Young Thug has been in jail for over two years now due to the Rico case against him in the state of Georgia. Overall, this has left him out of the loop on many of the inner-workings of the music industry. However, he does have an inside source these days in Mariah The Scientist. The R&B singer has been visiting Thugger in prison and has been able to play him some music, while also explaining the intricacies of rap beef. Of course, we are talking about the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
Given that Thug has a relationship with Drake and Metro Boomin, one would be curious to know what he thinks about what’s happening. Although as Mariah The Scientist explains, he isn’t really taking sides. “For sure. I tell him everything. I might tell him too much. I play him the [diss] songs over the phone and s–t. He’s a lover of music in general,” she explained. “He f–ks with everybody. I don’t think he would ever be able to – let me not speak for him. He love music though.”
Young Thug Gets The Inside Scoop From Mariah The Scientist
MIAMI BEACH, FL – DECEMBER 06: Rapper Young Thug performs at L’Eden by Perrier-Jouët on December 6, 2018 in Miami Beach, Florida. (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for Perrier-Jouët)
Subsequently, Mariah The Scientist went on to say how Thugger feels about the beef in general. “He thinks it’s interesting, for sure,” she noted. “We were listening to some of the songs. Not all of them, because now I’ve gotten lost. In the beginning, I was like, ‘Hey, there’s a tizzy going on.’ I played him some of it. I feel like those two people are both great rappers. With all of the rappers with the guy and the girl rappers, granted it’s cool for the craft, and to be able to keep up with that — because let me not lie and say there’s no competitive energy in the music industry. Because there is.”
Let us know what you think of the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that the beef is now officially over? Do you think that Drake may come back and try to take back the lead? 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.
When we look back on the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, it’s likely that “Meet The Grahams” will be the point of no return. It dropped just minutes after Drizzy’s “Family Matters” diss, its cover art displayed items that allegedly belong to the Toronto superstar, and it contained serious allegations accusing the OVO mogul of child neglect, various addictions, and predatory behavior towards young women and others. It’s hands-down the darkest moment of the battle, and one that K.Dot quickly livened up with the No. 1 smash “Not Like Us.” But despite this feud being over for now, some posts about the cover art on Twitter have led fans down a much darker and more serious path.
An account on the social media platform by the name of EbonyPrince2k24 now has hip-hop heads becoming amateur investigative journalists and private detectives. The items on the “Meet The Grahams” cover art are no longer the focal point of conversation around it. Instead, these videos, tweets, statements, and interpretations in defense of, in Ebony’s words, “King Kendrick,” allegedly suggest a more sinister incident at The Mark Hotel in New York City in July of 2023. We want to make it clear that none of the following claims are proven true or verified; that this got a whole lot deeper than just rap beefing with Drake, and that we’re barely scratching the surface. We don’t know how involved Kendrick Lamar is in all this extracurricular speculation, as this seemingly transcends hip-hop, but here are more or less what the main claims are and what the alleged controversies suggest.
EbonyPrince2k24’s First Posts About The “Meet The Grahams” Cover Art
#1. King @kendricklamar is not a liar, and I am not a thief!
#2. Mr. Aubrey Graham (@Drake) & Mr. Livingston Allen (@Akademiks) have until noon Monday 5/13/24 to retract your claims of theft, or my attorney Ms. Adrienne Edward and I will exhaust every legal option available. pic.twitter.com/Mm6TBjMiXc
To Mr. Aubrey Graham (@Drake ), may this photo help jog your memory as to where you discarded those items. The issue in the photo should also jog your memory. Jimmy Brooks would not have been proud of you that night… pic.twitter.com/QnPFsIERO7
First, the rabbit hole deepened when EbonyPrince uploaded a video displaying various items that Kendrick Lamar put on his “Meet The Grahams” cover art. These include a shirt, prescription drugs with July 2023 dates, a May 8, 2024 newspaper, a Maybach glove, and jewelry receipts. Ebony claimed that he did not steal these items, as DJ Akademiks had suggested, and warned Ak and Drake to publicly say that Ebony did not steal the items or face legal action (at press time past noon on Monday, May 13, which was his deadline for this, no news has emerged of a lawsuit). Ebony also tweeted what seems to be CCTV footage of a hotel lobby dated January 22, 2023, which he says he posted to remind Aubrey Graham of when he discarded those items. Journalist Christopher Alvarez also appears in that alleged screenshot.
