Kendrick Lamar’s The Pop Out — Ken & Friends Juneteenth concert marks his first public appearance since he and Drake exchanged several vicious diss tracks. DJ Hed and Mustard delivered stacked opening sets featuring guest performances from the likes of Westside Boogie, BlueBucksClan, Tommy The Clown, Blxst, Ty Dolla Sign, Dom Kennedy, Steve Lacy, Tyler The Creator, Roddy Ricch, and YG.
Lamar immediately reminded everyone that he is and forever will be the main attraction when he began his set with the live debut of “Euphoria,” one of the aforementioned Drake diss tracks.
Lamar additionally proved that he still disdains Drake by adding a new bar to “Euphoria,” according to various publications like Complex and XXL Magazine. The line is, “Give me Tupac’s ring back, and I might give you a little respect.”
Kendrick Lamar sends a message to Drake with a new line during his performance of “Euphoria” at The Pop Out.
Lamar released “Euphoria” on April 30. The six-plus-minute diss track is a total evisceration. “Don’t tell no lies about me, and I won’t tell no truths ’bout you” is a self-explanatory bar, but Lamar’s attacks throughout the song are nuanced — the embodiment of “it’s levels to this,” as explained by Uproxx’s Wongo Okon.
Kendrick Lamar is currently performing at “The Pop Out” which is a concert that is looking to be a uniting force for the West Coast. To open his set, Kendrick performed his first diss track against Drake, “Euphoria.” It was a truly incredible moment that fans will remember for the rest of their lives. In fact, Kendrick rapped every single bar, which just goes to show what an amazing performer he is. As you can imagine, the visuals of the performance are pretty spectacular.
Below, you can find a small snippet of the performance, which had the entire KIA Forum shaking. It was not the first time tonight that this was the case. Of course, Tyler, The Creator had popped out earlier in the evening. We also got some truly spectacular performances from the likes of Roddy Ricch, YG, and many others. Mustard even put on a tribute to Nipsey Hussle, which made the concert feel that much more special.
There are some massive stars in the crowd at the show right now. For instance, we have LeBron James, Rick Ross, James Harden, and many others. This show is a once-in-a-lifetime type of event, and it must be pretty special to be there right now. Hopefully, Kendrick brings out some more guests to make this an even better night than it already is. Oh…and we need that performance of “Not Like Us.”
Let us know what you thought of Kendrick’s performance of “Euphoria,” in the comments section down below. How did you feel about his performance of the song? Did you expect that this would be his first song of the entire evening? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Pusha T and his legend have already been cemented. Overall, that legend was cemented well before he ever started beefing with Drake. However, once he dropped “The Story Of Adidon,” it became clear that Push is an artist that is not to be messed with. When it comes to a battle, Push doesn’t play by any rules. Instead, he sets the tone and leaves his enemies begging for a way out. The same can be said of Kendrick Lamar, who also just went toe-to-toe with Drake.
Recently, Pusha T and No Malice sat down with Craig Jenkins of Vulture. During this interview, Clipse spoke about their upcoming album, while also divulging on some of hip-hop’s biggest topics. In fact, at the end of the interview, Jenkins snuck in a question about Kendrick’s line on “Euphoria” where he raps: “let me see you push a T.” As you can imagine, Push displayed lots of admiration for Kendrick, saying “Incredible. Incredible display. Incredible display of battle raps. Listen man, Kendrick …”
No Malice followed this up by saying, “it was a master class.” These responses should come as no surprise. Push has said on numerous occasions that he has no interest in apologizing to Drake or collaborating with him in the future. Instead, we imagine Push was listening to tracks like “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us” with jubilation. No matter what, you cannot deny the impact that this beef had on hip-hop as a whole. In the eyes of many, we will never see anything like this, ever again. With Kendrick performing in California today, who knows, it may not be over.
Let us know what you think of the track “Euphoria,” in the comments section down below. Do you believe that “Euphoria” was the best song to come out of this beef? What do you make of Pusha T’s response when asked about the lyrics? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Kendrick Lamar and Drake recently engaged in one of the most legendary rap feuds of all time. Overall, it was a beef that no one saw coming heading into 2024. However, with the “Like That” verse, Kendrick showed the world that he meant serious business. He was no longer going to settle for being part of the Big Three. Instead, he wanted the crown to himself, and the only one willing to challenge him for it was none other than Drake. Well, after May 4th, it became clear that Kendrick was the true heir to the crown as he put up a truly monumental performance.
