Timeline events in notorious hip-hop feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Early 2010
Initially, the relationship between Kendrick and Drake seemed innocent, due to collaboration on diss tracks such as “Poetic Justice” and “Buried Alive Interlude.” However, Big Sean’s “Control” featured a brutal verse from Kendrick aiming at many major artists, including Drake, beginning their feud.
March 22
Tensions seemed calmer until this spring, when Metro Boomin’s new album “We Don’t Trust You” was released, featuring a verse from Kendrick. In “Like That,” Kendrick dismissed the notion of a “Big Three,” claiming “it’s just big me.” There were also lyrics against Drake and J. Cole, insulting the two directly.
April 13
Drake fired back at Kendrick’s insults with the song “Push Ups,” saying that SZA, Travis Scott and 21 Savage were all above Kendrick’s level, in order to come across as stronger than Kendrick. Drake also went after the work Kendrick did on pop songs alongside artists Taylor Swift and Maroon 5.
April 19
Before Kendrick could respond, Drake released “Taylor Made Freestyle,” in which he used AI-generated voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg, who Kendrick idolizes, to intimidate him. He accused Kendrick’s unresponsiveness as fear that Swift’s new album release would get more streams than his.
April 30
Kendrick released “Euphoria,” which is where the conflict starts to take a serious turn. Kendrick attacked Drake’s parenting, his rumored plastic surgery and his rapping ability. Kendrick continues to target Drake’s vulnerabilities in order to assert dominance in their ongoing feud.
May 3-4
Kendrick’s “6:16 in LA” claimed to have information on Drake. Drake argued Kendrick abuses his fiancee and questioned the paternity of his child in “Family Matters.” Kendrick’s “Meet the Grahams” alleged Drake has a secret daughter and then dropped “Not Like Us,” calling Drake a pedophile.
May 5-7
In “The Heart Part 6,” Drake claims that the rumor regarding his secret daughter is fake. Tensions reached a boiling point when the feud spilled beyond the realm of music into public violence, culminating in a shooting incident outside of Drake’s Toronto mansion.
May 13
Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 and is a scathing critique of Drake’s character. By targeting Drake’s personal life, Kendrick seeks to undermine his credibility. The explicit nature of the allegations, coupled with Kendrick’s lyrical prowess, amplifies the impact of the diss track.
May 24
Drake was featured on Sexyy Red’s “U My Everything,” his first feature since the diss tracks. Drake alludes to the drama in his featured verses while listing vacation spots. He tries to set the record straight about the rumors that started during the feud with Kendrick.
Photo credits: “Studio Microphone” by Richard Feliciano is licensed under (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 Deed).
