Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s beef reached new heights after Kendrick’s devastating diss track “Not Like Us” broke Spotify records. The track amassed 6.59 million streams in a single day. Their rivalry started a decade ago but exploded in 2024. Kendrick dismissed any talk of a “big three” in rap and boldly claimed “it’s just big me.” The beef reshaped rap’s landscape and became one of hip-hop’s defining battles. Drake fired back with personal attacks through his tracks “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.” Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” climbed to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100. The track dominated the 2025 Grammy Awards with five wins, bringing Kendrick’s total Grammy count to 22. The conflict spilled beyond music when Drake took legal action against Universal Music Group. He alleged the company manipulated streaming numbers.
Kendrick Launches First Strike on ‘Like That’
Metro Boomin and Future’s collaboration “Like That” sparked hip-hop’s most intense rivalry on March 22, 2024. Kendrick Lamar’s uncredited verse on the track sent shockwaves through the rap industry by directly confronting Drake and J Cole.
Metro Boomin Beat Sets Stage for War
The beat by Metro Boomin lit the fuse of this conflict. The track climbed to the top spot on Billboard Hot 100, proving itself more than a simple collaboration. Drake fired back at Metro in “Push Ups” and called out his government name in “Family Matters”. Metro later addressed this situation at the Forbes Under 30 Summit. He believed competition helps the art form, but social media tends to amplify these conflicts beyond anyone’s control.
J Cole Gets Caught in Crossfire
Lamar’s verse pulled J Cole into an unexpected battle. The lyrics took aim at Cole’s “Big Three” concept from “First Person Shooter” with Lamar declaring “Motherfuck the big three, nigga, it’s just big me“. Cole struck back through “7 Minute Drill” and called Lamar’s recent releases “tragic”.
This situation became tough for Cole to handle. He made an unexpected move at his Dreamville Festival. “I just want to come up here and publicly say that was the lamest and goofiest sh*t,” Cole admitted as he stepped away from the conflict. Fans on social media saw Cole’s withdrawal as him accepting defeat.
Industry veterans analyzed the track’s deeper meaning. Kendrick’s verse showed clever wordplay, including references to:
- Direct challenges to Drake’s “First Person Shooter”
- Dismissal of the “Big Three” hierarchy
- Strategic positioning against both Drake and Cole
The track struck a chord across the industry. Kanye West jumped into the conflict through a remix of “Like That.” He supported what he called the “elimination of Drake”. This move turned a single verse into a complex industry-wide battle.
Drake Fires Back with Multiple Diss Tracks
Drake finally dropped “Push Ups” on April 19, 2024, after weeks of people guessing about it. This was his first direct response to Kendrick Lamar.
Push Ups Takes Personal Shots
The track hit hard with targeted attacks on Lamar’s career and character. Drake took shots at Lamar’s size with lines like “How the fuck you big stepping with a size 7 mens on?”. He also challenged Lamar’s place in the industry by saying “Pipsqueak, pipe down, you ain’t in no big three”.
Drake didn’t stop at Lamar. He went after several other big names:
- Metro Boomin – He told him to “shut your ho ass up and make some drums”
- The Weeknd – He called him out for leaving Toronto
- Rick Ross – He pointed out Ross’s need for Drake’s help to top charts
- J. Cole – He brushed off their past work together
AI Controversy Sparks Tupac Estate Lawsuit
Things got even hotter when Drake posted “Taylor Made Freestyle” on Instagram. He used AI to recreate Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg’s voices. This move quickly backfired. Tupac’s estate sent a cease-and-desist letter, calling it “a flagrant violation of Tupac’s publicity and the estate’s legal rights”.
Howard King, the estate’s lawyer, wanted the track taken down right away. He cited major damage to both money and reputation. Drake had until noon the next day to comply or face legal action. The estate was particularly upset about using Tupac’s voice against Lamar, who they called “a good friend to the estate”.
This whole situation raised big questions about AI in music. The estate said the track made people think they had approved it and could mess up their own AI projects. Drake took “Taylor Made Freestyle” off his social media after the legal threat.
The drama got even messier as fans started asking questions about which tracks were real. Some people thought “Push Ups” might be AI-generated too, but Drake posted cryptic messages to prove it was genuine. This confusion shows how AI is changing rap battles. It’s the first time a major hip-hop beef has had to deal with questions about artificial intelligence.
Not Like Us Shatters Streaming Records
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” took over music charts and streaming platforms. The song stayed at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. Its 38-week chart run made it one of 2024’s biggest hits.
