Kendrick Lamar surprised the entire music world this afternoon by dropping GNX, his sixth studio album. The album is the follow-up to 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers and comes after Lamar engaged with Drake in the highest-profile rap beef in decades this spring. The beef culminated with the anthemic “Not Like Us,” which was nominated for Song of the Year and Record of the Year (as well as three other categories) at the upcoming 67th Grammy Awards in February. Now, GNX is here, and he has a lot to say.
Kendrick Lamar addressed a number of topics on the new album, including Lil Wayne’s lack of support for his Super Bowl halftime show announcement, suggesting that he finished the recording process very recently. He also addressed why Black Hippy, the supergroup of Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, and Lamar, never released an album. He does so on “heart pt. 6,” the latest installment in his long-running “The Heart” series of tracks, which also serves as a reclamation of the track name after Drake attempted to beat Lamar to the punch with one of the most ill-advised diss tracks in recent memory.
“Black Hippy didn’t work because of me / Creatively I moved on with new concepts in reach,” Kendrick Lamar raps on “heart pt. 6.” Fans may remember the early days of Top Dawg Entertainment’s rise to stardom. Back then, it felt like the Black Hippy album got teased every year for several years in a row before it was eventually shelved. Now we know that at least part of the reason for the album never releasing while Lamar was on TDE was because he was not as enthusiastic about it as time passed and his artistry flourished.
Kendrick Lamar has since left TDE, with GNX being his first full-length release through his pgLang media company, though he still has a distribution deal with Interscope Records. Fans are unlikely to ever get the Black Hippy album at this point in everyone’s careers. They are even less likely to get the Lamar and J. Cole collaborative album, given what happened this year. But, for longtime fans of Lamar and the rest of his former Black Hippy squadmates, this line and their reunion at Lamar’s Pop Out concert in June, provides some closure on a bygone era of hip-hop.
2024 has been one amazing year for hip-hop. In fact, it may go down as one of the more memorable 12 months the genre has ever seen. A big factor in that determination is thanks to Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s insane battle. It lived up to expectations and then some, as we got some iconic diss tracks and moments as a result of it. Most of them came from Kung Fu Kenny, with “Not Like Us” becoming the fan favorite and the nail in the proverbial Drake coffin. The record has also been extremely dominant on the charts, making history every other day it seems. It is just one reason as to why Terrance “Gangsta” Williams admitted that his boy, The Boy, took the loss in their battle for the ages.
The half-brother of Birdman joined Vlad on Vlad TV for an exclusive interview recently, as the viral subject came up. During their conversation, Terrance admitted that Drake also cost himself a chance at going out with a bang. He felt very strongly about the lack of staying power that “The Heart Part 6” had. In fact, the Cash Money label affiliate deemed the final song in the back-and-forth affair “soft”.
Terrance “Gangsta” Williams Gives The Nod To Kendrick Over Drake
Additionally, Vlad made some astute points during their chat, mentioning how Drake must have felt emotionally and mentally drained, especially after the shootings at the Canadian songwriter’s estate. Terrance concurred with that idea, and also brought up how the pedophile allegations across all of Dot’s songs played a role as well. He expressed how that possibly could have led Drizzy to remove the disses he uploaded onto his social media platforms. For the Drake stans out there, hearing Terrance talk in a deflated manner about how he performed has to be a tough pill to swallow. But at the end of the day, there are still going to be a handful of fans who believe otherwise.
What are your thoughts on Terrance “Gangsta” Williams saying that Kendrick Lamar defeated Drake in the beef? Do you agree with him, why or why not? Does a Drizzy stan admitting this really show how dominant Kendrick was? We would like to hear what you have to say, so leave your thoughts in the comments. Additionally, always keep it locked in with HNHH for all of the latest news surrounding Terrance “Gangsta” Williams, Drake, and Kendrick Lamar. Finally, stay with us for everything else going on in the music world.
Drake wasn’t kidding when he said “summer vibes.” The rapper has made a complete 180 since he ended his rap battle with Kendrick Lamar. He stopped taunting his opponent on social media, and he stopped dropping diss tracks. To make matters even worse, he took down his last diss, “The Heart Part 6,” on Instagram. Some fans theorized that the rapper did so because he wasn’t proud of that song in particular. This theory went out the window on June 5, however, when Drake decided to take ALL of his Lamar disses off Instagram.
Drake deleted the IG links for “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” He also took down the audio link and music video link for “Family Matters.” The last of the bunch, the aforementioned “The Heart Part 6,” was taken down the day prior. It’s a shocking turn of events, given how aggressive Drake was in wanting to battle Lamar early on. Drake evidently wants to start a new chapter. He posted pics of himself from a photoshoot involving a Rolex watch. Tellingly, though, the rapper makes reference to one of Lamar’s big accusations in the caption. He ignored the notion that his OVO crew is compromised, and wrote: “The only yes man around me is my Rolex dealer.”