On April 30th, Kendrick Lamar dropped off his first true diss track against Drake. “Euphoria” came out in the morning and it shocked the world. It was filled with scathing bars directed at Drake, and although it didn’t contain a hook, it made a massive impression. Numerous lines stayed stuck in people’s minds and even today, fans cannot help but blurt out lines at inopportune times. In fact, the song proved to be such a success for Kendrick that it is now platinum.
So far, Kendrick has three platinum songs in 2024. All of these songs are the quickest rap songs to go platinum this year. Those three tracks would be “Euphoria,” “Like That,” and “Not Like Us.” This has been an incredibly successful year for the legend, and now there is chatter that he is dropping an album. If he were to do so, it would definitely be one of the biggest releases of the entire year. Hopefully, those rumors turn into reality.
Let us know what you think of “Euphoria,” in the comments section down below. Do you believe that this was the best diss track in the entire saga? If not, where would you rank it amongst some of the other songs we got out of the Drake and Kendrick feud? Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
It goes without saying that the release of Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss “Euphoria” was one of the notable moments of their beef. On it, K-Dot made it clear that he wasn’t messing around, declaring that he hates everything about Drake, from the way he walks to the way he talks, dresses, and more. The chilling track continues to stand out as one of the most effective of their feud, serving as a response to Drake’s “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
Now, one of the producers behind “Euphoria,” Cardo, has opened up about his experience working alongside both Kendrick and Drake. During a recent interview with Kids Take Over, he also shared his take on the viral beef. According to him, he’s not surprised that Kendrick challenged Drake and went after him as hard as he did, as he previously knew him as a competitive guy. Moreover, he thinks the lyrical battle was a positive thing for the genre, and has respect for both artists.
Cardo Says He Has Respect For Both Kendrick And Drake
“I respect them both. They’re both somebody I both f*ck with. I’ve made history with both of them. And it’s good for Hip-Hop,” Cardo explained. “Dot is the type of guy that will challenge anybody. He’ll challenge people in a game of hopscotch. He’s a competitive dude.” Clearly, Cardo knows a thing or two, as the track he contributed to ended up making a serious splash. “Euphoria” managed to secure No. 1 spots on both Apple Music and Spotify’s daily U.S. streaming charts.
Of course, the song was arguably outshined by the subsequent release of Kendrick’s DJ Mustard-produced track “Not Like Us,” which is now a fan favorite from the feud. What do you think of Cardo’s recent remarks about working alongside both Kendrick Lamar and Drake? Are you surprised that he said he has respect for both of them? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Michael Eric Dyson voiced his displeasure with Kendrick Lamar during an interview with Stephen A. Smith on Sunday, in which he reflected on his piece in The Philadelphia Citizen discussing the rapper’s feud with Drake. Dyson wrote in the article that he was unhappy with Lamar questioning Drake’s Blackness and bringing up his mixed-race background on multiple diss tracks. On “Euphoria,” Lamar raps: “I even hate when you say the word ‘n***a’” as well as “we don’t wanna hear you say ‘n***a’ no more.”
“I’m pissed that Drake gets dismissed, off the scene, when he’s been Drake for 15 years and you act like you didn’t know that. Now he’s not really Black?” Dyson argued. “Challenging his racial identity and saying he’s a culture vulture when he’s a Black man? ‘He’s from Canada, he ain’t real!’ Idris Elba is from the UK; people still love him on The Wire! So why is it that being from outside of our nationality raises suspicions about Drake.”
Michael Eric Dyson Attends Premiere Of “Renaissance: A Film By Beyonce”
BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 25: (Editorial Use Only) (Exclusive Coverage) Michael Eric Dyson attends the World Premiere of “Renaissance: A Film By Beyoncé” at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on November 25, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/WireImage for Parkwood)
From there, Dyson credited Lamar for being talented but said Drake is underrated. “Kendrick Lamar is a brilliant rapper and a formidable foe. But so is Drake,” he said. “And what he’s done to expand the horizon of Hip Hop is underestimated, even artistically […] We have to stop this narrow, punishing, pernicious, limited viewpoint about Blackness.” He went on to compare Drake to former president Barack Obama. Check out the full comments below.