First Day Numbers Break Industry Standards
The song’s financial success proved massive. “Not Like Us” earned USD 4.97 million from streaming and downloads, plus USD 2.66 million in publishing rights. The track reached 6.3 million song equivalents, showing record-breaking market reach. Here’s how the song performed globally:
- Ranked first on Apple Music’s global song chart for 2024
- Reached 1.2 billion streams worldwide
- Stayed at No. 1 on Hot Rap Songs chart for 20 weeks
- Drew 11 million streams just one day after the Super Bowl
Social Media Erupts with Reactions
The public’s response to “Not Like Us” sparked heated online debates. Twitter data showed a massive swing in support toward Lamar. The track’s controversial lyrics about Drake’s alleged interest in younger women and claims of cultural appropriation became hot topics online.
Drake’s Fanbase Shows Signs of Wavering
Drake made an unexpected move by filing a “pre-action” petition against UMG and Spotify on November 25. He accused them of running an illegal scheme that used bots and pay-to-play methods to boost “Not Like Us”. His legal action also targeted iHeartRadio for their alleged role in a promotional scheme. Many longtime fans felt let down by this response, which gave critics more reasons to attack.
The song’s influence reached beyond music. New Ho King, a Chinese restaurant mentioned in Lamar’s verses, saw its customer base grow by 300%. The track’s popularity created new opportunities for films, shows, video games, and social media content.
The song’s exceptional success led to five Grammy wins, proving it was more than just another diss track. Streaming numbers kept rising, especially after Lamar’s Super Bowl show, which boosted Spotify streams by 430%. This performance, featuring SZA, Samuel L. Jackson, and Serena Williams, turned the track from a simple diss song into a cultural movement.
Legal Battle Intensifies Hip-Hop Warfare
The rap rivalry between Drake and Universal Music Group has turned into a complex corporate battle. Drake filed an 81-page federal lawsuit in New York against UMG on January 15, 2025. His claims against the company include defamation and harassment over Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”.
UMG Faces Unprecedented Lawsuit
We found two major allegations against UMG in the lawsuit. Drake claims the company “approved, published, and launched a campaign to create a viral hit out of a rap track that falsely accuses Drake of being a pedophile”. The legal documents also state that UMG promoted content that suggested vigilante justice against Drake.
The lawsuit reveals several serious outcomes:
- An armed group attacked Drake’s Toronto home and wounded a security guard
- Safety concerns forced Drake to pull his son out of elementary school
- Drake’s brand value took a hit before contract renegotiations
Without doubt, UMG has fought back against these claims, stating “the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist — let alone Drake — is illogical”. The company pointed to its huge investments in Drake’s music and career success.
Industry Veterans Question Drake’s Strategy
Industry figure Wack 100 suggests money might be the real reason behind Drake’s legal moves. He shared his thoughts on “The Adam 22 & Wack 100 Show” and hypothesized that the lawsuit could affect UMG’s stock price. He thinks this might be a coordinated effort to manipulate the market.
The legal battle has people talking about hip-hop’s rise as a business. Entertainment lawyers think these cases will likely settle before trial. Industry veterans are learning how rap battles have moved from music studios to corporate boardrooms and courtrooms.
This case shows a radical alteration in how hip-hop artists handle their conflicts. Former prosecutor Alan Jackson’s thoughts about using rap lyrics as evidence worry many about artistic expression. Critics say this approach might treat creative works as real-life stories, which affects minority artists the most.
The final ruling could change how artists and labels work together in the streaming age. Music industry experts watch these developments closely as the case mixes artistic expression, corporate interests, and legal precedent.
Social Media Declares Kendrick the Victor
Fans and critics on social media platforms have made their choice clear – Kendrick Lamar stands as the winner in his conflict with Drake. A YouGov Poll shows that Americans who followed the feud favor Lamar over Drake.
Twitter Analytics Show Massive Support Change
Drake’s popularity took a hit as his favorable rating dropped from 36% to 25% between August 2023 and May 2024. Americans who view Drake unfavorably increased from 25% to 38% during this time. The numbers tell an interesting story:
- 28% of adults aged 18-29 kept up with the conflict
- 35% of Black Americans took part in the feud
- 56% of the general population knew nothing about the dispute
On X, Producer Marseel said Drake “lost the culture” after Lamar released “Euphoria”. Culture critic Shamira Ibrahim couldn’t hide her surprise at “how disgusted Kendrick is with Drake”. The lyrics drew so many people to the website Genius that it crashed.
