When it comes to hip-hop, Drake and Kendrick Lamar stand out not only for their music but also for their rivalry. Drake, who has a broad appeal to many listeners and Kendrick Lamar, who is known for his complex music, have both shaped the rap genre. Their current battle, filled with lyrical jabs, continues to capture fans worldwide.
Their rivalry started following Kendrick Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s “Control” in 2013. From there, the exchanges grew slowly over a course of several years until Kendrick’s track “Like That” released in early 2024 escalated the feud in the public spotlight. In response, Drake released “Push Ups” with the goal of mocking Kendrick’s authenticity. Following this, songs like Kendrick’s “euphoria” and Drake’s “Family Matters” escalated the battle even more, with the battle transforming into personal insults and as little as just a few days in between the release of songs.
These songs performed very well on billboards. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” made a debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs chart and got over 70 million U.S. streams in its first week, setting a new record for the highest one-week streaming count for a hip-hop title since 2020. On the other hand, “Family Matters” reached the fourth spot on the same chart and received nearly 40 million streams.
Opinions about the rivalry are divided. Some fans believe that the impact of Kendrick’s disses will destroy Drake’s career, while others argue that Drake’s songs will do the same to Kendrick. These beliefs are both fueled by the artists’ fan bases.
“Kendrick’s disses are better because he thoroughly exposes Drake. Drake just says random things that don’t correlate with each other,” eighth grader Leah McCorey said.
“I think the diss tracks are phenomenal. I am on Kendrick Lamar’s side. I thought they were going to keep this beef friendly. But then Kendrick came out with ‘euphoria,’” science teacher Mr. D’Ammassa said.
As the rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar keeps going, their music will continue to impact the direction of hip-hop. Regardless of whose side one might take, their battle will impact the industry for years to come.