Michael Eric Dyson Comes To Drake’s Defense
Lamar kicked off the feud with Drake by targeting him on “Like That” back in March. In the months since, the two have fired off several diss tracks at one another. Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud on HotNewHipHop.
One thing that’s certain about the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef is that it’s been a commercial hit. Fans have already streamed “Like That” to a number one debut on the Hot 100. It subsequently spent 3 weeks at the top spot. They also helped both “euphoria” and “push ups” debut in the top 20 in the past two weeks, despite neither having a fill tracking week of sales. Kendrick dropped a track called “Not Like Us” over the weekend that’s off to an incredibly start commercially. The DJ Mustard-produced cut has a much more energetic and catchy flow to it that could translate into huge numbers.
Speaking of huge numbers, “euphoria” is already there. After making its debut at number 11 on the Hot 100 the song is expected to climb even higher next week. In fact, it could go as high as number one where its currently projected in battle with Tommy Richman’s “MILLION DOLLAR BABY” to claim the top spot. Earlier today, the song officially hit 500k copies sold, a substantial achievement for any song much less one that’s barely been around for a week. Unsurprisingly, it’s the fastest solo rap song to reach that milestone in 2024 so far. It’s even faster than Megan Thee Stallion’s “HISS” which debuted atop the Hot 100 back in January.
Kendrick’s most recent release “Not Like Us” is also breaking records. In fact, it even broke a record previously held by Drake himself. The song surpassed Certified Lover Boy‘s opening track “Champagne Poetry” for the most streams in a single day among any solo rap song in the first 24 hours after it dropped. It’s not clear at the time whether Kendrick plans to release any more songs addressing the beef.
What do you think of Kendrick Lamar’s first diss track aimed solely at Drake hitting 500k sales in just over a week? Are you surprised it’s the fastest selling solo rap songs of 2024 so far? Let us know in the comment section below.
Kendrick Lamar released “Not Like Us,” on May 4, as the latest in a number of lyrical onslaughts that target Drake. The tensions between Kendrick Lamar and Drake seem to have escalated after J. Cole referred to them as the “big three” of modern Hip Hop. However, it’s become increasingly evident that Kendrick has a bone to pick with Drizzy. In fact, one would say that he absolutely despises the Toronto rapper, and Kendrick is airing Drake’s alleged dirty laundry on the track. As a result, their back-and-forth disses have continued to evolve from playful jabs to personal shots. It looks like Kendrick is currently at an edge over Drake though, as the public has been leaning in his favor following the back-to-back disses on “Meet the Grahams,” and now, “Not Like Us.”
While Kendrick’s lyrics about Drake definitely steal the show, the production on “Not Like Us” does deserve a few points as well. The instrumental is a collaboration between producers Mustard and Sounwave. The track’s tempo is relentless, creating an urgent atmosphere that features pronounced snares and bass, emphasizing the aggressive tone. Nonetheless, Kendrick Lamar’s vocal performance takes center stage, with the instrumentation allowing his words to cut through.
Sex Offense Allegations
The song opens with a haunting line, “Pss, I see dead people,” referencing M. Night Shyamalan’s Sixth Sense (starring Haley Joel Osment) before diving into a barrage of insults aimed at Drake. Kendrick calls him a “free throw,” an easy target and continues with a series of accusations and metaphors that paint Drake as weak, untrustworthy, and worse, a predator. Throughout “Not Like Us,” Kendrick accuses Drake of having inappropriate sexual relationships with minors. This is also a topic Drake has had to debunk in the past. However, Kendrick doesn’t shy away from blowing up the rumors surrounding Drake’s personal life with his lyrics like, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any b**ch that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.”
Accusing Drake of being sexual with underaged women has become a recurring topic in Kendrick’s diss tracks. However, K. Dot found new, creative ways to hurl these heavy allegations at Drizzy, but that’s not all. Another standout moment in “Not Like Us” comes when Kendrick hits Drake with the line, “Why you trollin’ like a b*tch? Ain’t you tired? Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A-Minor.” With this, Kendrick is referencing all of the memes and online insults Drake posted on social media last month in order to goad Kendrick into responding.
