Drake and Kendrick Lamar, two of hip-hop’s greatest names, have had a rollercoaster relationship that began with collaborations however has since changed into a full-blown rivalry.
Again within the day, they teamed up on tracks like “Buried Alive Interlude” (2011) and “Poetic Justice” (2012). Nonetheless, issues took a flip in 2013 when Kendrick dropped a verse on Huge Sean’s “Management,” calling out a number of rappers, together with Drake, to step up their sport. Drake performed it cool in interviews, however followers observed some refined digs of their music.
Quick ahead to March 2024, and Kendrick launched “Like That,” which many noticed as a direct shot at Drake. Drake fired again with tracks like “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” The latter even featured AI-generated vocals mimicking Tupac, which did not sit effectively with Tupac’s property and received pulled from streaming platforms. Kendrick did not maintain again both, dropping “Euphoria” and “6:16 in LA,” bringing private jabs into the combination. Drake’s “Household Issues” accused Kendrick of home points, and Kendrick responded with “Meet the Grahams,” alleging Drake had a secret youngster and shady connections. Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” additional accused Drake of inappropriate relationships, main Drake to disclaim the claims in “The Coronary heart Half 6.”
Final week, Kendrick stunned followers by dropping a brand new album, “GNX,” on November 22, 2024. The 12-track venture is his shortest but, clocking in at simply over 44 minutes. It is a extra easy album than his earlier work, that includes clear, direct lyrics and a robust West Coast vibe. Some followers speculate that one other venture may be on the horizon, however at the same time as a standalone, “GNX” captures a second of triumphant enjoyable and reflection in Kendrick’s profession.
However on the heels of the reward and social media traction the album acquired, the meat did not keep on wax; it spilled into the courtroom. On November 25, 2024, Drake’s firm, Frozen Moments LLC, took authorized motion in opposition to Common Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. Drake alleges they used bots and shady offers to inflate the recognition of Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” together with providing Spotify a 30% low cost to push the monitor and making under-the-table funds to radio stations—a observe often known as “payola,” which is prohibited. Drake’s group argues these actions might violate legal guidelines in opposition to fraud and bribery and is searching for extra data from UMG and Spotify earlier than shifting ahead.
UMG has denied these claims, stating they comply with moral advertising and marketing practices and that followers select the music they wish to hear. They dismissed Drake’s allegations as “contrived and absurd.”
The following day, November 26, 2024, Drake upped the ante with one other lawsuit in opposition to UMG, this time for defamation. He claims UMG allowed the discharge of “Not Like Us,” which he says falsely accuses him of being a sexual predator and having a second secret youngster. Drake argues this has severely harmed his fame and alleges UMG engaged in additional shady offers with iHeartRadio to advertise Kendrick’s monitor, placing his personal music at a drawback.
Will Kendrick reply with defamation lawsuits of his personal? Who is aware of?
Evidently, this rivalry might change the face of hip-hop beef perpetually.