The Drake-Kendrick Lamar Saga Continues: Tracks and Claps Backs

The beef between two of hip-hop’s titans, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, has been turning up the heat in the rap game with a series of intense diss tracks that showcase the sharp lyricism and deep-rooted tension between them. It all started bubbling up again in October 2023 when J. Cole stirred the pot by ranking himself alongside Drake and Lamar as the “Big Three” of modern hip-hop in Drake’s track “First Person Shooter.” Kendrick wasn’t having it, and he made his feelings crystal clear in March 2024 on the track “Like That,” where he didn’t just throw shade—he blocked out the sun with lines dissing Cole and Drake, emphatically declaring himself as the only top dog in the game.

The ripple effect of Lamar’s bold declaration was immediate. J. Cole briefly responded with “7 Minute Drill,” a track he later pulled and publicly apologized for, showing the complexity and the high stakes of hip-hop ego clashes. Drake, on the other hand, kept his cards close to his chest, vaguely referencing the situation in a concert saying no one could match up to him, period.

On April 19, 2024, Drake let loose “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The former track hit the airwaves with a vengeance, calling out not just Lamar but also those in the industry who sided with him, including big names like Metro Boomin, Future, Rick Ross, and the Weeknd. “Taylor Made Freestyle” took things a step further by using AI-generated voices of hip-hop legends Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg—an artistic choice that backfired when Shakur’s estate stepped in, leading to the track’s removal from social media.

Not to be outdone, Kendrick Lamar came back swinging with “Euphoria” on April 30, a direct response to Drake’s latest tracks. Days later, he dropped another bomb with “6:16 in LA,” a clever twist on Drake’s own style, speculated to reference the infamous O.J. Simpson trial in a cryptic yet cutting manner.

The drama didn’t stop there. May 3 was a particularly explosive day, with Drake dropping “Buried Alive Interlude pt 2” and “Family Matters.” The latter not only responded to Lamar’s previous disses but also threw some deeply personal accusations into the mix. Lamar immediately retaliated with “Meet the Grahams,” where he alleged shocking personal details about Drake’s private life.

The latest in this saga is Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” released on May 4, 2024. Here, Lamar goes all-in, accusing Drake of relying too heavily on other artists for his success and leveling some serious allegations that continue to escalate this feud to new heights.

Who is up?