The predator accusations on “Not Like Us” don’t stop with Drake, as Kendrick moves on to accuse the entire OVO crew. The cover art for the track is in fact an aerial view picture of Drake’s mansion, allegedly dotted with sex offender location tags. Kendrick alleges that Drake’s close friend Chubbs, gets his “hand-me-downs;” a metaphor for the women Drake has sexual relations with. He also accuses PartyNextDoor of having a drug addiction before moving on to address Baka Not Nice, Drake’s former bodyguard and rapper who has had a history of run-ins with the law. “They tell me Chubbs the only one that get your hand-me-downs / And Party at the party, playin’ with his nose now / And Baka got a weird case, why is he around? Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,” he raps. Later, he doubles back on these allegations, rapping, “And your homeboy need a subpoena, that predator move in flocks / That name gotta be registered and placed on neighborhood watch.”
J. Cole & Lil Wayne Relationship
One of the most striking lines on “Not Like Us” is “Led a n*gga to the cross, he walk around like Teezo.” Here, Kendrick doesn’t just stop at suggesting that Drake’s actions have always been hypocritical. He follows up with names of those who have allegedly been subjected to Drake’s wiles, starting with J. Cole and Lil Wayne. “Did Cole fouI, I don’t know why you still pretendin’ / What is the owl? Bird n***as and bird b***hes, go. The J. Cole lyric is perhaps referencing the fact that Drake keeps mentioning Cole in a beef he does not want to be a part of anymore. Evidently, this comes off as an attempt to goad a reaction out of him too.
“Fucked on Wayne girl while he was in jail, that’s connivin’ / Then get his face tatted like a bitch apologizin’,” he continues. The second lyric is much more explicit in its meaning and is as on-the-nose as can be. Kendrick references Drake getting intimate with Lil Wayne’s girlfriend while Wayne was in prison. Wayne confirmed the rumor in his 2016 memoir Gone Til November. Drake subsequently tattooed Lil Wayne’s face on his arm in 2017, which Kendrick claims was a way to apologize.
Kendrick Questions Drake’s Authenticity On “Not Like Us”
Kendrick also lists other names within the industry on “Not Like Us,” specifically rappers from Atlanta, whom Drake allegedly leveraged to get his street cred. However, first, he opens the second verse condemning Drake for using A.I vocals of rap legend 2Pac in his diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle.” “You think the Bay gon’ let you disrespect Pac, n***a? / I think that Oakland show gon’ be your last stop, n***a.”
The social climbing accusations are also consistent with his lyrics on “Meet The Grahams.” Summarily, K. Dot reminds listeners about how Drake allegedly only embraces his Blackness when it’s convenient. Kendrick gives a history lesson about how slaves built the city of Atlanta on their backs. White settlers eventually exploited these slaves. He then infers that Drake, who is biracial and Canadian, is a white settler in Hip-Hop. Altogether, he believes these Atlanta rappers have helped Drake get his reputation in the industry.
“Atlanta was the Mecca, buildin’ railroads and trains / Bear with me for a second, let me put y’all on game / The settlers was usin’ town folk to make ’em richer / Fast-forward, 2024, you got the same agenda/ You run to Atlanta when you need a check balance / Let me break it down for you, this the real n***a challenge / You called Future when you didn’t see the club / Lil Baby helped you get your lingo up / 21 gave you false street cred / Thug made you feel like you a slime in your head / Quavo said you can be from Northside / 2 Chainz say you good, but he lied,” he raps on the third verse.
Drake’s previous diss tracks, including “Push Ups,” released in April, took direct aim at Kendrick Lamar. On the track, Drake referred to Kendrick as a “pipsqueak.” He also questioned his stature in the industry. How the f*ck you big steppin’ with a size-seven men’s on?
This was in response to Kendrick’s verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s “Like That,” where he dismissed the notion of the “big three,” which included himself, Drake, and J. Cole. No one expected that those lines would lead to a series of songs that serve as character assassinations. However, 24 hours after “Not Like Us,” Drake followed with “The Heart Part 6.” On the track, he made sure to address Kendrick’s pedophilia accusations while also claiming Kendrick was working with false information about him.
“I never been with no one under age but now / I understand why this the angle that you really mess with / Just for clarity, I feel disgusted I’m too respected / If I was fucking young girls, I promise I’d been done arrested / I’m way too famous for this shit you just suggested, but that’s not the lesson, clearly there’s a deeper message,” he raps. Though it marked the first time
Joe Biden’s campaign team took aim at Donald Trump on social media, Monday, by flipping the lyrics to Kendrick Lamar’s “Euphoria” diss track. In doing so they posted a video of several pictures of the former President while the song plays. “It’s always been about love and hate, now let me say I’m the biggest hater. I hate the way that you walk over women’s rights, the way that you talk about immigrants. I hate the way that you dress, I hate the way that you sneak diss on truth social,” the text over the video reads.
