Drake Kendrick Lamar beef explained timeline diss tracks and legal battles

Express Tribune

11-02-2025

The rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has evolved into one of hip-hop's most intense feuds, marked by lyrical attacks, personal allegations, and legal disputes. Once collaborators, the two rappers have become adversaries, exchanging multiple diss tracks and making public statements against each other. The conflict, which simmered for years, exploded in 2024, leading to some of the most talked-about moments in rap history.
Early Years: Collaborations and Rising Tensions (2011-2013)
Drake and Kendrick Lamar initially collaborated in 2011 when Lamar was featured on Take Care's "Buried Alive Interlude." In the song, Lamar acknowledged Drake's influence on his rise, rapping:
"So blame it on Mr. OVOXO / The reason why I'm breathin' all the vanity I know."
The relationship remained friendly as Drake invited Lamar to open for his Club Paradise Tour in 2012. They collaborated again on A$AP Rocky's 'F**kin' Problems' and Lamar's 'Poetic Justice.' However, after this, their working relationship ended.
Tensions escalated in August 2013 when Lamar delivered a verse on Big Sean's 'Control,' where he named several rappers, including Drake, as competition:
"I got love for you all, but I'm tryna murder you nas / Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you nas."
Drake initially brushed it off but later suggested Lamar's verse was merely for attention. Lamar responded with a freestyle at the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards:
"Nothing's been the same since they dropped 'Control' / And tucked a sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes."
This subtle jab at Drake's 2013 album Nothing Was the Same was one of the first signs of animosity between the two.
Tensions Build Through Subtle Shots (2015-2023)
Following their initial fallout, the rivalry simmered for nearly a decade, with both artists throwing indirect shots in their music. In 2015, Lamar criticized ghostwriting in rap on 'King Kunta':
"I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghostwriter? / What the f**k happened?"
This was widely interpreted as a jab at Drake, who had faced allegations of using ghostwriters. Drake responded indirectly on The Game's '100':
"I would have all of your fans / If I didn't go pop and I stayed on some conscious s**t."
Lamar continued the jabs on Dr. Dre's Compton album with the song 'Deep Water':
"They liable to bury him, they nominated six to carry him / They worry him to death, but he's no vegetarian / The beef is on his breath."
While these lyrical exchanges fueled speculation, neither rapper engaged in an all-out lyrical battle—until 2024.
The Feud Explodes: Diss Tracks and Direct Confrontation (March–May 2024)
The conflict reignited on March 22, 2024, when Lamar dissed Drake and J. Cole on Future & Metro Boomin's We Don't Trust You track "Like That":
"Yeah, get up with me, f**k sneak dissin' / 'First Person Shooter,' I hope they came with three switches.'
This line mocked Drake and J. Cole's Billboard No. 1 song 'First Person Shooter.' Lamar followed with:
"Motherfk the Big Three, na, it's just big me."*
Dismissing the idea that he, Drake, and J. Cole were equals, Lamar declared himself superior.
Drake initially responded at a concert in Florida on March 25, saying:
"I know that no matter what, there's not a na on this earth that could ever fk with me in my life!"*
Weeks later, Drake released 'Push Ups' on April 19, mocking Lamar's physical stature and label deal:
"You still in that deal, dumbass little boy / You my son, go sit in that corner and make better choices."
Drake escalated with 'Taylor Made Freestyle' on April 24, using AI-generated voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg to criticize Lamar for not responding quickly. However, Tupac's estate threatened legal action, and Drake removed the track.
Lamar's response came on April 30 with 'Euphoria,' a six-minute track attacking Drake's credibility:
"Yeah, Cole and Aubrey know I'm a selfish n**a / The crown is heavy, huh / I pray they my real friends, if not, I'm YNW Melly."*
Three days later, on May 3, Lamar released '6:16 in LA,' accusing Drake's inner circle of betraying him:
"Have you ever thought that OVO was workin' for me? / Fake bully, I hate bullies."
Drake replied hours later with 'Family Matters,' alleging Lamar's fiancée Whitney Alford had been unfaithful:
"You the Black messiah wifin' up a mixed queen / And hit vanilla cream to help out with your self-esteem."
Minutes later, Lamar released 'Meet the Grahams,' accusing Drake of fathering multiple children:
"You lied about your son, you lied about your daughter, huh / You lied about them other kids that's out there hopin' that you come."
Legal Action and Industry Impact (May 2024–January 2025)
As the lyrical battle intensified, real-world consequences followed. Lamar's 'Not Like Us' became a chart-topping hit, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 13, 2024. He performed it five times at his Los Angeles concert in June.
Drake responded with legal action, filing lawsuits against Universal Music Group (UMG) in November 2024, accusing them of manipulating streaming numbers for 'Not Like Us.' UMG denied the allegations.
Lamar's dominance in the feud was cemented when he won five Grammy Awards in early 2025, and the track surpassed one billion Spotify streams. At the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show, he teased Drake by rapping:
"I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue."
Conclusion: Where Does the Feud Stand?
While Lamar appears to have solidified his dominance through accolades and mainstream success, Drake's ongoing legal battle suggests he is still pushing back. Whether this feud continues or fizzles out remains to be seen, but its impact on hip-hop is undeniable.