<p id=”par-1_87″>Hip-hop is no stranger to feuds. In fact, there are so many feuds that fans can easily debate the merits of each and never agree on which one is the greatest. With that being said, when the biggest beefs in the rap game are debated, Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s names inevitably come up. The two genre stars have been feuding for years, and the bad blood has even resulted in a lawsuit. Let’s take a look back at how it all started and where things stand now.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-drake-and-kendrick-lamar-were-once-collaborators”>Drake and Kendrick Lamar were once collaborators </h2>
<p id=”par-2_55″>While it feels like Drake and Kendrick Lamar have been beefing for a lifetime, they actually started out as collaborators. Lamar appeared on Drake’s 2011 album <em>Take Care</em> and even opened for Drake during his Club Paradise tour the following year. Drake returned the favor, collaborating with Lamar on “Poetic Justice” a few months later.</p>
<p id=”par-3_82″>The early years of their connection seemed cordial, if not friendly. Things started to turn sour in 2013, though. That year, Lamar appeared on Big Sean’s “Control,” and <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/kendrick-lamars-guest-verses-can-cost-400000.html/”>his verse spoke of a brewing rivalry </a>between himself and Drake. Drake appeared to respond with a diss track that same year, though neither artist directly addressed the tension publicly. They have steered clear of each other since, but both have proven they are not above making pointed claims in songs or filing lawsuits.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-a-lawsuit-proved-just-how-serious-the-beef-had-gotten”>A lawsuit proved just how serious the beef had gotten </h2>
<p id=”par-4_81″>While 2013 built the feud, nothing major happened for several years. Lamar climbed the ranks, while Drake had drama with other stars to worry about. In 2024, however, things took a serious turn. Kendrick joined Future and Metro Boomin on “Like That” and took aim at Drake and J. Cole. He called them out on several other songs before dropping “Not Like Us,” a track that made serious allegations against Drake. Drake responded with a few diss tracks of his own.</p>
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<p id=”par-5_103″>In 2025, Drake took it a step further, opting to sue Universal Music Group, the umbrella label that both Lamar and Drake are signed to. In the lawsuit, Drake accused UMG of defamation, alleging the label knowingly published and promoted “Not Like Us” despite the song containing what he called false and dangerous allegations, specifically that Lamar branded him a “certified pedophile.” According to <a href=”https://au.rollingstone.com/t/not-like-us”>Rolling Stone</a>, Drake contended that the feud was a “gold mine” for the record label, which is why they published and promoted the song despite its alleged falsehoods. While the lawsuit was dismissed, Drake is currently appealing the decision.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-fans-think-kendrick-lamar-won-the-beef-with-his-super-bowl-lix-performance”>Fans think Kendrick Lamar won the beef with his Super Bowl LIX performance</h2>
<p id=”par-6_39″>Despite Drake’s lawsuit, 2024 and 2025 were winning years for Kendrick Lamar. A sold-out tour, another studio album, and a five-award night at the 2025 Grammys seemed to prove Kendrick Lamar was the clear winner of the feud. </p>
<p id=”par-7_48″>He didn’t stop there. He also performed “Not Like Us” at <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/kendrick-lamar-didnt-get-paid-super-bowl-halftime-show.html/”>the Super Bowl halftime show,</a> grinning through the lyric branding Drake a pedophile, for an audience of over 100 million viewers. To add insult to injury, Drake’s ex-girlfriend Serena Williams appeared onstage with Lamar during the performance.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-drake-fires-back-with-three-albums-at-once”>Drake fires back with three albums at once</h2>
<p id=”par-8_61″>While most hip-hop fans believe Kendrick Lamar has officially won the feud, the Canadian rapper is not willing to go quietly. After more than two years without a solo release, Drake returned to the game in a big way. On May 15, 2026, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/drake-takes-direct-shots-new-album-rick-ross-says-afraid.html/”>he dropped three albums </a>simultaneously: <em>Iceman</em>, <em>Habibti</em>, and <em>Maid of Honour</em>, totaling 43 songs across the three projects.</p>
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<p id=”par-9_33″>Fans immediately began decoding what they believed were Kendrick disses hidden across the tracklist. Whether Lamar responds remains to be seen, but if history is any indication, this feud is far from over.</p>