On 6 May 2024 Canadian rapper Drake dropped his much anticipated diss track to Kendrick Lamar and not all listeners are impressed.
Drake takes his shot in ongoing Kendrick Lamar feud
The beef between Canadian rapper Drake and American rapper Kendrick Lamar is longstanding. As detailed by Buzzfeed, the pair actually began as collaborators when Kendrick was featured on Drake’s 2011 album Take Care in 2012, Kendrick (K-Dot) opened for a Drake concert and was featured in other collaborations.
Things took a turn “when Lamar dropped a verse on Big Sean’s track “Control” that made it clear he considered himself above other rappers… including Drake.” says Independent U.K.
According to the Vulture, Kendrick’s verse on the Metro Boomin, Future and Lamar track, Like That is the most clear starting point of the public feud. In the song, Kendrick addresses comparisons to other rappers – J cole and Drake, asserting that they are not in his league.
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In April 2024, a few weeks after Kendrick’s Like That verse Drake responded with his own track on a leaked song titled Push Ups. Since then, Drake and Kendrick have directed a total of eight songs to each other.
On 30 April 2024 the Humble rapper finally responded by releasing a diss track named after the HBO show produced by Drake. In Euphoria Kendrick takes jabs at every imaginable thing from Drake’s parenthood, rumoured plastic surgery, his rap skills and accuses him of liking underage girls.
Not too long after, Kendrick released a follow up track 6:16 in LA to which Drake responded with his track Family Matters and Kendrick replied almost immediately with Meet the Grahams. Hours after Family Matter’s Compton rapper K-Dot posted Not Like US, the last song before Drake’s The Heart Part VI.
Drake makes strong accusations in The Heart Part VI
Drake finally released his much anticipated response, The Heart Part VI, which references Kendrick Lamar’s Heart Song series that has 5 parts to it. In the track Drake continues to accuse Kendrick of abusing his fiancé, rejects Kendrick’s assertions made by Kendrick that he is a pedophile.
Twitter users not too sure about Drake’s diss track
Twitter users don’t all seem to be a fan of The Heart Part VI, with one users saying Drake is reactive rather than proactive:
“Nah Drake needs some original themes here. 1. Kendrick opens a song with “famous actor is spiralling” he copies “Pulitzer winner is spiraling” 2. K-Dot calls a song 6:16 he goes “the heart part 6” 3. Tries to copy the “A-Minor” bar Sounds tired and defeated. Reactive not proactive.” says @Khalifjunior.