Kendrick Lamar

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The tension ignited on August 14, 2013, when Lamar dropped his verse on Big Sean's 'Control,' declaring he was trying to murder his peers and make sure their core fans never heard of them. This challenge set a decade-long tone of indirect competition. The dynamic shifted dramatically in October 2023 when J. Cole named himself, Lamar, and Drake the 'big three' on Drake's song 'First Person Shooter.' In March 2024, Lamar responded on the track 'Like That' by Future and Metro Boomin, explicitly insulting both men. The feud escalated rapidly: in April, Lamar released 'Euphoria,' while Drake countered with 'Push Ups' and 'Taylor Made Freestyle.' By May 3, the conflict reached new heights when Drake's 'Family Matters' accused Lamar of domestic abuse and claimed Lamar's partner Dave Free was his son's biological father. Just twenty minutes later, Lamar fired back with 'Meet the Grahams,' accusing Drake of sexual predation and running a sex trafficking ring.

In Their Own Story

The climax of the feud arrived on May 3, 2024, in a rapid-fire exchange that captivated the world. After Drake's 'Family Matters' aired, Lamar released 'Meet the Grahams,' building on Pusha T's 2018 revelation about Drake's secret child to accuse him of pedophilia and exploiting Atlanta's hip-hop culture. The very next day, Lamar dropped 'Not Like Us,' a track that would become widely viewed as the decisive victory in the battle. While Drake responded with 'The Heart Part 6' on May 5 to deny allegations, he offered no further musical rebuttal to 'Not Like Us.' The fallout extended beyond music; in January 2025, Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group alleging defamation by 'Not Like Us,' though it was dismissed in October. Despite the legal battles and personal attacks, Lamar's victory was cemented when he won five Grammy Awards for the track in February 2025 and performed it alongside 'Euphoria' at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show.

Reader's Guide

To understand this rivalry, start with the 2013 'Control' verse, which remains the catalyst. Fans should trace the timeline through the 'sneak disses' that occurred over the next decade before the 2024 explosion. Key listening points include Lamar's 'Like That,' Drake's 'Push Ups,' and the May 3 exchange of 'Family Matters' and 'Meet the Grahams.' The turning point was undoubtedly the release of 'Not Like Us' on May 4, which shifted public perception decisively in Lamar's favor. While the feud involved other artists like J. Cole (who briefly responded with '7 Minute Drill' before apologizing) and figures such as Kanye West and Rick Ross, the core narrative focuses on these two titans. For those interested in the aftermath, Lamar reflected on the conflict in his 2024 album GNX and 'Watch the Party Die,' while Drake addressed it in 'Gimme a Hug' (2025) and Iceman (2026).

Did You Know?

• Lamar's verse on 'Control' in August 2013 challenged Drake and other peers, intending to encourage competition rather than start a war.
• The feud escalated on May 3, 2024, when Lamar released 'Meet the Grahams' exactly twenty minutes after Drake dropped 'Family Matters'.
• Lamar won five Grammy Awards in February 2025 for his track 'Not Like Us', widely considered the victor of the feud.
• Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group in January 2025 regarding 'Not Like Us', which was dismissed by a New York federal court in October.
• The two artists' last collaboration before the feud intensified was on Drake's song 'Poetic Justice' from the album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City.