Since the Kendrick Lamar verse on “Like That,” and Drake’s reply on “50 Push Ups,” the beef between the two rap titans has intensified to new levels of toxicity.
K.Dot’s recent barrage of diss tracks, including “euphoria,” “6:16 in LA,” “meet the grahams,” and “Not Like Us,” serve as scathing responses to Drake’s attempts to take him down on “50 Push Ups,” the AI-assisted “Taylor Made Freestyle” which dropped shortly after, and “Family Matters.”
The tension between the two artists has been brewing for some time, subtly referenced in Kendrick’s prior works and intensified in Drake’s recent Scary Hours 3 collection. Yet, with their latest diss tracks, the disdain for each other has escalated to unprecedented levels. Both Kendrick and Drake have shed any restraint, launching into an all-out no holds barred lyrical and highly personal assault.
While we wait on the next chapter of releases from both artists, here’s a look at the rest of the diss tracks that have dropped recently.
Taylor Made Freestyle
The Boi-1da, Arthur McArthur and Blank-produced “Taylor Made Freestyle” was released on April 19, adding to the pressure already applied by “50 Push Ups.” Along with some tough jabs at his Compton nemesis, Drake’s use of AI to morph his voice into the voices of iconic West Coast rappers 2Pac and Snoop Dogg, took the beef to a different level of disrespect and public attention.
Many were impressed with the way Drake incorporated the AI into the song, knowing that 2Pac has been referenced by Kendrick several times as an inspiration. Others felt that 2Pac’s legacy had been disrespected and Drake had taken things too far. It was also evident on social media and podcasts, that some people, especially on the West Coast, felt especially slighted by a Canadian rapper daring to utilize Pac for his own agenda.
It wasn’t long before 2Pac’s estate threatened to sue Drake for incorporating the AI-powered verse, and, as a result, you’ll likely only find this one on YouTube.
The title, “Taylor Made,” cleverly nods to both custom perfection (‘tailor made’) and pop sensation Taylor Swift. Drake’s lyrical jabs suggest Lamar’s deference to Swift’s release schedule, implying a lack of autonomy in his career decisions. Moreover, Lamar’s previous nod to “Taylor Made” in his 2012 album, good kid, m.A.A.d city, adds a historical layer to the feud, drawing parallels between Lamar’s admiration for The Game and Drake’s strategic maneuvering in the rap battlefield. On the song, “Black Boy Fly,” Kendrick dedicates a whole verse for his admiration of The Game, born Jayceon Taylor.
“I used to be jealous of Jayceon Taylor when I was young
Taylor made a career out of music from writing songs
A Buick had driven past bumping him when I mowed the lawn
Money laundering hustling, homies pondering up against”
Drake also questions Kendrick’s dedication and prompts him to step up his game, saying, “Since like that, your tone changed a little, you not as enthused, how are you not in the booth? It feel like you kinda removed, you tryna let this shit die down, nah, nah, nah Not this time n***a you following through I guess you need another week to figure out how to improve, What the fuck is taking so long? We waiting on you.”
Worth noting: Kendrick was born at Robert Taylor Homes, a public housing project on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, before moving to California.
euphoria
Amid mounting anticipation—and rising pressure for Kendrick to reply—”euphoria” emerged as his official riposte to Drake’s “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle,” marking his first solo return since May 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. These tracks serve as a crescendo to the initial jab at Drake and J. Cole in Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.”
Released unceremoniously via YouTube on April 30, 2024, at 8:24 a.m. PST, the timing pays homage to late Los Angeles icon Kobe Bryant, a subtle nod that echoes Lamar’s L.A. roots. Meanwhile, its title, “euphoria,” is likely a nod to Drake’s involvement in the HBO series by the same name—a show which has been criticized for its sexualization of teenagers.
Structurally, the song exhibits a tripartite form, with each segment boasting a distinct sonic landscape. Lamar’s manipulation of beats mirrors his own lyrical prophecy in “Like That,” where he foresaw a need for three switches. As the track unfolds, Lamar’s rhetoric grows increasingly confrontational, delving into Drake’s public persona, cultural appropriation, and complex racial identity.
Overall, the song strategically aligns with Lamar’s strategic narrative, with many implicitly framing “euphoria” as a triumph in the ongoing feud. Upon release, the track incited a frenzy among fans, causing a surge in traffic on Genius and YouTube as enthusiasts dissected its lyrical depth. To date, the original YouTube upload has racked up over 8 million views since premiering on April 30.
