Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s decade-long feud explained as rapper performs diss track during Super Bowl
Once upon a time, Kendrick Lamar and Drake were actually on friendly terms. Hard to believe, I know.
Obviously, that's not the case anymore and it culminated recently in the Canadian rapper launching a defamation lawsuit over Lamar's 2024 hit 'Not Like Us', where he makes reference to Drake's 2021 album saying: "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile."
So yes, it's fair to say the pair's feud has intensified over the past decade.
Anyway, Lamar took to the stage to perform the coveted Super Bowl halftime show last night (February 9), where he entertained viewers with some of his most popular tracks as well as, bizarrely, an appearance from Serena Williams.
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During the show, Lamar performed the very track that brought on legal action - 'Not Like Us' - but fans noticed he chose to change some of the more explicit lyrics, perhaps most noticeably omitting the word 'pedophile' as well as some other lyrics.
Anyway, here's a break down of Drizzy and Lamar's beef over the years. Buckle up...
Happy beginnings
The rappers shared mutual respect and friendship in the beginning. It was enough for Drake to invite Kendrick to support him on his 2011 Club Paradise headline tour, anyway.
This was back when Drake's 'Take Care' was topping the charts - simpler times, might I add. Kendrick actually featured on 'Buried Alive Interlude' from Drake's second studio album, also named Take Care.
The favor was returned and Drake also appeared on Lamar's 2012 track 'Poetic Justice' in good kid, M.A.A.d city.
So where did it all go wrong?
The first diss
One year on from Drake's Lamar feature, Kendrick changed it up when he collaborated with Big Sean on 'Control.'
He promised to destroy anyone in his path to the top, including old friend Drake.
Drake responded dismissively, and this sparked up a series of 'sneak dissing' - where artists throw shade at each other without outright naming them - in various tracks.
Disses were exchanged via Drake's 2013 track 'The Language' and Lamar during his BET Hip Hop Awards cypher.
Again, they never named each other publicly, but fans have been reading between the lines for years.
Naming names
Last year, Lamar must've been feeling particularly bold because he featured on Future and Metro Boomin's 'Like That' and called Drake out there too, directly challenging him.
Drake then responded with his 'Family Matters' track believing it would be the nail in the coffin for Lamar - but he hammered him with two back-to-back diss tracks in response.
This included, of course, 'Not Like Us' which include the lyrics: "Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any b**ch that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil' sister from him," as well as that Certified Lover Boy reference.
Drake fiercely defended himself, and responded in 'The Heart Part 6': “I never been with no one underage but now I understand why this the angle that you really mess with / Just for clarity, I feel disgusted, I’m too respected. If I was f**king young girls, I promise I’d a been arrested / I’m way too famous for this s**t you just suggested.”
Which brings us to now...
Legal action
Drake's legal team actually issued a new statement about his ongoing legal battle over the Lamar diss track just hours before the rapper performed it in front of millions at the Super Bowl halftime show.
Drake's legal team had filed a defamation lawsuit against his own record label Universal Music Group for releasing 'Not Like Us'.
Without naming Kendrick in the suit, it alleges that the claims in the song were baseless and harmful to his career.
Universal, which has been Drake's record label for over a decade, said: "Not only are these claims untrue, but the notion that we would seek to harm the reputation of any artist - let alone Drake - is illogical."
Topics: Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Super Bowl, Music, Entertainment
Ellie Kemp