Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s Feud: A Complete Timeline
For years, the hip-hop world has been divided over the rivalry between two of the genre’s biggest stars: Drake and Kendrick Lamar. The feud, which has been brewing since 2011, has seen both artists trade diss tracks, subtle jabs, and public insults. In this article, we’ll take a comprehensive look at the timeline of their feud, from its early beginnings to the present day.
2011: The Early Days
The feud began in 2011, when Drake released his sophomore album "Take Care." The album’s lead single, "The Motto," featured a verse from Lil Wayne, who was also a mentor to Kendrick Lamar. Kendrick, who was then an up-and-coming artist, felt disrespected by Drake’s decision to collaborate with Wayne, who had previously worked with Lamar on his debut album "Section.80."
2012: The First Shots
In 2012, Kendrick Lamar released his major-label debut "good kid, m.A.A.d city." The album received widespread critical acclaim, but Drake took issue with Lamar’s lyrics, which he felt were aimed at him. Drake responded with a verse on his song "The Language," which many interpreted as a diss towards Lamar.
2013: The "Control" Verse
In 2013, Kendrick Lamar released his verse on Big Sean’s song "Control," which many saw as a direct shot at Drake. Lamar’s verse read: "I’m tryna tone it down, ’cause ain’t nobody cold as me / Like I’m the king of the coast, I’m the king of the D / And I’m tryna tone it down, ’cause ain’t nobody touchin’ me / Like I’m the king of the game, and I’m tryna tone it down."
Drake, who was reportedly hurt by the verse, responded with a series of subtle jabs on his song "All Me," which featured a verse from Lil Wayne and Chris Brown.
2014: The "Chillin" Incident
In 2014, Drake and Kendrick Lamar had a brief encounter at the Grammy Awards. According to reports, Drake approached Lamar and asked him why he had dissed him on "Control." Lamar allegedly responded by saying that he was just speaking the truth, and that Drake was too soft to handle the heat.
2015: The "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late" Album
In 2015, Drake released his surprise mixtape "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late." The album, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, featured several tracks that many interpreted as diss tracks aimed at Kendrick Lamar.
2016: The "Untitled Unmastered" Response
In 2016, Kendrick Lamar released his album "Untitled Unmastered," which featured a series of demos and unreleased tracks. The album’s lead single, "Untitled 07 | 2013-2016," was seen by many as a response to Drake’s "If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late."
2017: The "More Life" Album
In 2017, Drake released his album "More Life," which featured several tracks that many interpreted as diss tracks aimed at Kendrick Lamar. The album’s lead single, "Fake Love," was seen as a response to Lamar’s "Untitled 07 | 2013-2016."
2018: The "Black Panther" Soundtrack
In 2018, Kendrick Lamar released the soundtrack to the Marvel movie "Black Panther." The album, which featured several tracks with Drake, was seen by many as a sign of peace between the two artists.
2019: The "Scorpion" Album
In 2019, Drake released his album "Scorpion," which featured several tracks that many interpreted as diss tracks aimed at Kendrick Lamar. The album’s lead single, "God’s Plan," was seen as a response to Lamar’s "Humble."
2020: The "Aftermath"
In 2020, it seemed that the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar had finally died down. Both artists had moved on to other projects, and the hip-hop world was left to wonder if the feud was truly over.
In conclusion, the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been a long and complex one, with both artists trading diss tracks and subtle jabs over the years. While the feud may never truly be resolved, it’s clear that both artists have moved on and are focused on their respective careers.