In the original version of the song, Lamar goes after Drake amid their ongoing feud. He raps: “It’s always been about love and hate, now let me say I’m the biggest hater / I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress / I hate the way that you sneak diss, if I catch flight, it’s gon’ be direct / We hate the b*tches you f*ck ’cause they confuse themself with real women.”
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – OCTOBER 22: U.S. President Donald Trump and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden participate in the final presidential debate at Belmont University on October 22, 2020 in Nashville, Tennessee. This is the last debate between the two candidates before the election on November 3. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Lamar released “Euphoria” back on April 30 as the second diss track in his ongoing feud with Drake. In the lyrics, he labeled the Toronto rapper a “master manipulator,” referenced his previous feud with Pusha T, and more. He’s released several more songs aimed at Drake in the time since including “6:16 in LA,” “Meet the Grahams,” and his latest, “Not Like Us.”
Pressure can either burst pipes or make diamonds. The messy outcome that transpired this weekend between Drake and Kendrick Lamar affirms the reality behind that statement. Things became far too personal, forcing each MC to put their best foot forward in an attempt to stay ahead or, at the very least, neutralize their opponent. But for spectators of the sport of rap, this has been an excellent showing of two of the most celebrated MCs of this era in their element. However, this tension isn’t something that just began. It’s been brewing for over a decade and reached its boiling point when Kendrick unleashed his verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” It reportedly came as a response to J Cole’s “Big 3” line on “First Person Shooter,” a song that allegedly attempted to see Drake bring his peers together as a united front before going on hiatus.
Ultimately, whether done in good faith or not, the No. 1 song off of For All The Dogs triggered tension within hip-hop circles. The public only began to feel its effects in March 2024 with the release of the first of Future and Metro Boomin’s joint albums, We Don’t Trust You. Metro and Future seemed to campaign these albums as a Drake takedown. However, it became even more clear in recent days that, except for Rick Ross, everyone else was basically hiding behind Kendrick Lamar.
Below is a timeline of critical songs that have played a significant role in the battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. It should be noted that this is based on purely diss songs – not one-off subliminal bars. Therefore, we will not be counting Future and Metro Boomin’s back-to-back albums or any other track outside of “Like That” from those projects.
March 26, 2024: Future & Metro Boomin – “Like That” Ft. Kendrick Lamar
It’s a treat to see Kendrick Lamar’s name attached to any tracklist as a featured artist, but no one really knew what they were jumping into when they heard “Like That” for the first time. The infectious bop, which has undoubtedly had radio, clubs, and social media in a stronghold since its release, swelled into one of the biggest songs of the year due to Kendrick’s verse. In the song, Dot makes it clear that the concept of the “Big 3” is obsolete – only one person could sit on the throne, and it is not Drake or J Cole. What’s worse is that both Kendrick and Metro have alleged that Drake tried to block the song’s release in different capacities.
In the midst of catching a stray on “Like That,” J Cole succumbed to the pressure of social media and decided to try and gun for Kendrick’s neck on “7 Minute Drill,” the outro to his otherwise excellent mixtape, Might Delete Later. Though the public (clearly easily persuaded) believed this was an adequate release song, it did fall flat on a few occasions. For instance, Cole’s attempt to discredit Kendrick’s catalog could’ve been something flipped easily back on him.
The public praised Cole for nearly 72 hours but what we didn’t know is that behind closed doors, Cole was riddled with regret. He took to the stage at his annual Dreamville Festival, where he offered an apology to Kendrick, referred to the song as one of the lamest things that he’s done in his career, and announced that he would remove it from streaming services. He kept his word and hasn’t really been heard from since.
April 13th, 2024: Drake – “Push Ups” (Officially Released On April 19th)
In the weeks after We Don’t Trust You, it became clear that it wasn’t just Kendrick who had an issue with Drake. It was everyone else who aligned themselves with Future and Metro Boomin, including Rick Ross, The Weeknd, and ASAP Rocky, who appeared in its sequel, We Still Don’t Trust You. The following day, a leaked demo of Drake’s “Push Ups” surfaced online, where he declared the entire debacle a “20 V. 1.”