Fans absolutely tore into Drake upon realizing that he took the K. Dot disses down. They brought up the fact that he previously criticized rappers for being “tweeters and deleters” when it came to taking shots. “Didn’t he say ‘tweeters and deleters’ lmao even he knew he lost,” wrote one user. Another claimed that we were finally witnessing what Kanye West wanted to see all along. “We are witnessing the elimination of Drake in real time,” they tweeted. There were tons of responses that conveyed the sentiment that the 6 God wanted to move on from the Lamar battle because he lost so handily. “He wants y’all to forget about that a*s whoopin lol,” an amused follower wrote.
There were those who defended Drake. Some fans noted that he’s likely getting ready to launch a new album cycle, and wanted to clean up his profile. It’s something many artists do as a means of denoting a new era. “Every artist cleans their socials before a big drop,” one person tweeted. “All the songs are still on streaming platforms, that’s all that matters.”
Fans Clowned Drake For “His “Tweeting And Deleting”
Regardless of whether the disses are on streaming, the decision to remove them from IG was seen by most as Drake waving the white flag once again. Keep scrolling to read more social media reactions to Drake’s latest decision. Do you think it was a bad idea? Is Drake gearing up to drop something new? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.
drake deleted all mentions of kendrick lamar disses from his ig and uploaded a picture smoking hookah mannnnnn this is COMEDY i’m sorry pic.twitter.com/UKU5SGhKso
Drake appears to have deleted his Instagram post promoting “The Heart Part 6” from his page. Fans took note of the move on social media on Tuesday morning and are questioning why he would do so. The song was the final diss track he dropped aimed at Kendrick Lamar. It hit streaming services on Sunday, May 5.
Taking to Twitter, one fan revealed they noticed the post was gone when they went looking for confirmation of his new feature on “Wah Gwan Delilah.” They wrote: “Why’d Drake delete his post of The Heart Part 6? Ik it was there earlier today because I went to his Instagram to see if Wah Gwan Delilah ([face palm emoji]) was real.” Another user argued: “Drake literally deleted the heart part 6 from his IG and y’all think he won. Btw Nas won even tho he didn’t respond to jay Z’s last track, it’s not about who releases last.”
Drake Performs During “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert”
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 9: Rapper Drake performs onstage during “Lil Baby & Friends Birthday Celebration Concert” at State Farm Arena on December 9, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Despite deleting “The Heart Part 6,” Drake didn’t scrub all traces of his feud with Kendrick Lamar. His most recent post is now his promotion of his previous diss track in the beef, “Family Matters.” He and Lamar have been going back and forth for months since the release of Future and Metro Boomin’s song, “Like That.” On the track, Lamar directly dissed both Drake and J. Cole.
Drake’s “The Heart Part 6” Remains On YouTube
Outside of the beef, Drake just teamed up with Snowd4y for the new song, “Wah Gwan Delilah,” a cover of Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah.” The song is going viral with fans having very differing opinions on the track. Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake on HotNewHipHop.
Drake’s latest diss track aimed at Kendrick Lamar, “The Heart Part 6,” has received over one million dislikes on YouTube as the Compton rapper’s fans have flooded the page. On the song, he denies Lamar’s accusations of pedophilia, accuses him of being abusive towards his partner, Whitney Alford, and claims he fed him false information about having a daughter.
When The Hip-Hop Wolf shared the news on Instagram, fans had mixed feelings. One user wrote: “The hate train is crazy. He needs to disappear for a minute. Music will be so trash that folks will start wanting his music. Kendrick not consistent enough. So enjoy now. I remember Jay-Z actually going through the same thing as far as people turning on him.” Another fan of Drake wrote: “Y’all are so corny! The trend is to hate Drake so you do it! Y’all can’t think for yourselves.”
HOUSTON, TEXAS – MARCH 16: Rapper, songwriter, and icon Drake attends a game between the Houston Rockets and the Cleveland Cavaliers at Toyota Center on March 16, 2024, in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Lamar and Drake have been beefing since the release of Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That,” back in March. On that song, Lamar called out both Drake and J. Cole for mentioning him on “First Person Shooter.” They’ve been dropping diss tracks aimed at one another incessantly in the time since. Last weekend, the drama climaxed when the two dropped “Family Matters” and “Meet The Grahams” on the same night and then followed it up with “Not Like This” and “The Heart Part 6” over Saturday and Sunday.
Check out the like-to-dislike ratio on “The Heart Part 6” above. Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud on HotNewHipHop.
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?
Elliott Wilson says that he was disappointed by Drake’s newest attempt to diss Kendrick Lamar on “The Heart Part 6.” He discussed the track during a phone call with DJ Akademiks while the live streamer was broadcasting. Wilson argued that Drake’s strategy for the beef isn’t doing him any favors.
