It started as a cold war. Now, it’s basically scorched earth.
If you’ve been anywhere near the internet lately, you know the names Kendrick Lamar and Drake aren't just rappers anymore—they're the two poles of a cultural civil war. People are choosing sides like it’s a political election. But honestly, if you're asking why do Kendrick and Drake have beef, you have to look past the 2024 explosion. This wasn't some overnight marketing stunt. It’s a decade-plus of resentment, "sneak dissing," and a fundamental disagreement over what hip-hop is even supposed to be.
One guy is a Pulitzer Prize winner who treats every album like a holy scripture. The other is a global pop juggernaut who breaks streaming records while brushing his teeth. They were never going to stay friends.
The "Control" Verse: Where the Friendly Fire Ended
Back in 2011, things were actually... chill? Drake put Kendrick on a "Buried Alive Interlude" on his Take Care album. He even took Kendrick on tour. It looked like a passing of the torch. But in 2013, Kendrick dropped a verse on Big Sean's "Control" that changed everything.
He didn't just rap; he called out every relevant rapper by name, including Drake. He said he had love for them but was "tryna murder" them to make sure their fans never heard of them again.
Most rappers took it as competitive sport. J. Cole was cool with it. Pusha T laughed. But Drake? He took it personally. He told Billboard that he didn't feel "murdered" and basically called the verse a "moment" that wouldn't last. That was the crack in the foundation. For the next ten years, they traded "sneak disses"—lyrics where you don't say the name, but everyone knows exactly who you’re talking about. Kendrick would jab at Drake’s "ghostwriters," and Drake would mock Kendrick’s slow release schedule.
✨ Don't miss: Adam Scott in Step Brothers: Why Derek is Still the Funniest Part of the Movie
Why the Beef Exploded in 2024
Fast forward to October 2023. J. Cole and Drake drop "First Person Shooter." Cole raps about the "Big Three"—himself, Drake, and Kendrick—being the kings of the era. It felt like a compliment, right?
Not to Kendrick.
In March 2024, Kendrick popped up on Future and Metro Boomin’s track "Like That" and chose violence. He famously barked, "Motherf*** the big three, n****, it's just big me." He also compared himself to Prince and Drake to Michael Jackson, implying that while MJ was more popular, Prince outlived his legacy.
That was the "Go" signal.
The Nuclear Summer of Diss Tracks
Once the gloves came off, the pace was insane. We went from "competitive rapping" to "dark, life-altering allegations" in about 72 hours.
🔗 Read more: Actor Most Academy Awards: The Record Nobody Is Breaking Anytime Soon
- Push Ups & Taylor Made: Drake fired back first, mocking Kendrick’s height and his height and his deals with Top Dawg Entertainment. He even used AI to mimic Tupac and Snoop Dogg’s voices, which... yeah, that backfired when Tupac’s estate threatened to sue.
- Euphoria & 6:16 in LA: Kendrick responded with a six-minute psychological evaluation. He told Drake, "I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk," and claimed there were moles inside Drake's own OVO camp feeding him info.
- Family Matters vs. Meet the Grahams: This is where it got ugly. Drake released "Family Matters," accusing Kendrick of domestic violence and claiming one of Kendrick’s kids was actually fathered by his manager, Dave Free.
- The Knockout Blow: Less than 20 minutes later—literally—Kendrick dropped "Meet the Grahams." It felt like a horror movie. He addressed Drake’s son, his mother, and his father, calling Drake a "certified pedophile" and claiming he had a secret daughter.
"Not Like Us" and the Cultural Shift
If "Meet the Grahams" was the psychological kill shot, "Not Like Us" was the victory parade. Produced by Mustard, it’s a West Coast club banger that doubles as a devastating list of accusations. Kendrick leaned heavily into the idea that Drake is a "colonizer"—someone who uses Atlanta’s culture and different "accents" to stay relevant because he doesn't have a real identity of his own.
The song didn't just top the charts; it became an anthem. You’d hear it at graduations, weddings, and even the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show. By the time Kendrick performed his "Pop Out" concert in Los Angeles on Juneteenth, the beef felt decided in the court of public opinion.
The Legal Aftermath in 2025 and 2026
You’d think it would end with the music, but by late 2024, the beef moved to the courtroom. Drake filed legal petitions against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. He basically alleged that UMG—the label they both share—was part of a "pay-to-play" scheme to boost "Not Like Us."
Drake’s team argued the song was defamatory and that the industry conspired to "manufacture" a winner. As of early 2026, most of these legal maneuvers have been uphill battles. Courts generally don't like getting involved in rap battles, and UMG called the claims "illogical."
Why Do Kendrick and Drake Have Beef? The Core Truth
At the end of the day, this isn't just about who is the better rapper. It’s a clash of ideologies.
💡 You might also like: Ace of Base All That She Wants: Why This Dark Reggae-Pop Hit Still Haunts Us
Kendrick views hip-hop as a sacred, Black art form rooted in struggle, storytelling, and community. To him, Drake is a "tourist"—a wealthy former child actor from Toronto who "borrows" sounds from London, Nigeria, and Atlanta to maintain his spot at #1.
Drake sees Kendrick as a "pseudo-intellectual" who disappears for five years at a time, acts superior, and doesn't actually make the "hits" that keep the industry's lights on. Drake thinks Kendrick is jealous of his success; Kendrick thinks Drake is a fraud.
Actionable Insights: How to Track the Aftermath
The music has slowed down, but the tension is still very much alive. If you want to stay on top of how this feud is reshaping the industry, keep an eye on these specific areas:
- Monitor the Courts: Follow the proceedings of Drake’s petitions against UMG. If he actually gets a "discovery" phase, we might see internal emails about how "Not Like Us" was marketed, which could change the "pay-to-play" conversation in the entire music industry.
- Watch the Collaborations: Notice who is working with who. The "20 vs 1" mentality Drake complained about has created a "line in the sand." Future, Metro Boomin, Rick Ross, and The Weeknd are firmly on one side.
- Lyrical Subs in New Albums: Neither artist is likely to drop another direct "Not Like Us" style diss soon, but the "sneak disses" are back. Listen for references to "moles," "OVO," or "PG Lang" in their 2026 releases.
- Cultural Impact: Pay attention to how the term "colonizer" is being used in music journalism. Kendrick's framing of Drake has created a new lens through which critics are viewing artists who pivot between genres.
The Kendrick and Drake beef isn't just a moment in 2024 history—it's a permanent shift in how we define "authenticity" in modern music. Whether you're a fan of the "6 God" or "Kung Fu Kenny," the industry they inhabit today looks nothing like it did two years ago.