When the beat for "Like That" first kicked in at Rolling Loud 2024, nobody knew they were listening to the starting pistol of a generational war. It wasn't just a song. It was a tactical strike. Metro Boomin Kendrick Lamar and Future didn't just top the charts; they effectively dismantled the comfortable "Big Three" narrative that had dominated hip-hop for a decade. Honestly, the industry hasn't been the same since that bassline hit.
You've likely seen the memes or heard the "BBL Drizzy" jokes. But beneath the internet noise lies a massive shift in how rap power is brokered. Metro Boomin provided the canvas, and Kendrick Lamar painted a masterpiece of pure, unadulterated aggression. It's kinda wild to think that a single verse could spark a three-month "civil war" involving lawsuits, family allegations, and some of the most scathing diss tracks ever recorded.
Why the Metro Boomin Kendrick Lamar Link-Up Changed Everything
Most people think of Metro Boomin as the guy who makes hits for everyone. He's the ultimate "diplomat" of rap, or at least he was. Before "Like That," Metro had a long, fruitful history with Drake. They made "Jumpman." They made "Where Ya At." They were a winning team. So when Metro teamed up with Kendrick—Drake’s primary ideological rival—it felt like a betrayal to some and a liberation to others.
The "personal issue" Metro eventually alluded to in interviews wasn't about a girl or anything petty. It was deeper. He felt slighted by the industry's handling of his Heroes & Villains project compared to Drake’s Her Loss. When you’re the best producer in the game, you want that respect. Kendrick, meanwhile, had been sitting on a mountain of smoke for years. He just needed the right moment to let it out.
The "Like That" Anatomy: More Than Just a Diss
The song itself is a masterclass in production. Metro didn't just throw together some 808s. He sampled Rodney-O & Joe Cooley’s "Everlasting Bass" and Eazy-E’s "Eazy-Duz-It." It was a deliberate nod to the West Coast, creating a sonic home for Kendrick before he even opened his mouth.
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Kendrick’s verse was short. It was punchy. It was brutal.
- He rejected the "Big Three" (himself, Drake, and J. Cole).
- He declared: "It’s just big me."
- He compared himself to Prince and Drake to Michael Jackson, implying Prince's longevity and artistic integrity won out.
That "Prince outlived Mike Jack" line? Absolute cold. It framed the entire beef as Artistry vs. Commercialism.
The Fallout of the 2024 Rap Civil War
After "Like That" debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100—giving Metro his first-ever chart-topper as a lead artist—the floodgates opened. Drake responded with "Push Ups," taking shots at Kendrick's height and Metro’s profession. The infamous "Shut your ho ass up and make some drums" line became a rallying cry for Drake fans, but it backfired. Metro responded by hosting a "BBL Drizzy" beat contest, turning Drake’s own diss into a viral joke that millions of people participated in.
It was a strange time. You had J. Cole dropping "7 Minute Drill," then apologizing at a festival and deleting the song. You had Metro Boomin leaking "BBL Drizzy" for free. Then Kendrick went nuclear with "Euphoria," "6:16 in LA," "Meet the Grahams," and finally the world-conquering "Not Like Us."
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What Most People Get Wrong About Their Relationship
A big misconception is that Metro and Kendrick are best friends or a permanent duo. In reality, they are strategic allies. Metro provides the "villainous" energy and cinematic production that suits Kendrick’s darker, more combative side. Before 2024, they actually didn't have a massive catalog together. Their collaboration was a "break glass in case of emergency" situation.
Metro has stated in several forums, including Forbes Under 30, that he has "love and respect" for his collaborators, but he hates "stan culture." He sees the beef as entertainment and competition. Kendrick sees it as a fight for the soul of the culture. That difference in perspective is why Metro could laugh through the beef while Kendrick sounded like he was performing an exorcism.
By the Numbers: The Impact of the Collaboration
The success of Metro Boomin Kendrick Lamar on "Like That" wasn't just about the drama. It was a streaming juggernaut.
- 59.6 million streams in its debut week.
- 3 consecutive weeks at #1.
- Zero bundles, zero physicals—just pure digital dominance.
- Over 324 million on-demand streams for the parent album, We Don't Trust You, in its first week.
The 2025/2026 Legacy: Where Do We Go Now?
As we move through 2026, the dust has mostly settled, but the scars are visible. Drake filed a lawsuit against UMG regarding the release of "Not Like Us," alleging defamation, though it faced heavy skepticism from legal experts. Meanwhile, Metro Boomin and Future’s partnership has become the new gold standard for producer-rapper duos, eclipsing the old Drake-Metro era entirely.
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Kendrick's victory in the court of public opinion was solidified by his Super Bowl LIX halftime show announcement. It's the ultimate "I won" lap. For Metro, he's proven that he’s not just a guy who "makes drums." He's a kingmaker. He's the guy who can shift the entire axis of the music industry by choosing who he hands a beat to.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you’re following the evolution of the Metro Boomin Kendrick Lamar saga, there are a few things you should keep an eye on to stay ahead of the curve:
- Watch the Credits: Metro is moving toward more "executive producer" roles where he curates entire worlds, not just single tracks. Expect more themed albums like We Don't Trust You.
- Sample Logic: Notice how "Like That" used classic West Coast samples to give Kendrick "home court advantage." If you're a producer, study how Metro uses nostalgia to ground modern trap beats.
- The Independent Shift: Both artists have shown that you don't need traditional "pop" rollout tactics (like radio payola or massive physical bundles) to hit #1. Focus on "moments" and cultural conversation.
- The New Big One: There is no "Big Three" anymore. The industry is now divided into camps. You're either with the "OVO" side or the "Boominati/pgLang" side. Neutrality is getting harder to find.
The collaboration between Metro Boomin and Kendrick Lamar didn't just give us a summer anthem. It redefined the power dynamics of 21st-century music. It proved that a producer’s vision and a rapper’s pen are still the most dangerous combination in the world.
To stay updated on their next moves, keep an eye on Metro Boomin’s social feeds for sudden "surprise" drops—he’s moved away from traditional announcement cycles in favor of the "drop and watch it burn" method.