If you’re looking for a new kendrick and drake song to add to your 2026 workout playlist, I’ve got some bad news for you. Honestly? It’s probably never happening again. We are officially in the "post-war" era of hip-hop, and the bridge hasn't just been burned—it’s been vaporized.
Remember 2011? It feels like a lifetime ago. Kendrick was the hungry newcomer from Compton, and Drake was the guy giving him a massive platform on Take Care. They were actually friends. Or, at least, they were "industry friends." They hopped on tracks together, toured the world, and seemed like they were going to run the decade as a duo.
Then came the "Control" verse. Then the subliminals. Then, the absolute nuclear meltdown of 2024.
The Tracks That Defined an Era
You can't talk about a kendrick and drake song without looking at how the vibe shifted from collaboration to pure, unadulterated loathing. It’s wild to look back at the early stuff now.
1. "Buried Alive Interlude" (2011)
This was the first time most people heard them together. It wasn’t even a proper "song" in the traditional sense; it was Kendrick basically doing a solo diary entry on Drake's album. He sounded grateful. He talked about the pressures of fame. Looking back, the foreshadowing is almost spooky.
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2. "Poetic Justice" (2012)
This is the peak. This is the one everyone remembers. It’s smooth, it’s Janet Jackson-sampled, and it’s the last time they sounded like they actually liked each other. Drake’s verse is classic "vulnerable Drake," and Kendrick’s flow is impeccable. It went Platinum. It was a moment.
3. "F**kin' Problems" (2013)
Technically an A$AP Rocky song, but it’s the final "Big Three" assembly (plus 2 Chainz). It was a massive club hit, but the energy was already changing. Behind the scenes, the competitive juices were starting to boil over.
Why We Won't Get Another Kendrick and Drake Song
Basically, the 2024 beef changed the DNA of hip-hop. When Kendrick dropped "Not Like Us," he didn't just win a rap battle; he created a cultural anthem that labeled his rival in ways you can't just "walk back" for a remix.
Think about it. Drake spent 2025 trying to regain his footing with tracks like "Fighting Irish Freestyle," while Kendrick was busy winning five Grammys and headlining the Super Bowl. The "Not Like Us" effect was so massive that it actually triggered legal filings. Drake literally filed a petition against UMG and Spotify, claiming they artificially boosted Kendrick’s numbers to hurt him. You don't go from "see you in court" to "see you in the studio."
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The Ideological Divide
It's not just about the insults. It's about what they represent.
- Kendrick: The "Pulitzer Kenny" figure who views rap as a sacred, protective art form for the culture.
- Drake: The "6 God" who mastered the streaming era and turned music into a global, multi-genre business empire.
When Kendrick called him a "colonizer" on a kendrick and drake song (well, a song about Drake), he was drawing a line in the sand. He was saying that Drake’s way of making music—hopping on different regional sounds from Atlanta to London—wasn't just "versatile," it was parasitic.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Beef
People think this started with "Like That" in early 2024. It didn't. This has been a slow-motion car crash since 2013.
When Kendrick said "Motherfck the big three, n**a, it's just big me," he wasn't just being cocky. He was responding to years of "sneak dissing" that most casual fans missed. Drake’s track "The Language" from 2013 was a direct shot back at Kendrick’s "Control" verse. They’ve been throwing rocks at each other's glass houses for over a decade. The only difference is that in 2024, they finally started using bricks.
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Is There Anything Left to Say?
As of 2026, the silence is deafening. Kendrick’s latest album GNX (released late 2024) still carries the weight of that victory lap. Drake is still putting out numbers—because he’s Drake—but the "invincibility" is gone.
If you're holding out hope for a surprise reunion, you’re probably better off listening to "Poetic Justice" on loop. The industry has moved on. We’ve seen the "Final Boss" battle, and there isn't a sequel in sight.
What You Should Do Next
If you want to really understand the evolution of this rivalry, you need to listen to the tracks in order. Don't just jump to the disses.
- Listen to "Buried Alive Interlude" to hear the respect they once had.
- Spin "Poetic Justice" to see what the peak collaboration looked like.
- Contrast "Push Ups" with "Euphoria" to see how two masters of the craft approach a total character assassination.
- Watch the "Not Like Us" music video—not just for the song, but for the West Coast imagery that Kendrick used to claim his territory.
The era of the kendrick and drake song as a collaborative effort is dead. What we have now is a historical record of what happens when the two biggest egos in music decide there isn't enough room at the top for both of them.