Further tweets claim that Drake caused two Black men to lose their jobs on that day and that he “made an enemy,” and Ebony further suggested that the 37-year-old is blocking him from getting money. Ebony even claims that the New York Police Department opened an investigation and almost arrested Ebony over Drake’s “accommodations” and claims of assault, the alleged perpetrator of which is unclear. He then posted a video of Drake presumably entering The Mark Hotel in NYC while a female fan tried to run after him. “I’ve stood next to you in the rain to keep the paps and fanatics away,” Ebony wrote. The last important accusation to mention is that Ebony allegedly recorded the video of the “Meet The Grahams” items from, according to fan theories, from either Kendrick Lamar’s balcony or the hotel next to The Mark.
As if all that wasn’t enough bizarre speculation, EbonyPrince2k24 returned on Monday (May 13) to post another video of items, but this one is different. These aren’t the “Meet The Grahams” cover items, but rather a May 13, 2024 newspaper, a multi-colored set of jewelry, and two shooting range posters. Also, Ebony posted another picture of jewelry on Twitter, perhaps insinuating that these items are allegedly Drake’s. Then, he said that The Boy introduced a “dilemma” into his professional life, suggested that all these items are from a Lost and Found, and that he “understood the assignment” when he saw the “Meet The Grahams” cover art a couple of days after it released. Ebony also insinuates that Drake asked for a “little bag” in Ebony’s possession, and did not care about the “big bag” that may have contained these items.
Meanwhile, Ebony also called Drake’s entourage a “goon squad” that “pushes the service providers who are trying to assist out of the way,” is mean to staff, and once struck a service provider due to thinking that they were a paparazzi. “On top of costing people to be fired, costing people to resign, and nearly costing me to be arrested (all in the lawsuit against young Theodore from earlier)…” he also tweeted. This could refer to The Mark Hotel’s defamation lawsuit against Theodore Weintraub, who reportedly accused the hotel of denying the Holocaust and supporting Jeffrey Epstein.
Throughout the rest of the day, Ebony has been making more claims, referring to a “3rd party company” that some have unverifiably linked to Drake’s alleged security company. Ebony also alluded to his legal responsibility to “report any questionable activity regarding the humans this law covers…” The law in question is presumably related to “Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Maltreatment,” based on a screenshot of a certificate of completion of mandated reported training. Once noon on Monday rolled around, Ebony posted a picture of the Kaspia restaurant at The Mark Hotel, suggesting once again that something serious allegedly happened there on July 27, 2023. “My eyes [don’t] determine age. They… decipher adult from adolescent. Young Theodore made changes to how we monitored youngins…” he captioned the photo.
At around 2 pm EST, EbonyPrince posted another alleged CCTV clip in the same alleged hotel lobby that also shows that journalist Christopher Alvarez was there. An unidentifiable person walks in, but the clip cuts off before anything happens. Ebony then announced that he would sell all the items this November at a New York event, and said that he’s ready to die over this information. However, he suggested that he won’t share it since it’s all with the lawyers now, and finally, he claimed that he “only told Kendrick [Lamar] about the items.” On top of all this, DJ Akademiks also expressed his opinion that Drake allegedly never had a mole in Kendrick’s camp feeding him false info, which is related to these items. Overall, it’s impossible to tell whether EbonyPrince2k24 is telling the truth or making mountains out of molehills. For now, the waters are muddier than ever.
