The rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar is one of the most significant feuds in modern hip-hop, rooted in competition, artistic differences, and underlying tensions that have built up over a decade. While both artists rose to prominence in the early 2010s, their approaches to rap have often contrasted—Drake blending emotional vulnerability with commercial appeal, while Kendrick prioritizes lyricism, social commentary, and technical mastery.
The tension between the two began subtly after their collaboration on Take Care (2011), but things escalated with Kendrick’s verse on Big Sean’s Control (2013), where he named Drake and other top rappers as competition. Although Drake downplayed it publicly, he later sent subliminal shots in songs like The Language and 4PM in Calabasas. Meanwhile, Kendrick took aim at Drake’s authenticity in The Heart Part 4 (2017) and other tracks.
By the 2020s, their cold war intensified, with Kendrick reportedly dissing Drake in features and Drake responding through veiled lyrics. The tension reflects not only personal competition but also fan-driven debates about who holds the title of rap’s king. If the feud fully materializes into a direct battle, it could be one of hip-hop’s defining moments, comparable to legendary rivalries like Jay-Z vs. Nas or Tupac vs. Biggie. Regardless of its outcome, the Drake-Kendrick beef cements their status as two of the most dominant figures in hip-hop history, each representing a different approach to success in the genre.