Memes and Viral Moments Define the Battle
Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX performance created a social media storm. His “Say Drake” moment got over 13.4 million views on X in just three days. That smile he gave during this reference turned into countless memes on social platforms.
Lamar made a smart move by removing copyright protections from “Not Like Us.” This let content creators make money from posts using the track. Social media users became unofficial promoters of his message.
Fans jumped into action with explanatory posts about lyrics, live reaction videos, and response threads. The whole thing felt like a live sporting event – people shared their reactions and looked at every new development.
The battle got even bigger when Metro Boomin started a contest. He offered USD 10,000 and a free beat to whoever made the best Drake diss track. His beat “BBL Drizzy” pulled in 3.3 million SoundCloud streams in a week.
Culture critic Ira Madison III posted on X, “Kendrick absolutely ethered Drake”. People on all platforms agreed as “Not Like Us” hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Drake’s “Family Matters” landed at No. 7.
Grammy Awards Cement Kendrick’s Dominance
The 67th Grammy Awards made history as Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” became the first rap diss track to achieve an unprecedented feat. The night became a defining moment in the kendrick vs drake beef when Lamar’s calculated takedown of his rival earned recognition from music’s highest authority.
Five Awards Honor ‘Not Like Us’
“Not Like Us” dominated the evening with five prestigious awards from The Recording Academy. Lamar captured both Record of the Year and Song of the Year – a rare achievement that only one other rap track had managed in these major categories. The song’s dominance showed in multiple categories:
- Best Rap Performance
- Best Rap Song
- Best Music Video
This remarkable win lifted Lamar’s total Grammy count to 22, which stands nowhere near Drake’s five wins from 55 nominations. Beyoncé and Taylor Swift joined other audience members who danced along to the controversial track that openly accused Drake of pedophilic behavior.
Drake’s Father Storms Out of Ceremony
Dennis Graham, Drake’s father, managed to keep his diplomatic stance when asked about Lamar’s victories. He gave a firm response to TikTok personality @joy.of.everything: “I don’t care nothing about that sh–. That ain’t got nothing to do with me”. His composed reaction showed his desire to stay away from the growing conflict.
Lamar’s acceptance speeches carefully avoided Drake’s name. He chose instead to honor Los Angeles and acknowledged fire-affected neighborhoods of Altadena and Pacific Palisades. His choice of a “Canadian tuxedo” – denim top and pants – seemed to take a subtle jab at his Canadian-born rival.
The ceremony’s success echoed through the industry as “Not Like Us” beat strong competition from well-known artists. The track won against Beyoncé (“Texas Hold ‘Em”), Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone (“Fortnight”), and even the Beatles’ “Now and Then”. The Grammy success strengthened Lamar’s position, especially since Drake’s legal challenges to the song’s popularity continued to fail.
The night reshaped the scene in hip-hop. The Recording Academy recognized a diss track for its artistic merit rather than commercial success alone. This recognition lifted the drake kendrick diss above typical rap feuds and made it a culturally defining moment in today’s music history.
Super Bowl Performance Adds Final Blow
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show dealt a decisive blow to the ongoing kendrick drake beef. The show drew 133.5 million viewers. His performance featured recent hits and took several shots at Drake through clever references.
Serena Williams’ Surprise Appearance
The show’s defining moment came as tennis legend Serena Williams took the stage during “Not Like Us.” She performed her signature crip walk dance moves. Her presence carried extra weight since she had dated Drake, and now she showed her clear support in the kendrick vs drake rivalry. The moment brought back memories of her controversial 2012 Wimbledon celebration that drew criticism for the same dance.
Williams later posted on social media: “Man I did not crip walk like that at Wimbledon. Ooh, I would’ve been fined”. Her appearance struck a chord with viewers because she and Lamar both come from Compton, California.
Global Audience Witnesses Historic Moment
The show broke all previous Super Bowl viewing records. The halftime performance alone drew 121 million viewers. Social media lit up as Lamar made several calculated moves:
- He called out Drake’s lawsuit saying “I want to perform their favorite song, but you know they love to sue”
- He performed “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us” despite legal threats
- His “A minor” necklace took aim at controversial lyrics
The Atlantic’s Jemele Hill summed up the moment: “Serena been waiting to get that lick back”. JPEGMAFIA put it bluntly: “It’s over. Never beef with kendrick”.
