenomenon, all while fueling the fire of the ongoing beef between him and Drake.
See also: Drake’s Defamation Lawsuit Drama Could Explode Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Performance
February 2, 2025: Kendrick Wins Five Grammys for ‘Not Like Us’
On February 2, 2025, Kendrick Lamar’s dominance continued as he took home five Grammy Awards, including two of the Big Four—Record of the Year and Song of the Year—for “Not Like Us.” He also earned trophies for Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Music Video, bringing his total Grammy count to 22. The win marked a major achievement for Lamar, coming as tensions with Drake continued to escalate, with the Canadian rapper undoubtedly watching from the sidelines.
February 9, 2025: Kendrick Teases Drake at the Super Bowl Halftime Show
The rivalry took an even more public turn on February 9, 2025, during Kendrick Lamar’s highly anticipated Super Bowl halftime performance. As Lamar took the stage at the Caesars Superdome, the entire world watched in anticipation. To the delight of the crowd, Kendrick before diving into the hit, he teased the audience by cutting the song short and rapping, “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” likely referencing Drake’s ongoing legal battle with Universal Music Group.
See also: Serena Williams Crip Walk at the Super Bowl Has Much More to Do With Drake
Lamar then launched into the full performance of “Not Like Us,” basking in the spotlight as he delivered a line that sent shockwaves through the hip-hop world: “Say, Drake, I heard you like ’em young.” The crowd erupted, and Kendrick played into the moment, looking directly into the camera with a huge smile as the stadium sang along.
But Lamar didn’t stop there. To further poke at Drake, he invited Serena Williams—who is rumored to have once dated Drake—onto the stage to crip walk during his performance of “Not Like Us.” The move was a direct shot at Drake, adding another layer of personal tension to the already fiery feud.