“I’m actually very disappointed in this song,” he admitted. “The problem I’m having with Drake in this whole thing is that he refuses to view Kendrick as a worthy opponent. He still keeps little bro-ing him like we’re in the Club Paradise days. I just don’t think that’s the right strategy, He needs to deliver bars and go at him. He hadn’t even made a whole record direct to Kendrick yet. He’s all about airing everyone out that’s going against him. Obviously, there’s a whole movement and Metro orchestrated a lot of it.”
Elliott Wilson Attends Premiere Of “The Vince Staples Show”
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 12: Elliott Wilson attends Netflix’s THE VINCE STAPLES SHOW Premiere at Netflix Tudum Theater on February 12 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Netflix)
From there, Wilson added: “He doesn’t get why Kendrick is so big and why people love him so much and the type of music he makes and the success he has. He doesn’t connect to it.” When Ak pointed out that Lamar has similar feelings toward Drake, Wilson argued. “I think a lot of people don’t like Drake but they all respect him. You can’t not respect the boy because of what he’s done.” Wilson also noted that both are “great” rappers. Check out the full conversation below.
Elliott Wilson Discusses Drake & Kendrick Lamar Feud
Elliott Wilson on call with Akademiks says he has Kendrick Lamar winning against Drake so far after hearing ‘The Heart Part 6’
“I’m disappointed in this song… he refuses to see Kendrick as a worthy opponent… he still keeps lil bro-ing him…” pic.twitter.com/PFnRvqxc99
Lamar and Drake have been feuding for almost two months at this point. Over the weekend each traded multiple diss tracks at the other, including “Family Matters,” “Meet The Grahams,” and “Not Like Us.” Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud on HotNewHipHop.
Joe Budden has been one of the biggest voices when it comes to the feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Overall, he has been caught recording podcasts whenever a new track drops. This happened last week with “Euphoria” and it also happened with “6:16 In LA.” However, we have yet to get a podcast from Budden that is centered on “Family Matters,” “Meet The Grahams,” and “Not Like Us.” In fact, we also got “The Heart Part 6” last night, which is making Budden’s job that much more difficult.
Throughout the weekend, Budden got to call into DJ Akademiks’ stream, where they got to debate all the shots that have been taken so far. Ultimately, Budden has been impressed with everything Kendrick Lamar has dropped. That said, it appears as though “The Heart Part 6” has left him completely overwhelmed. In the video below, Budden tells Akademiks that he is exhausted with the music being released right now. So much so that he kind of just wants this all to be over. He even gave the final tally to Kendrick, noting that Drake is essentially waving the white flag.
Joe Budden on call with Akademiks stream reacts to ‘The Heart Part 6’ and says Kendrick has beaten Drake if the battle ends today
“I’m over it… Drake sounds exhausted… I want the battle to end after Not Like Us… I learned today I like Drake on offense and not defense” pic.twitter.com/dd7orCCNKk
“I’m over it… Drake sounds exhausted… I want the battle to end after Not Like Us… I learned today I like Drake on offense and not defense,” Joe said. This is a sentiment that has been shared by many in the hip-hop world. This past weekend was absolutely exhausting, and fans are kind of done with it. While it isn’t exactly the best outcome for Drake, there is no denying that he put up a solid fight. Now, it’s up to Kendrick to decide whether or not he will respond to Drizzy’s allegations. As it stands, fans would love for him to say at least something.
Let us know what you think of this take from Joe Budden, in the comments section down below. Do you agree that this entire feud is exhausting? Should Drake really be declared the loser in all of this? Is there anything he can do at this point to get back into 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.
There’s a difference between mixing up a person’s name and mixing up a story. Some might consider it a minor difference but it does not excuse one slip-up in the face of another, especially when there are much more serious allegations that neither Drake nor Kendrick Lamar have addressed. On the former’s explosive new diss track “The Heart Part 6,” he claims that he planted false information about a daughter that K. Dot ran with on “Meet The Grahams,” doubled down on domestic violence claims and the idea that his manager Dave Free impregnated his high school sweetheart, Whitney Alford, whom Kendrick shares two children with, and alleged a clout-chasing album rollout. Finally, the Toronto MC theorized that the reason why Kendrick made predator claims is because the pgLang creative experienced sexual abuse as a child, and deflected that pain onto his enemy.
To make something clear, mocking victims is an especially nasty and diminishing tactic in rap beef, as are allegations of predatory behavior without concrete evidence. But Drake attempted to back up this angle by referencing “Mother I Sober,” the penultimate song from Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, which is where the real problem lies. What actually “happens” on this track, what did Drizzy fail to understand, and if this mistake was on purpose, what’s he really addressing?
