For the first half of 2024, the hip-hop scene was ablaze as music lovers devoured the beef between rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake. The two feuded for over 7 months, intermittently exchanging diss tracks and attacking each other's rapping skills, friends, and masculinity. The rivalry even pulled in Lamar's and Drake's frequent collaborators, who came out with a host of their own tracks. Though, in the end, neither rapper's career has changed much, the beef is sure to have a lasting impact on the music industry—for better or worse.
Kendrick Lamar and Drake have a long history together. They have previously collaborated on a few tracks, notably “Buried Alive Interlude” (2011) and “Poetic Justice” (2012). In 2013, Big Sean came out with “Control” featuring Kendrick Lamar, who raps, “I got love for you all but I'm tryna murder you” after naming several of his previous collaborators. The implication is that Lamar would soon be rising above his fellow rappers. Drake seemed to respond with “The Language” and publicly stated he didn't think much of Lamar's verse. They would go back and forth over the next ten years, sprinkling their albums with sneak disses.
In 2018, another beef between several rappers, including Drake, culminated in Pusha T revealing Drake's secret, now 6-year-old son in “The Story of Adidon.” Kendrick Lamar referenced this incident in May 2024 with “6:16 in LA” and “Meet the Grahams,” claiming Drake is hiding another child, a young girl.
Both Drake and Kendrick Lamar have consistently accused each other of illegal activity and overall misconduct.
Kendrick Lamar acted on existing rumors of Drake being a pedophile throughout his disses. These rumors primarily stemmed from Drake's publicly scrutinized relationship with Millie Bobby Brown, which most consider to have been grooming. Many of Drake's colleagues and friends (and Lamar's as well, for that matter) are also convicted sex offenders, which Lamar mentions in “Meet the Grahams.” Additionally, evidence of Drake having intimate relationships with seventeen-year-olds has been going around, albeit amongst many fake AI-generated clips of the same manner.
On the other hand, Drake has accused Kendrick Lamar of sexually abusing his partner, Whitney Alford. These rumors did exist earlier, but were quickly shut down as there was little supporting evidence. Alford has stayed silent; however, her brother has shown open support for Kendrick, implying such rumors are untrue.
The rappers also argue that the other is taking advantage of the Black community. Lamar attacks Drake's supposed insecurity of being biracial, saying that Drake tries to pretend his upbringing was harsher than it was. Lamar states that he is uncomfortable with Drake using the n-word because the latter is not “Black enough” to use the term. Meanwhile, Drake says Lamar's activism for the Black community is fake and he has not actually given back to the community. However, the general consensus is that Drake's claim is false, as Lamar has been known to consistently support Black communities financially and through activist efforts.
Additionally, a security guard outside Drake's house was recently attacked in a drive-by shooting. While it is currently unclear what the reason for the shooting could have been, it may have been in response to the feud. This marks a severe escalation of the rappers' dispute, to the point of serious harm.
Some suspect the feud as a whole is a publicity stunt, and it has clearly become entertainment for most. The rappers themselves are certainly aware of our enjoyment, as they are releasing music to maximize their listeners' engagement. However, it is important to acknowledge the weaponization of abuse in this situation and consider the validity of Drake's and Kendrick Lamar's claims alike. After all, beef is often much more about performance than facts.