CNN
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Two of hip-hop’s largest stars have beef and individuals are taking sides.
Kendrick Lamar and Drake have been engaged in a lyrical battle in latest weeks that escalated over the weekend. The 2 artists every launched songs concerning the different, in a single case with Lamar not even ready a full hour earlier than he dropped a observe in response to one among Drake’s.
Right here’s what you have to know concerning the verses which have been a scorching matter of cultural conversation.
There’s loads we don’t know when it comes to why there’s obvious animosity between the 2 famous person rappers, however we do know that there’s historical past.
Again in 2011, Lamar appeared on Drake’s second album “Take Care” on “Buried Alive Interlude.” It was the identical 12 months Lamar launched his debut studio album “Part.80.”
The 2 males have been each carving a spot for themselves within the trade on the time, with Drake then finest referred to as an actor for his position as pupil Jimmy Brooks within the Canadian teen TV sequence, “Degrassi.”
The pair would go on to tour collectively and collaborate on the observe “Poetic Justice” on Lamar’s sophomore studio album, “Good Child, M.A.A.D. Metropolis.”
As one among hip-hop’s rising stars, Lamar leaned into his rising success with the swagger one would count on within the rap sport throughout a visitor look on Huge Sean’s 2013 single, “Management.”
A number of artists are name-checked within the music, together with Drake. The lyrics embrace, “I bought love for you all however I’m tryna homicide you,” a euphemism for besting them professionally. Lamar proclaims himself each “King of New York” and “King of the Coast.”
Drake instructed Billboard of the verse, “I didn’t actually have something to say about it.”
“It simply appeared like an formidable thought to me. That’s all it was,” Drake stated on the time. “I do know good and nicely that Kendrick’s not murdering me, in any respect, in any platform. So when that day presents itself, I assume we are able to revisit the subject.”
The pair have continued to take pictures at one another on tracks through the years, however this newest skirmish seems to have begun in October 2023, when rapper J. Cole collaborated with Drake on the music, “First Individual Shooter.”
On the observe, Cole refers to himself, Lamar and Drake because the “Huge three” in rap. Drake likened his personal recognition within the sport to the stardom of the late singer Michael Jackson.
Lamar seemingly took exception to the comparisons and hit again on a collaborative observe with Future and Metro Boomin that caught fireplace in March 2024, titled “Like That.”
Lamar makes clear on the music that there isn’t any “Huge three” simply “Huge me.” He casts himself as Prince to Drake’s Jackson, noting that the previous outlived the latter.
“Like That” is a minimize on the album “We Don’t Belief You,” which many consider is crammed with disses aimed toward Drake. The obvious jabs shocked some listeners as Drake and Future have been longtime collaborators.
Issues bought much more heated when Future and Metro Boomin launched the followup “We Nonetheless Don’t Belief You,” which Billboard magazine declared is “crammed with Drake disses, not solely from Future, however from The Weeknd and A$AP Rocky as nicely.”
With so many coming after the Canadian rapper lyrically, it began feeling like Marvel Infinity Conflict of hip-hop superheroes battling it out. The person who helped kick all of it off, J. Cole, shortly exited the battle.
Cole launched “7 Minute Drill” on a shock challenge “Would possibly Delete Later” by which he got here after Lamar, solely to later declare the music lame. He eliminated it from streaming providers, publicly apologized and has gone quiet since.
Final month, Drake dropped the diss observe “Push Ups” by which he poked enjoyable at Lamar’s shoe measurement to his previous collaborations with pop stars.
“Maroon 5 want a verse, you higher make it witty / Then we want a verse for the Swifties,” Drake raps, showing to mock Lamar’s work with Maroon 5 on their music “Don’t Wanna Know” and with Swift on her music “Dangerous Blood.”
Drake additionally took a swipe at Rick Ross, who was featured on “We Don’t Belief You.” Ross then started a social media disagreement with Drake, which included accusing Drake of getting undergone cosmetic surgery.
Lamar, recognized additionally as Ok.Dot, responded with a number of volleys.
First there was “Euphoria,” which is now as well-known for the insults lobbed at Drake as it’s for making most people conscious that the rapper was also an executive producer on the hit HBO drama. (HBO is owned by CNN’s father or mother firm.)
Inside days, Lamar adopted that with “6:16 in LA,” which many interpreted to be making enjoyable of Drake’s penchant for titling songs with instances and areas.
Issues bought more and more personally on this rap battle on Saturday, when Drake dropped the eight-minute diss observe, “Household Issues.” He makes allegations about abuse and infidelity involving Lamar and his fiancée, Whitney Alford, on the music.
Lest we overlook that Lamar made history in 2018 by changing into the primary rapper to win a prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his album “DAMN,” he didn’t even let an hour go by after the discharge of “Household Issues” to drop a response, titled “Meet The Grahams.” (Drake’s authorized title is Aubrey Graham.)
The music will get heavy as Lamar addresses Drake’s mother and father and Drake’s parenting, accusing him of have a secret daughter. Lamar adopted that inside hours with one other music, titled “Not Like Us,” by which accuses Drake of being interested in underage ladies.
Drake once more had his say on Sunday with “The Coronary heart Half 6.” On this music, Drake claims he’s the one who fed Lamar pretend details about a secret baby.
“We plotted for every week after which we fed you the knowledge/A daughter that’s 11 years outdated, I guess he takes it,” Drake raps.
CNN has reached out to representatives for each artists for remark.