Are we watching hip-hop titans face off on wax or supervillains hack and scheme their way to the top of the social media food chain? The Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef took some wild turns on its run up until this point, but this is starting to get to the point of parody. Moreover, you’ve probably seen some viral discussion about a particular Twitter account’s constant postings about Drizzy’s alleged items featured on the “Meet The Grahams” YouTube cover art. The sinister nature of the video of these supposed belongings, plus the messages and demands from the account, have folks comparing them to “The Riddler” from the Batman franchise.
Furthermore, the realm of social media isn’t the only battlefield in which Drake and Kendrick Lamar are in pretty direct and steep competition as far as which fanbase can make the most excuses for their victory. The charts are also contributing to this, too, as the latter recently broke some staggering Spotify records held by the former. “Not Like Us” is an absolute smash hit that even the Billboard charts might not be able to deny, although whether it will actually hit the No. 1 spot is a mystery. There are a lot of bizarre things to discuss about this whole debacle, and that was before people started comparing K.Dot to The Joker.
Drake’s Alleged “Meet The Grahams” Items Shown In Viral Video
A new video of the ‘meet the grahams’ cover items has surfaced online
“#1. King Kendrick Lamar is not a liar, and I am not a thief!
#2. Drake & Akademiks have until noon Monday 5/13/24 to retract your claims of theft, or my attorney and I will exhaust every legal option… pic.twitter.com/oXZYnD3fos
Elsewhere, there are some other people in the rap world who are allegedly coming out of the woodwork to chime in on the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef. We say “allegedly” because we don’t know for sure whether 21 Savage’s recent tweet was actually a commentary on backstabbing in hip-hop. Still, the message and the context surrounding his loyalties to both the 6ix God and Metro Boomin line up too well for folks not to theorize. But the real answer to that is, simply, that 21 probably doesn’t want to deal with all that while he’s on tour and has no obligations to “pick a side.” Nevertheless, check out reactions to “The Riddler” down below, as they’ve definitely picked a side.
Fan Reactions To “The Riddler” Defending Kendrick Lamar
Meanwhile, this pairs up with some curious updates in Drake’s life, such as him re-listing his Beverly Hills mansion. Hopefully these developments lean more towards this and father away from the shooting and trespassing that occurred in his Bridle Path neighborhood recently. This feud got nasty a long time ago, and it seems like the rabbit hole only goes deeper. Fans are just praying that it ends soon.
Amid the fallout from Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s recent lyrical feud, someone new has joined the conversation, who’s now been dubbed “the Riddler.” Today, a mysterious Twitter user hopped online to show off Drake’s alleged belongings. The items appear to be the same ones featured in Kendrick Lamar’s original “Meet The Grahams” cover art. In an eerie clip, the individual plays the diss track on a laptop, panning over to reveal the items.
“#1. King @kendricklamar is not a liar, and I am not a thief!” they captioned the post. “#2. Mr. Aubrey Graham (@Drake) & Mr. Livingston Allen (@Akademiks) have until noon Monday 5/13/24 to retract your claims of theft, or my attorney Ms. Adrienne Edward and I will exhaust every legal option available.” At the time of writing, it remains unclear exactly who the person is. They didn’t stop there, however.
“The Riddler” Threatens To Take Legal Action Against Drake
#1. King @kendricklamar is not a liar, and I am not a thief!