He tore through Future and Metro Boomin, with the latter at the receiving end of the now-iconic phrase, “Metro shut yo h*e ass up and make some drums,” slammed Rick Ross for jumping in the feud, took shots at The Weeknd and XO as a whole, addressed J. Cole’s apology, and fired back at Kendrick with several short jokes and claims that he got swindled by Top Dawg. Ultimately, the song, including the mention of Whitney Alford, served as a warning shot toward Kendrick and the rest of his adversaries, though many initially believed it was an AI-created song before Drizzy confirmed its authenticity.
April 13th, 2024: Rick Ross – “Champagne Moments” (Officially Released On April 15th)
Shortly after Drake’s diss track leaked online, Rick Ross wasted no time issuing a response. On “Champagne Moments,” which became a fan favorite among hip-hop’s old guard, emerged in snippets via Akademiks. The record feels like a classic MMG offering where Ross balances opulent tones with gritty imagery as he attacked Drake for using ghostwriters, getting plastic surgery, sending a cease to French Montana, and trying to embellish his street credibility by working with artists with more authentic ties to street gangs.
Perhaps the most confusing entry in this whole list, Drake reimagined himself as the late Tupac and Snoop Dogg on “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Released days after “Push Ups” in an attempt to encourage a response from Kendrick, Drake used the power of AI to deliver his first verse from the perspective of ‘Pac while the second came as an encouraging pep talk from Snoop Dogg. Drake wrote and recorded both verses, as well as delivered a verse at the end as himself to close the song.
On the track, Drake jabbed Kendrick for his street ties and downplayed the Compton artist’s impact on the West Coast. Much like “Push Ups,” this was another taunt aimed at Mr. Morale, though it also served as Drake’s first song where he solely addressed Kendrick Lamar. Considering the controversy surrounding AI, Drake faced backlash for attempting to desecrate Tupac’s legacy. Even Suge Knight condemned Drake from behind bars. The estate of Tupac Shakur later stated their disproval of Drizzy’s artistic choices.
“The Estate is deeply dismayed and disappointed by your unauthorized use of Tupac’s voice and personality,” attorney Howard King wrote in a letter obtained by Billboard. “Not only is the record a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights, it is also a blatant abuse of the legacy of one of the greatest hip-hop artists of all time. The Estate would never have given its approval for this use.” He added, “The unauthorized, equally dismaying use of Tupac’s voice against Kendrick Lamar, a good friend to the Estate who has given nothing but respect to Tupac and his legacy publicly and privately, compounds the insult.” Days later, Drake removed the song from his Instagram page.
April 21st, 2024: Kanye West – “Like That (Remix)”
Though this was by far the weakest diss track to come out of this feud, it did feel like a significant development as fans waited for Kendrick’s reply. Kanye West’s feud with Drake has been well-documented over the years, though both parties have attempted to revive their beef on wax to little effect. Kanye later jumped on the No. 1 single with a new verse while revamping the hook, declaring in the intro, “You know we had to get the Hooligans up here. We gon’ take this p*ssy n***a out. Yo Dot, I got you.” Outside of claiming that Drake sold his soul to UMG for that reported $400M deal, Kanye’s diss record landed on deaf ears.
April 30th, 2024: Kendrick Lamar – “Euphoria”
Over two weeks passed after Drake’s “Push Ups” leaked online, and doubt began to cloud the air that Kendrick backed down from the feud. Media personalities, such as Akademiks and Jamil “Mal” Clay, began speculating that Dot would only respond on his next studio album. There were even rumors that Kendrick was too shook to fire back. However, on April 30th, Kendrick Lamar released “Euphoria” at 8:24 a.m. PST in what appeared to be an homage to Kobe Bryant. Furthermore, the song’s title also references the HBO series that Drake executive produces. The blistering song delivered on all fronts: addressing each of Drake’s major talking points and alluding to plenty of tea that the internet uncovered in the days that followed while also teasing Drake’s heritage as a Canadian and criticizing his parental skills when it comes to Adonis.
Ultimately, “Euphoria” was a massive flex that proved Kendrick stood as a commercial giant next to Drake – a feat that no other rapper in this beef could flaunt. Moreover, his taunts of Toronto’s accent, OVO, and mention of New Ho King showcased Kendrick Lamar’s international appeal as the Toronto restaurant saw a significant spike in business shortly, thanks to “Euphoria.”