The performance still has people talking. “Not Like Us” saw a 430% streaming increase after the Super Bowl. Samuel L. Jackson’s introduction and SZA’s appearance added to what NPR called “crafty ways to raise all the eyebrows, from the highbrow to the lowbrow”.
The kendrick lamar drake beef reached a new level through this mix of artistic excellence and strategic warfare. Spike Lee added context on Instagram about the show’s cultural meaning: “I Want To Thank My Brother Kendrick For The 40 Acres And A Mule Shoutout”.
Angel Reese’s X post said it all: “10/10. plus serena. chefs kiss”. The Women’s Tennis Association celebrated by naming Williams their “Super Bowl MVP”. What started as a drake kendrick diss turned into a defining cultural moment that millions watched worldwide.
Industry Experts Analyze Career Implications
Music analysts have started to look at how this unprecedented rap conflict will affect both artists in the long run. Recent developments show this feud could permanently change both artists’ careers.
Commercial Impact Assessment
The financial data shows major changes in the market. Lamar’s streaming numbers jumped 49% when the conflict heated up. Drake’s catalog saw a 5% drop in the same period.
The commercial effects go beyond just streaming numbers. Radio airplay data shows the feud’s wider reach:
- Drake saw a 7.5% rise in airplay
- Lamar got a 9.1% boost
- The industry saw a massive 400% surge in engagement
Streaming platform executives point out how this conflict has changed the usual revenue patterns. Unlike typical rap battles, this feud created huge engagement on multiple platforms. Lamar’s monthly Spotify listeners now exceed 60 million.
Artistic Legacy Considerations
Industry veteran Bill Stephney sees this as historically significant. He compares it to past hip-hop conflicts but notes key differences in today’s digital world. Critics say this battle has given new meaning to artistic authenticity in modern hip-hop.
This feud’s artistic impact goes beyond regular measures. NPR’s Sidney Madden calls it a clash between “two people who are considered at the top of their game in hip-hop”. The battle’s huge scope makes us take a deeper look at artistic integrity in commercial success.
Music critic Justin Davis believes this conflict stands alone, saying “we’ll never see a feud between mainstream parties play out this way again”. The mix of artistic excellence and commercial success has set new standards for hip-hop conflicts.
Future Collaboration Possibilities
Industry insiders are guessing about musical responses in upcoming releases. Future has worked extensively with both artists, which puts him in a unique spot in this conflict. Music industry veterans think these relationships could affect future collaborations.
Professor A.D. Carson from the University of Virginia explains how companies like Spotify have turned hip-hop into “a competitive sport”. Major streaming platforms and record labels have changed how artists build industry relationships.
The hip-hop community now talks more about conflict resolution. Music industry observer Jasmine Young points out that these conflicts might seem natural but they “cause additional conversations and additional PR requests that definitely propel an artist and their popularity”.
Christopher Wares from Berklee College of Music says artists usually see better sales during big conflicts. The huge scale of this feud raises questions about long-term industry relationships and ways to make peace.
Sara Franczyk, who founded Toronto’s music marketing agency ZYK, thinks these conflicts will stay useful as marketing tools. She notes that “as long as their name is out there, whether it’s good or bad, it’s probably going to help those chart numbers”. Industry veterans worry about real-life risks, especially artist safety and legal issues.
Corporate involvement makes resolution more complex. Metro Boomin shows how artists can keep working together despite personal issues. Hip-hop historians say artistic rivalries often lead to creative breakthroughs, suggesting good things might come from current tensions.
Conclusion
Kendrick Lamar’s victory over Drake marks a defining moment in hip-hop history. His combination of powerful lyrics, Grammy wins, and an unforgettable Super Bowl show has set new standards for rap battles in the streaming age. Drake tried to fight back through lawsuits and AI-generated tracks, but these moves backfired and hurt his image and market standing.
The conflict grew bigger than just music. Kendrick received massive support on social media and broke streaming records. Major names like Serena Williams joined in, and industry giants like Universal Music Group turned this rivalry into a pop culture milestone.
This battle will influence the music industry for years to come. Record labels, streaming platforms, and artists now need to handle conflicts that play out on social media, in courts, and at award shows all at once. The rivalry generated billions of streams and millions in revenue, showing how modern rap battles have become cultural events that go way beyond traditional diss tracks.
Kendrick Lamar’s win means more than just coming out on top in a rap battle. It shows a fundamental change in how hip-hop views success, authenticity, and artistic excellence.
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