#2. Mr. Aubrey Graham (@Drake) & Mr. Livingston Allen (@Akademiks) have until noon Monday 5/13/24 to retract your claims of theft, or my attorney Ms. Adrienne Edward and I will exhaust every legal option available. pic.twitter.com/Mm6TBjMiXc
They then went on to share a photo of security footage from the Mark Hotel, where Drake stayed in January 2023. “To Mr. Aubrey Graham (@Drake ), may this photo help jog your memory as to where you discarded those items. The issue in the photo should also jog your memory. Jimmy Brooks would not have been proud of you that night,” the user wrote. A subsequent Tweet reads, “You’ve had many things discarded on your behalf over the years. I wonder if you can remember them all…”
“You’re blocking my money with your lies, so you have forced me to get it another way,” they also added. The cryptic and bizarre posts have since garnered reactions from countless social media users, who’ve been left to wonder who’s behind them. What do you think of a Twitter user claiming to have Drake’s belongings from Kendrick Lamar’s original “Meet The Grahams” cover art? What about people dubbing them the Riddler? Share your thoughts in the comments section down below, and keep an eye on HNHH for more updates.
Kendrick Lamar has removed copyright from almost every other person, page, account, content channel, or reactor posting his recent Drake diss tracks online… except for one. Moreover, Elliott Wilson had taken to Twitter with an edited version of his haunting song “Meet The Grahams” without the verse claiming that Drizzy has a secret daughter. Then, he expressed surprise when he realized that the copyright owner disabled the media on Twitter, for which people have many theories. TDE’s president Punch had some words on the matter, and his statement on the edit is fueling other ideas as to why K.Dot would’ve wanted to take that down.
“Why would you request for it to be edited anyway? Did you ask for edits on anything else?” Punch asked Elliott Wilson, who invited him for a conversation in the replies on Twitter. Moreover, this lends credence to the speculative idea that Kendrick Lamar wants to keep the original version of the song intact because, even though his allegations are unverified, so are many of Drake’s and ones on other of his own tracks. As such, Punch seems to be pointing at an apparent double standard in this beef that Wilson probably did not intend in the first place.
Regardless, the damage is there, and Kendrick Lamar and Drake seem no closer to providing proof on one another or burying the hatchet at any point in the future. Perhaps the battle isn’t over yet despite what most folks are saying online, so we’ll see if this changes at any point. Of course, there are people like Freddie Gibbs who rightfully concluded that the only real winners in this beef were the record labels. Maybe this scuffle over an edit also speaks to how hip-hop media was able to shift and mold this battle in their image for their own gain or benefit, but we’re all complicit in that as fans.
Meanwhile, we can’t help but wonder how this whole situation will age. Will we ever remember this edited version of “Meet The Grahams,” and will “Not Like Us” keep its commercial staying power? No matter the case, this is going down in the history books one way or another. Kendrick Lamar and Drake went too hard, too quick, too low, and too impressively to not consider this one of the most memorable hip-hop moments of the past decade or so.
Kendrick Lamar is standing by what he said. “Meet the Grahams” was one of the most devastating diss songs ever put out. Over a haunting Alchemist beat, Lamar laid into his opponent, Drake, and laid out all the reasons why the Toronto rapper is a phony. He addressed Drake’s son and both his parents, but the biggest revelation came in the song’s third verse. Lamar addressed an unnamed daughter, claiming the rapper has an 11-year-old that he has neglected to raise since rising to fame. It was a shocking moment, and one that’s been examined with a lot of scrutiny.
Many claim Lamar is making the daughter up. Some have even posited that Drake fed the rapper’s camp bad information in an attempt to bait him. There’s been no evidence to prove either theory. Fans have to decide what the truth is for themselves.
Some are so put off by the so-called “lie” Lamar told that they went the extra mile and took the third verse out of “Meet the Grahams.” Rap Radar‘s Elliot Wilson posted an edited version of the song on May 8. Lamar was not a fan of this change, however.
The rapper filed a copyright violation against the edited version of “Meet the Grahams.” It was quickly taken down from social media platforms. Punch, Lamar’s former label mate at Top Dawg Entertainment, criticized the very concept of the edited version. He reposted Wilson’s tweet with a rhetorical question for the journalist. “Why would you request for it to be edited anyway,” he asked. “Did you ask for edits on anything else?”
