Kendrick Lamar and Drake—two of the biggest names in rap—have turned what was once a quiet rivalry into one of the most talked-about feuds in music.
What started as small jabs between them turned into a full-blown battle in 2024, and honestly, it’s been wild to watch.
Diss tracks, Grammy wins, cryptic Instagram posts, and even a Super Bowl halftime show have fueled the fire.
Let’s break down how this all started and how it’s shaped one of the biggest rap battles of our time.
Key Takeaways
- Kendrick Lamar’s diss song “Not Like Us” won five Grammy awards, including Record and Song of the Year, showing his strength in the ongoing battle with Drake.
- Instead of responding to Kendrick, Drake focused on his 16-show tour in Australia and New Zealand and released a new album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, with PartyNextDoor on Valentine’s Day.
- Kendrick Lamar made history as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, performing “Not Like Us” with the help of ASL interpreter Matt Maxey, with 133.5 million people watching.
Kendrick Lamar’s Big Night at the Grammys
So, let’s start with the Grammys.
On music’s biggest night, Kendrick Lamar dominated with his song “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed squarely at Drake.
And he, straight up, swept the floor, walking away with five awards—Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.
Lamar was sending a message, and everyone heard it loud and clear.
But while Kendrick was soaking in his well-deserved glory, people naturally turned their attention to Drake—or, more specifically, his dad, Dennis Graham.
TikTok user @joy.of.everything caught up with Dennis at the event, and, well, his response was as blunt as it gets.
When asked about Kendrick’s big win with a song dissing his son, he shrugged it off, saying, “I don’t care nothing about that sh—. That ain’t got nothing to do with me. All the best to him, man. I don’t do that bullsh—.”
Then he walked away, leaving everyone to wonder if this calm approach runs in the family.
And, in a strange turn of events, Dennis was also asked about something completely unrelated—Ye (formerly Kanye West) and Bianca Censori’s controversial red carpet-outfit.
When asked if he’d let a girlfriend of his wear something like that, he simply laughed and said, “No, sir.”
Meanwhile, What Was Drake Up To?
Now, while all this Grammy buzz was happening, Drake was nowhere to be found.
Instead, he was halfway across the world, focusing on his “Anita Max Win Australia & New Zealand Tour.”
This tour, with 16 dates spanning from Perth to Auckland, kept Drake busy and conveniently far from the Grammy chaos.
The final show will be held on March 16, giving fans in that region plenty to look forward to.
But that’s not all Drake had on his plate.
On Valentine’s Day, right in the middle of his tour, he dropped a collaboration album with PartyNextDoor called $ome $exy $ongs 4 U.
Fans had been eagerly waiting for this one, and while it wasn’t tied to the feud, the album definitely shifted attention away from Kendrick for a moment.
Some fans even speculated whether he’d sneak in a diss track, but the album stayed romantic and chill—a sharp contrast to the fiery drama playing out in the background.
Still, even with all this happening, it was impossible to ignore Kendrick’s momentum.
And let’s not forget the buzz surrounding the Super Bowl halftime show.
Back in September 2024, when it was announced that Kendrick would headline the show, Drake stayed quiet but posted some cryptic messages on Instagram.
Fans read between the lines, interpreting the posts as subtle digs at Kendrick.
And just to stir the pot even more, Drake posted photos of Lil Wayne, his longtime mentor, on the same day.
Many fans thought Drake was saying Wayne—who hails from New Orleans, the location of the Super Bowl—should have been chosen for the halftime slot instead of Kendrick.
But again, Drake never came out and said anything outright.
And if there’s one thing Drake’s good at besides music, it’s staying mysterious.
On the day of the Super Bowl, he was reportedly out of the country, busy preparing for another tour stop.
Whether this was intentional or just good timing is anyone’s guess.
The Battle Gets Personal
Let’s rewind for a second to where all this started.
The feud between Kendrick and Drake had been simmering for years, but things really exploded in March 2024.
That’s when Kendrick dropped a guest verse in Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That,” where he boldly declared, “Motherf*** the big three, n****, it’s just big me.”
This was a direct shot at Drake and J. Cole, who were often grouped with Kendrick as the “big three” of rap.
- Cole decided to stay out of the drama, but Drake?
He dove right in, and what followed was a back-and-forth exchange of diss tracks that lasted for months.
Kendrick and Drake each dropped four tracks, making it eight in total, and fans couldn’t get enough.
Kendrick’s “Not Like Us,” released on May 4, 2024, quickly became the anthem of this feud.
The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, got five Grammy nominations, and had everyone talking.
Meanwhile, Drake’s response, “The Heart Part 6,” didn’t land the same way.
Critics described it as defensive and messy, with some of the lyrics coming off as desperate.
Honestly, it felt like Drake was struggling to keep up.
But before “Not Like Us,” there were plenty of other tracks that set the tone.
Drake’s “Push Ups” had a few clever lines, mocking Kendrick’s smaller stature and lower album sales.
But then Kendrick hit back with “Euphoria,” a brutal takedown that exposed Drake’s insecurities and accused him of being a habitual liar.
From there, the tracks only got more intense.
Perhaps the most controversial moment came with Kendrick’s song “Meet the Grahams.”
In it, he went after Drake’s family, including his six-year-old son, Adonis.
Some fans felt this crossed the line, but others argued that Drake started it by referencing Kendrick’s family first.
Either way, by the time “Not Like Us” dropped, it was clear that Kendrick had taken control of the narrative.
Kendrick Lamar Takes the Super Bowl Stage
And then came the Super Bowl.
On February 9, 2025, Kendrick Lamar became the first solo rap artist to headline the halftime show, and he made sure it was a performance no one would forget.
His set included “Not Like Us,” the same diss track that had already won him five Grammys.
For this performance, Kendrick collaborated with Matt Maxey, a deaf performer from the Deafinitely Dope collective, who interpreted the lyrics in American Sign Language.
Watching Maxey passionately sign the words to such a powerful song was a moment that left fans in awe.
The performance shattered records, with 133.5 million viewers tuning in, according to Roc Nation—the most-watched Super Bowl halftime show in history.
But as always, Kendrick’s work sparked debate.
Some fans loved the artistry and message, while others thought performing a diss track at such a massive event was too aggressive.
Either way, it got people talking—and that’s exactly what Kendrick wanted.
But Drake was notably absent.
He didn’t comment on the performance, didn’t post anything on social media, and didn’t respond to the renewed buzz around Kendrick’s dominance.
His silence said a lot, though.
It seemed like he had decided to let Kendrick have this win—at least for now.
Where Does This Feud Leave Us?
At this point, it’s hard to argue that Kendrick Lamar hasn’t come out on top.
With five Grammys, a record-breaking Super Bowl performance, and a string of diss tracks that left fans speechless, he’s proven himself to be one of the most formidable artists in the game.
On the other hand, Drake seems to have taken a quieter approach, focusing on his tour and new music rather than fueling the fire.
Even if you’re Team Kendrick or Team Drake, there’s no denying this rivalry has given us some of the most exciting moments in recent music history.
So, where do we go from here?
Only time will tell—but something tells me this story isn’t over yet.
