Drake

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Lore & Background

The conflict intensified after J. Cole named himself, Lamar, and Drake the 'big three' on Drake's song 'First Person Shooter' in October 2023. In March 2024, Lamar responded by insulting them on 'Like That'. This triggered a rapid exchange: Cole released '7 Minute Drill' but quickly apologized and removed it from streaming services. Drake retaliated with 'Push Ups' and 'Taylor Made Freestyle', prompting Lamar's 'Euphoria'. The feud expanded to involve artists like ASAP Rocky, Rick Ross, the Weeknd, and Kanye West. By May 3, 2024, Drake released 'Family Matters', accusing Lamar of domestic abuse and claiming Dave Free is the biological father of his son. Twenty minutes later, Lamar dropped 'Meet the Grahams', accusing Drake of sexual predation, running a sex trafficking ring, and hiding a secret child—a claim building on Pusha T's 2018 track 'The Story of Adidon'. The next day, Lamar released 'Not Like Us', accusing Drake of pedophilia and exploiting Atlanta's hip-hop culture.

In Their Own Story

On May 5, Drake released 'The Heart Part 6' to deny Lamar's allegations and reiterate his own, but Lamar did not respond. The narrative continued with releases like Lamar's 'Watch the Party Die' and GNX (2024), alongside Drake's 'Gimme a Hug' (2025) and Iceman (2026). In February 2025, Lamar was widely viewed as the victor after winning five Grammy Awards for 'Not Like Us' and performing it and 'Euphoria' during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Tensions remained high into January 2025 when Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group in New York federal court, alleging that 'Not Like Us' defamed him; the suit was dismissed in October.

Reader's Guide

Drake's role evolved from a collaborator on tracks like 'Poetic Justice' (2012) to an antagonist following Lamar's 'Control' verse. The rivalry has roots in past conflicts, such as Meek Mill's 2015 ghostwriting accusations and Pusha T's 2018 revelation of Drake's son Adonis, which Drake never fully responded to with a track. In the current conflict, Drake utilized 'Family Matters' to launch serious personal allegations against Lamar. Conversely, Lamar used 'Meet the Grahams' and 'Not Like Us' to counter-attack with claims regarding Drake's conduct and hidden family members. The feud highlights a clash between commercial dominance and artistic authenticity, drawing in other artists known for animosity toward Drake. Despite the legal dismissal of Drake's defamation suit, the cultural impact was cemented by Lamar's Grammy sweep and Super Bowl performance.

Did You Know?

• Drake and Lamar first collaborated on 'Buried Alive Interlude' from Drake's 2011 album Take Care, where Lamar expressed complex feelings about fame.
• In October 2023, J. Cole named himself, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake the 'big three' of modern hip-hop on Drake's song 'First Person Shooter'.
• On May 3, 2024, Lamar released 'Meet the Grahams' exactly twenty minutes after Drake dropped 'Family Matters'.
• Lamar won five Grammy Awards for 'Not Like Us' in February 2025 and performed it during the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.
• Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group in January 2025 alleging defamation by 'Not Like Us', which was dismissed in October.