Kendrick Lamar’s decision to take down the edited “Meet the Grahams” was no accident. The rapper has been very hands-on with song rollout over the last few months. He removed the copyrights for his Drake disses, meaning content creators who review “Meet the Grahams” or “Not Like Us” can profit from their videos. This was an unprecedented move, and one that earned Lamar lots of praise from online creators. It’s obvious the censoring of his work is not something he’s willing to tolerate, however.
The version of “Meet the Grahams” without mention of Drake’s daughter is no more. All that remains is the rapper’s original, brutal version.
Drake is currently in the midst of a pretty brutal feud with Kendrick Lamar. Overall, fans believe Kendrick is the official winner in all of this. “Meet The Grahams” was a massive gut punch, however, “Not Like Us” was a real knockout blow. It is a catchy track that sees Drake and his entire OVO crew being accused of pedophilia and predatory behavior. This is the last thing Drake needed, and at this point, it seems like he is throwing in the towel. However, Kendrick still has to answer for some things that were laid out in “Family Matters” and “The Heart Part 6.”
That said, now that fans have decided that Kendrick is the winner, the Drizzy haters are out in full force. Subsequently, this has led to a whole lot of trolling on social media. For instance, according to TMZ, multiple Drake-related GoFundMes have popped up over the last few days. Many of them are declaring the artist as “finished,” while looking to raise funds for a funeral. Moreover, there are some who are making Kendrick-related GoFundMe pages, with the intent of getting him more studio time. As if he needs money for that?
INDIO, CA – APRIL 15: Drake performs on the Coachella stage during day 2 of the Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival (Weekend 1) at the Empire Polo Club on April 15, 2017 in Indio, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for Coachella)
Some of the names for these fundraisers include “Support Kendrick Lamar’s Studio Time for the Ultimate Diss T;” “Join the Love Fund for Drake’s Send-Off;” “RIP Drake(champagnepapi): Fans Unite in Grief.” At this point, GoFundMe is looking to take some of these down as they go against the website’s terms of service. Having said all of that, this just goes to show that fans love to take things too far when their favorites are involved.
Let us know what you think of these tactics from the Drake haters, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that things are going way too far now? Is there such a thing as a “line” when it comes to rap beef? If this is all, indeed, over…who do you think came away as the winner? 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.
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?
The heavyweight championship of hip-hop witnessed a fiery brawl erupt earlier this year. The long-simmering tension between Drake and Kendrick Lamar finally boiled over, spilling into a lyrical warzone with diss tracks aimed squarely at each other. Kendrick’s “Meet the Grahams” wasn’t a playful jab; it was a full-fledged missile aimed at Drake’s personal life and carefully crafted image. The line that sent shockwaves through the hip-hop world? “Dear baby girl / I’m sorry that your father not active inside your world.” This cryptic verse insinuated a bombshell – that Drake allegedly has a hidden daughter he’s completely neglecting.
It was a calculated move, reminiscent of Pusha T’s brutal takedown in “The Story of Adidon,” where he exposed Drake’s then-secret son, Adonis. But Kendrick didn’t stop there. “Meet the Grahams” transformed into a full-on family roast. Kendrick addressed Drake’s entire family in a mock letter format. He offered “advice” to Adonis, questioned the parenting of Drake’s mother and father, and finally confronted Drake himself, declaring this a “long life battle with yourself” rather than just a rap battle.
Drake and Kendrick’s war of words has generated so much buzz within hip-hop. However, just like “The Story of Adidon” before it, “Meet the Grahams” brings Drake’s reputation into question. Is the 6 God hiding another child from the world? What was his reaction to K. Dot’s lyrical jab? What does the future hold after Kendrick’s lyrical inquest? Let’s unpack “Meet the Grahams” and get answers to some nagging questions.
