The camera zooms in. Kendrick Lamar, standing in the middle of a football field under the blinding lights of the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, stops his frantic "Not Like Us" choreography. He leans in. He doesn't just rap the line; he delivers it like a secret shared between him and 100 million viewers.
"Say, Drake."
A massive, mischievous grin spreads across his face. He holds the gaze. The internet, predictably, lost its collective mind. Within seconds, the kendrick say drake meme was born, flooding X and TikTok with a screenshot of that specific, diabolical smile.
But honestly, if you think this was just a funny face, you’re missing the actual chess game being played. This wasn't just a meme. It was a victory lap.
Why the Say Drake Meme Broke the Internet
Memes usually happen by accident. A celebrity trips, or someone makes a weird face in the background of a news report. This was different. Kendrick knew exactly what he was doing when he looked down the barrel of that lens.
By the time the 2025 Super Bowl rolled around, the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake had moved past simple rap battle territory. It was a cultural event. When Kendrick uttered those two words, "Say, Drake," he was leaning into the role of the "boogeyman" he’d cultivated throughout 2024.
The meme works because of the contrast. You’ve got this high-octane, aggressive diss track playing, and then Kendrick breaks character to give a look that says, “I know you’re watching this right now, and there’s nothing you can do.” People started using the "Say Drake" template for everything.
- Sending it to a friend after you catch them in a lie.
- Posting it when you’ve successfully "hated" on someone you don't like.
- Using it as a reaction to any situation where someone is about to get "cooked."
It’s Not Just About the Super Bowl
While the 2025 halftime show gave us the visual template, the energy of the kendrick say drake meme actually started months earlier. You can trace the DNA of this meme back to the release of "Euphoria."
Remember the line: "I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress"?
That part of the song became a massive TikTok sound. It wasn't just hip-hop fans using it; it was everyone. People were using it to describe their annoying coworkers, their exes, even their pets. Kendrick tapped into a very specific, very human feeling: pure, unadulterated "hating."
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He essentially gave the internet permission to be "diabolical."
The Layers of the Smile
If you look closely at the meme, it’s not a friendly smile. It’s the smile of someone who has already won the argument but is still enjoying the process of explaining why. Experts in digital culture, like those at Know Your Meme, pointed out that this specific moment became the "Meme of the Month" because it perfectly encapsulated the "main character energy" Kendrick possessed throughout the feud.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Beef
There’s a common misconception that Kendrick is "obsessed" with Drake. If you look at the memes, it might seem that way. But the reality is more nuanced.
On tracks like "6:16 in LA," Kendrick hinted at moles within Drake’s own camp (OVO). The memes often depict Kendrick as a puppet master or an anime villain—frequently compared to Sukuna from Jujutsu Kaisen or Itachi Uchiha from Naruto.
These comparisons aren't just for fun. They reflect the way Kendrick dismantled Drake’s public persona. He didn't just win a rap battle; he used the internet’s own mechanics—virality, catchphrases, and visual cues—to ensure his victory was permanent.
The "A-Minor" Factor
You can't talk about the kendrick say drake meme without mentioning the "A-Minorrrrr" line from "Not Like Us." This was perhaps the most devastating moment of the entire 2024 musical run.
By stretching out the note, Kendrick created a "hook" that was impossible to ignore. It turned a serious allegation into a stadium-sized singalong. This is a level of psychological warfare we haven't seen in music since the 90s.
The Impact on Drake’s Brand
It’s tough to be the "Certified Lover Boy" when the entire world is dancing to a song that calls you a "Certified Pedophile."
Drake tried to fight back. He dropped "The Heart Part 6." He tried to claim he fed Kendrick fake information. He even recently filed legal actions against Universal Music Group, alleging that "Not Like Us" was promoted using illegal tactics and botting.
But the memes don't care about legal filings.
In the world of the internet, the person who looks like they’re having the most fun usually wins. Kendrick, with his "Say Drake" grin, looked like he was having the time of his life. Drake, wearing a hoodie with bullet holes to signify the "damage" he took, looked like he was trying too hard.
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Why This Meme Still Matters in 2026
We are now well into 2026, and you still see the kendrick say drake meme pop up in comment sections. Why? Because it represents more than just a feud between two rappers.
It represents a shift in how we consume celebrity drama. We don't just watch it; we participate in it. We turn lyrics into life advice and facial expressions into our personal brand of "hating."
Kendrick didn't just write a song; he wrote a script for the internet to follow. And as long as people are still "walking, talking, and dressing" in ways that annoy their rivals, the Kendrick memes will stay relevant.
Actionable Next Steps for You
- Check the Context: If you're going to use the "Say Drake" meme, make sure you're using it in a "victory lap" scenario. It works best when you've already proven your point and are just savoring the win.
- Watch the Performance: Go back and watch the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. Pay attention to the camera work. It’s a masterclass in how to use live television to create viral moments.
- Understand the Lyrics: If you're curious about the deeper meanings, look into the "colonizer" metaphors Kendrick uses in the later verses of "Not Like Us." It explains why he feels so strongly about Drake’s relationship with cities like Atlanta and Compton.
- Stay Updated: Follow the ongoing legal developments between Drake and UMG. While the "meme war" is over, the legal aftermath is still unfolding in federal courts.