2022’s “Mother I Sober” is one of the more cutting songs on that Kendrick Lamar album, as it narrates the depths of generational trauma. In the song, Kendrick specifically details how his mother didn’t believe him when he denied that his cousin molested him before revealing that she was a victim of abuse herself. “Family ties, they accused my cousin, ‘Did he touch you, Kendrick?‘ / Never lied, but no one believed me when I said ‘He didn’t’” and “I asked my momma why she didn’t believe me when I told her ‘No’ / I never knew she was violated in Chicago, I’m sympathetic / Told me that she feared it happened to me, for my protection / Though it never happened, she wouldn’t agree” are the specific lines that detail this.
As such, Drake either didn’t really listen to the song or suggests that Kendrick Lamar lied and experienced sexual assault. “My mom came over today and I was like, ‘Mother, I… Mother, I… Mother / Ah, wait a second, that’s that one record where you say you got molested.” In the latter’s case, he’d be questioning Kendrick’s mother’s testimony, as well. This gives the following “Euphoria” bar even more weight since there’s a literal misunderstanding here: “Fabricating stories on the family front ’cause you heard ‘Mr. Morale.’” It’s important to understand that this is all a narrative game now. Still, one’s vulnerable confessions carry a much more different and earnest tone than one’s failed reading comprehension skills.
This comes with at least a few caveats, as does everything else involved in this beef. Both of these artists are making unverified claims against the other, and misunderstanding a song does not equate to failing to address domestic violence allegations. The difference is that when Drake claims there are no famous pedophiles and that all of these accusations against him are false, he really shot himself in the foot again by minimizing victims’ experiences as petty retribution when he should be combating that narrative on all fronts. He’s having a worst-person-off with Kendrick Lamar, especially when he specifically addresses some things and then leaves other significant points, like accusations against the OVO camp and colonizer claims, unspoken.
All in all, this is rap beef: things get disrespectful, and the only fair comparison point is judging the art and the strategy. Regardless of what’s true and what isn’t, Dot’s narrative-building by dropping versatile and relentless disses, plus his catalog and Mr. Morale‘s particular focus on accountability, have effectively diffused many character attacks against him. Drake, almost equally relentless, has been dealing with groomer accusations for years without ever addressing them significantly, and misrepresenting “Mother I Sober” on his “facts” crusade is not notable for its disrespect, but for failing to dissect and learn who his opponent is, which Kendrick succeeded in doing. They both must address the horrible allegations against them with proof. But if all the proof that the 6ix God can offer is a faulty Genius read and Twitter talking points, Kendrick Lamar keeps his hold on the narrative.
Drake is facing rumors that he’s been using bots to promote his newest diss track, “The Heart Part 6,” on social media. In a post on Twitter, the outlet Kurrco notes a poll from Complex with 12k views and 30k votes that ended 92% in favor of the Toronto rapper. Additionally, they shared several suspicious tweets responding to news about Kendrick Lamar.
Drake actually accuses Lamar of using bots to promote his songs in “The Heart Part 6.” At one point, he raps: “I’m a f*cking hitmaker, dog, not a peacemaker / Yeah, bullets that I’m stuffin’ in each chamber, your ass in extreme danger / Stop buyin’ views and bot comments, you may as well keep the paper / Sh*t you ’bout to need for later.” The track arrived after Lamar dissed him on back-to-back songs with “Meet The Grahams” and “Not Like Us.”
ATLANTA, GA – OCTOBER 19: Drake performs during Wicked (Spelhouse Homecoming Concert) Featuring 21 Savage at Forbes Arena at Morehouse College on October 19, 2022, in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Prince Williams/Wireimage)
Fans had mixed responses to the latest botting rumors. “Polls & all this nonsense don’t matter since bots have ruined it from both sides of the beef,” one user argued. “What matters is the music & Drake is pressuring Kendrick even more to address the allegations.” Both sides have been consistently facing rumors about bots. On Sunday, DJ Akademiks made similar complaints about Lamar using fake accounts to promote his music. Check out Kurrco’s post about the apparent use of bots as well as Akademiks’ below.
Drake & Kendrick Lamar Face Botting Accusations
Some interesting “reactions” to Drake’s new diss track on Twitter
A poll with 12k views and 30k votes, 92% in favor of Drake
In addition to the botting accusations on “The Heart Part 6,” Drake also denies the allegations Lamar had made against him being a pedophile, having a secret daughter, and more. “Only f*ckin’ with Whitney’s, not Millie Bobby Brown’s, I’d never look twice at no teenager,” he raps at one point. The song is getting mixed responses from the hip-hop world on social media. Be on the lookout for further updates on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud on HotNewHipHop.
A poll with 12k views and 30k votes, 92% in favor of Drake