6:16 in LA
A few days after the release of “euphoria,” Kendrick followed up by posting his “6:16 in LA” diss on Instagram at exactly 6:16 Pacific Time. Along with mocking Drake’s ‘Timestamp’ series with the title, there are a ton of other possibilities connected to the symbolism of the 6:16 reference.
Internet sleuths have come up with at least 6ix other meanings that hold weight including:
- June 16 is 2Pac’s birthday. In “euphoria,” Kendrick makes it clear he wasn’t happy that Drake purchased Pac’s ring, and 2Pac’s estate threatened to sue Drake for the AI-verse that appeared in “Taylor Made.”
- June 16 (6/16) is Father’s Day, which has been interpreted by some as Kendrick doubling down on calling Drake a deadbeat dad.
- June 16 (2019) happens to be the date the series Euphoria premiered on HBO—which could be Kendrick tripling down on referencing a show which has been criticized for sexualizing young people.
- OJ Simpson’s murder trial began in Los Angeles on June 16 (1995), and the artwork that was released with the song featured a black leather glove.
- June 16 (2011) is the first time Kendrick performed in Toronto, and allegedly the first time he met Drake in person.
- Some fans also viewed it as a veiled dig directed at Sophie Brussaux, the mother of Drake’s son, particularly noting the inclusion of the bible verse from 1 Corinthians 6:16: “Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, ‘The two will become one flesh.’”
The mysterious title aside, with “6:16 in LA,” Kendrick launches a relentless assault, delivering cutting lines to imply Drake has a mole in his camp:
“Have you ever thought OVO was working for me, fake bully I hate bullies, you must be a terrible person, Everyone inside your team is whispering that you deserve it.”
Lastly, as the cherry on top, the “6:16 in LA” beat features a sample from Al Green’s classic, “What a Wonderful Thing Love Is,” which has direct ties to Drake’s family. In fact, Drake’s father’s cousin, Mabon “Teenie” Hodges, laid down the smooth guitar riffs on the song and was instrumental in many of Green’s biggest hits. And on the subject of the track’s beat, Genius lists Sounwave and Jack Antonoff as the producers, and since Antonoff has a deep catalogue of Taylor Swift-produced records, “6:16 in LA” is literally “Taylor Made.”
Family Matters
After the release of “euphoria” and “6:16 in LA,” it seemed like public opinion was siding heavily with Kendrick, with some people stating it appeared he was applying the 48 Laws of Power and Sun Tzu’s The Art of War, which was also a book deeply cherished by 2Pac. By carefully baiting Drake into the middle of the battlefield and convincing him that he had won, Kendrick was able to unleash a barrage of devastating counterattacks while Drake’s guard was down.
Anticipation for Drake’s response was inescapable at this point, with even mainstream media beginning to cover the feud. And “Family Matters” arrived shortly after.
In this Boi-1da, Tay Keith, Mark Ronson, Fierce, Kevin Mitchell, Dramakid, Preme (aka P. Reign) and Jordan Fox-produced track, Drake didn’t hold back, delving into Kendrick’s personal life, especially his relationship with fiancée Whitney Alford, and making allegations of abuse and infidelity. Additionally, Drake targeted other artists who had taken shots at him weeks prior, including A$AP Rocky, The Weeknd, Metro Boomin, Future, and Rick Ross.
Prior to its release, Drake teased the track on Instagram with memes and videos. He posted cryptic messages hinting at the song’s content, including a warning from Denzel Washington’s character in The Equalizer 2. The song starts with a snippet from Drake’s previous diss, “Push Ups,” before transitioning into a second verse. Like Kendrick’s “euphoria,” Drake employs three beat switches to cover various themes.
Accompanying the diss track is a music video which is divided into three parts. Drake symbolically destroys a van reminiscent of Kendrick’s album cover, addresses everyone with a hearse, and mocks Kendrick by dining at a referenced restaurant, New Ho King. The song delves into Kendrick’s alleged domestic issues, ghostwriting, and infidelity, including references to Whitney, Kendrick’s wife, and her purported affair with their bodyguard. The video also loosely references Kendrick’s Chicago roots again. Drake adopted a backdrop and font reminiscent of the ’90s sitcom, Family Matters. The show’s narrative orbits the Winslow family, emblematic of African-American middle-class life in Chicago, Illinois, and their quirky neighbour, Steve Urkel.
It should be noted that among the many cryptic scenes in the “Family Matters” video, one features a woman’s bra hanging from something in a studio. This could be foreshadowing a future development of the feud which remains to be seen.