Days later, Kendrick Lamar doubled back with the release of “6:16 In LA” as an Instagram exclusive. Including a random Maybach motorcycle glove as its cover art and referencing Drake’s timestamp records, Kendrick Lamar let off another shot at Drake where he made his feelings towards him clear. This particular record had the makings of an entry in “The Heart” series.
Produced by Taylor Swift associate Jack Antonoff and Sounwave, Kendrick tackles a smooth sample of Al Green’s “What A Wonderful Thing Love Is” (Drake’s uncle Mabon “Teenie” Hodges plays guitar on the song) and uses the first half as an opportunity to deliver both spiritual and materialistic flexes. Then, halfway into the song, Kendrick goes back in on Drake for trying to troll his manager, Anthony Saleh, online and alludes to having a mole in the OVO camp. This became a critical piece of information that would unfold over the next 72 hours.
A little over 12 hours later, Drake would come back with a vengeance with the release of “Family Matters.” Another one produced by Boi-1da, who clearly has kept a battery in Drake’s back throughout this beef, the song is broken down into three different sections. Similar to “Push Ups,” which previewed the hook of the first part of the song, Drake is after everyone who has fired at him over the past few weeks. Kendrick Lamar becomes the focal point, but this is where Drake begins to publicly disseminate information surrounding Lamar’s fiancée, Whitney Alford, and egg on rumors that she had an affair with Dave Free, Kendrick’s general manager, leading to the birth of a son. This was the biggest bombshell of the song, while Drizzy also spent the record doubling back on The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, Rick Ross, Future, and ASAP Rocky.
May 3rd, 2024: Kendrick Lamar – “Meet The Grahams”
In what is undoubtedly one of the most scathing diss songs in the history of hip-hop – one that neither “The Story Of Adidon” or “Ether” could accomplish – Kendrick Lamar released an open letter to the Graham family moments after “Family Matters” hit DSPs. Produced by Alchemist, Kendrick directs each verse at different family members, including an alleged secret 11-year-old daughter. While it did attempt to have the same effect as “The Story Of Adidon,” Drake later debunked this theory and alleged that he actually planted false information about the daughter himself. However, that didn’t take away from the fact that Kendrick accused Drake of using Ozempic, getting a BBL, protecting sex offenders and exhibiting Weinstein-like behavior, preying on underage women, and so much more. If you were looking for a diss track that emphasized dirty secrets before lyricism, this one is certainly for you.
Nearly 24 hours after dropping “Meet The Grahams,” Kendrick came through with his fourth release of the week, “Not Like Us.” With production from Mustard, Kendrick delivered arguably the best song out of this whole kerfuffle. The heavily influenced West Coast bop takes cues from artists like Drakeo The Ruler and E-40 while Kendrick relentlessly trolls Drake. Though many doubted Kendrick’s ability to craft an anthem for the clubs, “Not Like Us” found his lyrical sword, infectious songwriting, and humor take center stage as he called Drake and OVO a bunch of pedophiles. We can’t imagine anything hurt Drake more in this battle than seeing Kendrick Lamar unite the streets of Los Angeles to scream “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile” or “Trying to strike a chord and it’s probably A-Minor” in unison.
In what currently stands as the final offering in the current phase of this battle, Drake returned fire on Sunday night with “The Heart Part 6.” In another offering produced by Boi-1da, Drizzy switched his tone to offer a moody record that felt akin to the timestamp joints that fans have been longing for. Across the song, Drake doubled down on all of the allegations against Kendrick Lamar, including unsubstantiated claims of domestic abuse and the narrative surrounding Whitney Alford and Dave Free. Furthermore, he said that Kendrick hasn’t actually seen his kids in nearly six months.
In an attempt to address the allegations of grooming and predatory behavior, Drake also tried to flip the script to accuse Kendrick of projecting his own traumas of sexual abuse onto him. However, outside of his core fanbase, this backfired terribly. His failed attempt to reverse the narrative on “Mother I Sober” from Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers proved that he was, in fact, just as “dumb and reactive” as he accused Kendrick Lamar of being.
Ironically, by the end of the song, Drake says, “Everything in my sh*t is facts,” which feels less effective after several of his claims were debunked. Plus, his actual attempt to deny the grooming allegations didn’t help his case in the court of public opinion. However, the outro of this song indicated that Drake might be worn out by the constant back and forth with Kendrick. Is he truly willing to back down?
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