The Full History of the Kendrick Lamar-Drake Feud: A Breakdown of Hip-Hop’s Biggest Rivalry
The Kendrick Lamar-Drake rivalry has been one of the most intriguing and long-standing feuds in modern hip-hop. What started as a friendly competition between two of the genre’s biggest stars has evolved into a complex relationship marked by subtle disses, competitive lyrics, and a quest for dominance. Here’s a full breakdown of the history behind the Kendrick Lamar-Drake feud and how it has shaped the hip-hop landscape.
Before the feud, Kendrick Lamar and Drake shared a friendly rapport. The two collaborated on Drake’s Take Care album in 2011, where Kendrick appeared on the track “Buried Alive Interlude.” At the time, both rappers were emerging as major forces in the industry, with Drake already a superstar and Kendrick rising to prominence through his critically acclaimed projects. Their early interactions were marked by respect and mutual admiration.
The rivalry took a turn in 2013 when Kendrick Lamar dropped his infamous verse on Big Sean’s track “Control.” In this verse, Kendrick declared himself the “King of New York” and called out a number of rappers by name, including Drake. Though Kendrick stated that the verse was more about friendly competition than direct beef, Drake didn’t take kindly to the challenge.
Drake responded in interviews, calling Kendrick’s verse a “moment” and downplaying its impact. This subtle exchange marked the beginning of their rivalry, with both artists vying for the top spot in hip-hop.
Following the “Control” verse, Drake began to respond through subtle jabs in his music. On his track “The Language” from the Nothing Was the Same album, Drake seemingly took shots at Kendrick with lines like “I don’t know why they lyin’, but your shit is not that inspiring.”
While Drake never mentioned Kendrick by name, the tension was evident. Fans began to notice the rivalry brewing, with both artists avoiding direct conflict while keeping their competitive edge alive through clever wordplay and subliminal disses.
Kendrick took things up a notch during the 2013 BET Hip-Hop Awards Cypher. His verse included lines that seemed aimed at Drake, with Kendrick declaring, “Nothing’s been the same since they dropped Control,” a clear reference to Drake’s Nothing Was the Same album. This bold move reignited the feud, with fans and critics alike dissecting the lyrics for more clues.
At this point, it was clear that the rivalry was no longer just friendly competition—it had evolved into a battle for the title of hip-hop’s greatest.
In response to Kendrick’s BET Cypher, Drake hopped on the remix of Future’s track “Sh*t,” where he seemingly took direct shots at Kendrick. The lyrics “I hear you talkin’ about your city like you run that / And I brought my tour to your city, you my son there” appeared to reference Kendrick’s “King of New York” claim from the “Control” verse, further fueling the feud.
As both rappers continued to release chart-topping albums, their rivalry simmered in the background. Kendrick dropped To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015, while Drake released If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late the same year, with both projects being critically acclaimed.
However, subtle disses continued. Kendrick’s track “King Kunta” was interpreted by many as taking shots at Drake’s credibility and use of ghostwriters. Meanwhile, Drake’s hit “Summer Sixteen” included lines that seemed to reference Kendrick’s lack of mainstream hits compared to Drake’s commercial dominance.
In 2017, Kendrick dropped his DAMN. album, which many interpreted as being filled with veiled shots at Drake. On tracks like “ELEMENT.” and “HUMBLE.,” Kendrick emphasized his authenticity, lyrical prowess, and dominance over his peers, qualities often questioned in Drake’s career due to his association with ghostwriters.
Kendrick’s lyrics about “top 5” rappers and industry competition were seen as direct challenges to Drake’s claim as the king of hip-hop.
Drake’s 2018 album Scorpion reignited speculation about his rivalry with Kendrick. Though there were no explicit shots at Kendrick, the competitive nature of tracks like “Survival” and “Nonstop” suggested that Drake was still keenly aware of his rivals.
Many fans saw Scorpion as Drake’s way of asserting his dominance over the rap game, while Kendrick’s relative silence during this period was viewed as a sign of confidence in his own position.
As of now, the Kendrick Lamar-Drake feud remains one of hip-hop’s most intriguing rivalries. While neither rapper has engaged in direct confrontation in recent years, the competitive tension is still palpable. Both artists continue to dominate the charts, each with their unique style and approach to the genre.
Whether the feud will escalate into a full-blown beef or remain a competitive rivalry is yet to be seen, but one thing is certain: Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s ongoing battle for supremacy has left an indelible mark on the hip-hop world.
