Every Time Drake and Kendrick Lamar Dissed Each Other Over the Years

The rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most intense rap battles in hip-hop history. Spanning over a decade, their feud has involved a series of diss tracks, public callouts, and subtle jabs, culminating in a dramatic showdown in 2024. Here is a detailed timeline and summary of every major diss and response between the two artists, as outlined in the Sportskeeda article.

Early Years: Collaboration and Friendly Competition

• 2012: Kendrick Lamar was an opening act for Drake’s “Club Paradise Tour,” and the two collaborated on tracks, notably “Buried Alive Interlude” on Drake’s Take Care album. At this stage, their relationship was professional and friendly.

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The Feud Begins: 2013–2015

• August 2013 – “Control” (Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean feat. Kendrick Lamar & Jay Electronica):

  • Kendrick’s verse called out several top rappers, including Drake, stating his intent to “raise the bar high” and treat rap as a competitive sport.

• September 2013 – “The Language” (Drake):

  • On his album Nothing Was the Same, Drake responded with subtle shots, dismissing those who tried to provoke him.

• October 2013 – BET TDE Cypher (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick referenced the aftermath of “Control,” poking fun at a “sensitive rapper” and implying Drake was affected by the verse.

• December 2013 – “Sh!t Remix” (Drake):

  • Drake took aim at Kendrick, referencing bringing him out during his tour and asserting dominance.

• October 2014 – “Pay For It” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick appeared to respond to Drake’s “motormouth” reference, though he later denied it was a direct diss.

• February 2015 – “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” (Drake):

  • Drake made several references to his rivalry with Kendrick, alluding to their interactions and competition.

• March 2015 – “King Kunta” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick questioned rappers who use ghostwriters, a theme later associated with Drake’s feud with Meek Mill.

• August 2015 – “Compton” (Dr. Dre feat. Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick sent subliminal shots at Drake, referencing “The Six” (Toronto) and the ongoing tension.

Escalation and Subliminal Disses: 2017–2022

• March 2017 – “The Heart Part 4” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick threatened to “crush” unnamed rivals, widely interpreted as a shot at Drake.

• August 2017 – “Sons.” (Unreleased Kendrick Lamar):

  • In an unreleased version of “ELEMENT.,” Kendrick called out Drake’s beef with Meek Mill and implied he was a “whole ‘nother beast.”

• August 2021 – “Family Ties” (Kendrick Lamar & Baby Keem):

  • Kendrick’s verse echoed competitive themes, with many believing he was targeting Drake.

• May 2022 – “Churchill Downs” (Drake with Jack Harlow):

  • Drake appeared to take shots at Kendrick, referencing “tall tales” from “little men” and questioning rivals’ credibility.

The 2024 Rap Beef: The Climax

• March 2024 – “Like That” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick reignited the feud by dismissing the “big three” (Drake, J. Cole, Kendrick) and asserting his dominance.

• April 2024 – “Push Ups” & “Taylor Made Freestyle” (Drake):

  • Drake responded with diss tracks, mocking Kendrick’s stature and collaborations. “Taylor Made Freestyle” was later removed due to copyright issues.

• April 30, 2024 – “Euphoria” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick called out Drake’s biracial identity and questioned his authenticity.

• May 3, 2024 – “6:16 in LA” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick accused Drake of being a “scam artist.”

• May 3, 2024 – “Family Matters” (Drake):

  • Drake accused Kendrick of domestic violence and family estrangement.

• May 3, 2024 – “Meet the Grahams” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • Kendrick claimed Drake had a secret daughter and addressed each member of Drake’s family in a letter-style diss.

• May 4, 2024 – “Not Like Us” (Kendrick Lamar):

  • The final and most successful diss track of the feud, debuting at No. 1 and winning multiple Grammy Awards. The song became an anthem, with Kendrick performing it at his 2024 California “Pop Out” concert, widely seen as a victory lap.

• May 2024 – “The Heart Part 6” (Drake):

  • Drake denied all allegations and claimed he had planted false information to mislead Kendrick.

Aftermath and Legacy

• Following “Not Like Us,” much of the hip-hop community declared Kendrick Lamar the winner of the feud. The beef involved not just the two rappers but also drew in other major artists like Metro Boomin, Future, J. Cole, and The Weeknd.

• Drake reportedly filed lawsuits against Universal Music Group, alleging manipulation of streaming numbers for “Not Like Us.”

• The feud has been immortalized in pop culture, even becoming a clue on Jeopardy! and receiving a detailed Wikipedia entry.

Conclusion

The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud, from its origins in competitive spirit to its explosive 2024 climax, has left a lasting mark on hip-hop. Both artists used their lyrical skills to push boundaries, with Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” standing as the most successful diss track in history, and the rivalry itself now considered a defining moment in modern rap.