Along with releasing the “Family Matters” diss, Drake also released a short parody of his 2011 track “Buried Alive Interlude” on Instagram which features vocals from Kendrick, and Drake imitating Kendrick’s flow.
meet the grahams
Following Drake’s blistering “Family Matters” diss track, Kendrick Lamar swiftly responded with his six-minute surgical “meet the grahams” record.
In this detailed, scathing retort, Kendrick not only accuses Drake of neglecting his parental duties and concealing a daughter but also directly addresses Drake’s inner circle. Notably, Kendrick speaks directly to Drake’s son, Adonis, expressing regret that his father is “who he is.” This is a pointed reference to Kendrick’s earlier allusions to Drake’s shortcomings as a parent on the track “euphoria,” where he rapped about the importance of raising a son and implied Drake’s lack of such knowledge, saying, “I got a son to raise, but I can see you don’t know nothin about that, teaching him morals, integrity, discipline. Listen, man, you don’t know nothin about that.”
It should be pointed out that Drake has also accused Kendrick of neglecting his parental duties, and that Kendrick hasn’t seen his child in several months. Neither camp has produced actual receipts to prove these claims. Adonis was of course kept a secret by Drake, until Pusha T put the info on blast, but Drake had never denied his existence, and there is no proof he hadn’t been in Adonis’ life before “The Story of Adonis” was released.
But this is a rap beef, and producing receipts isn’t always in the script. Continuing his layered critique on Drake, Kendrick then extends his focus to Drake’s mother, Sandra Graham, a recognized figure within the Canadian hip-hop scene. He implies that she turns a blind eye to certain questionable behaviours displayed by Drake over the years. Additionally, Kendrick takes aim at Drake’s father, Dennis Graham, alleging that he played a vital role in nurturing a “Master Manipulator.”
Not Like Us
As fans were still processing the surgical strike of “meet the grahams,” Kendrick delivered another scathing blow to Drake with “Not Like Us,” just a few hours later. On an infectious DJ Mustard beat, along with claiming Drake is a snitch and cultural appropriator, Kendrick boldly accuses Drake of pedophilia, insinuating his alleged interest in underage girls. Lines like, “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles” and “Why you trollin’ like a bitch? Ain’t you tired? Tryna strike a chord it’s probably A Minor.”
The song’s YouTube thumbnail depicts Drake’s opulent mansion in Toronto’s Park Lane Circle, an area favoured by celebrities for lavish estates. With imagery resembling a modern sex offender registry, the edit fuels Kendrick’s narrative of Drake’s alleged predatory behaviour, implying his residence, dubbed “The Embassy,” as a hub for illicit activities.
Just on the cusp of the weekend, Drake retaliated with “The Heart Part 6,” taking on the scathing allegations head on.
The Heart Part 6
In “The Heart Part 6,” Drake directly countered Kendrick’s previous attacks with a barrage of retaliatory verses, aiming to reclaim the publicly perceived upper hand in their ongoing feud. Throughout the song, Drake dismantled Kendrick’s narratives, addressing accusations ranging from parenting skills to allegations of pedophilia. He also claimed to have fed Kendrick false information and made advances towards Kendrick’s fiancé. Drake reiterated Kendrick’s alleged relationship issues with Whitney Alford, seemingly intent on exploiting Kendrick’s vulnerabilities to his advantage, while also doubling down on the claim that Kendrick Lamar’s PGLang co-founder, Dave Free, was the father of Kendrick’s child.
Additionally, in a move mirroring Kendrick’s mockery of Drake’s Timestamp series with “6:16 in LA,” Drake parodies Kendrick’s “The Heart” series, a hallmark of Kendrick’s career. Announced through an Instagram post on the evening of May 5, 2024, “The Heart Part 6” arrived with provocative cover art showing an Instagram comment by Dave Free, referencing Kendrick’s relationship with Whitney Alford and Free’s alleged paternity of her children.
Throughout the track, Drake samples Aretha Franklin’s “Prove It,” providing a musical backdrop to his rebuttals.
Drake vs. Kendrick: What’s Next?
While the world waits patiently for the next chapter of the beef to unfold, things have been heating up offline with at least two shootings possibly connected to it. The Los Angeles home of The Weeknd’s manager, CashXO, was targeted in a shooting last week, while just days ago, gunfire erupted outside Drake’s residence. In both incidents, security guards were injured and hospitalized.
Although there’s been anticipation for new music releases from both parties, the recent shooting may have disrupted these plans. The impact on future music releases remains uncertain, and only time will provide clarity.
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