Drake is never one to shy away from a fight. After K. Dot’s “Meet the Grahams” made the airwaves, he took to his Instagram story with a sarcastic rebuttal. Drake wrote, “Naahhh hold on can someone find my hidden daughter pls and send her to me… these guys are in shambles.” However, this playful denial only fueled the fire. Did Drake have a daughter he was hiding from the world? The internet detectives went into overdrive. A seemingly innocuous tweet from Drake in 2012 that read “Baby girl” was unearthed, leading to speculation that it was a reference to this alleged daughter. However, fans pointed out that the tweet’s date coincided with the anniversary of Aaliyah’s death, and “Baby Girl” was a common nickname for the late singer.
As the drama unfolded, Drake upped the ante. In his response track, “Heart Part 6,” he mocked Kendrick for believing a “fake mole” who fabricated the daughter story. He even playfully challenged DJ Akademiks on his podcast, claiming he would quit rapping and work for him if someone could produce proof of this hidden child. The truth, as it often does in hip-hop feuds, remains shrouded in mystery. There’s no concrete evidence to support Kendrick’s claim, but the damage might already be done. By planting the seed of doubt, Kendrick successfully tarnished Drake’s image as a responsible father, a narrative solidified by Pusha T’s earlier diss track.
Beyond The Beef: The Art Of The Diss Track
Diss tracks are a cornerstone of hip-hop culture. They are lyrical battlegrounds where rappers trade barbs, expose each other’s vulnerabilities, and leave the audience gasping for air. “Meet the Grahams” is a prime example of this art form, pushing the boundaries by aiming for deeper emotional blows. Kendrick’s accusation, true or not, struck at the core of Drake’s carefully constructed public persona. In the diss track arena, truth takes a backseat to impact. Kendrick landed a potent punch, forcing Drake to defend himself and potentially leaving a lasting mark on his reputation.
One thing’s undeniable: by raising questions about the possibility of Drake having a daughter, Kendrick Lamar’s “Meet the Grahams” ignited a firestorm of conversation. It’s exposed a potential vulnerability in Drake’s public image and reignited the age-old question of responsibility within hip-hop. And in the cutthroat world of rap battles, that’s a victory in itself.
So, What Next?
So far, the ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick has produced many great moments. As the beef continues to heat up the rap scene, fans can only beg for more. The two heavyweight rappers continue to have a go at each other, throwing jabs upon jabs. Fans should expect more allegations and counter-allegations from Drake and Kendrick. Like the Drake daughter issue, it may be hard to tell if their claims are true or not. However, fans don’t mind doing the digging while their faves do the spitting.
Cam’ron and Mase have been tapped into the Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud. However, last week, they only got a small sample size of what was to come. On Tuesday, Kendrick dropped off “Euphoria” which was a bit of a polarizing release. Although a lot of fans enjoyed the song, there were some who felt like “Push Ups” was better. In fact, Cam and Mase were quick to declare Drake the leader of the war. It was a take that a lot of fans took issue with, however, they remained tied to their declarations.
On Friday night, Drake and Kendrick shook things up. They went toe to toe with tracks like “Family Matters” and subsequently, “Meet The Grahams.” On Saturday, Kendrick delivered a banger with “Not Like Us,” and on Sunday, Drizzy finished things off with a response called “The Heart Part 6.” Overall, Drake’s track sounded as though he was tired of all of this. Almost as though he just wants this to come to an end. Cam’ron and Mase were on It Is What It Is this morning, and they seemed to be disappointed with how Drizzy opted to finish this off.
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 6, 2024
As Cam’ron explains, Drake can’t just decide when this ends. Instead, it is up to the fans to really give their seal of approval. Mase agreed, and noted that it was just a weak way to respond, especially with how scathing “Not Like Us” was. For them, Kendrick is now in the lead and this could very well be the end of it. This is an opinion that seems to be quite popular right now, with only a few people still proclaiming that Drake is up.
Let us know who you believe is the winner of this battle, in the comments section down below. Do you believe that Drake won this or is it Kendrick who came away with the win? What can either artist do at this point for you to potentially change your mind on the outcome? 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.
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