For many, one of the most notable parts of 2024 pop culture was the infamous (and debatably ongoing) Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef.
Starting (most recently) with a line in the song “First Person Shooter” J. Cole claimed that himself, Kendrick Lamar, and Drake were the “big three” in the rap game, something that was meant as amicable competition.
Lamar however, did not see it that way, and retaliated with a feature of his own on Future’s “Like That” track, where he disregards the “big three”, stating how “it’s just big me”. While J. Cole did release a song dissing Lamar soon after, he later apologized for his actions, admitting that it was the wrong thing to do in said situation.
However, Drake did not feel the same, releasing a song called “Push-Ups” shortly after, dissing Kendrick’s height, and career choices, and claiming that Drake’s help is the only reason his career has gotten to where it is today. Shortly after, Kendrick released a track retaliating, and the exchange continued several times.
Many thought that the “beef” was simply a way for both artists to get publicity, but feelings changed when the artists started making accusations that carried far more weight, with Kendrick making allusions to Drake being a child predator, and Drake hinting that Kendrick had various accounts of domestic violence in his past.
Even so, it seems that the internet has taken to the side of Kendrick Lamar, with many discrediting Drake’s allegations for lack of evidence while Drake has had some less-than-ideal situations where one could view his behavior as morally ambiguous in regards to his allegations.
This is not the first time Drake has been ridiculed/attacked online, as fans have been making fun of the artist for months. Things like the “Drake the type of guy to..” memes, and the infamous “Drake mirror selfie face” described as “BBl Drizzy” have garnered lots of attention from fans for being “cringy” and “accurate”.
When the Super Bowl announcement pick was released, fans were quick to notice the irony in their choice. In Drake’s song “First Person Shooter”, he describes himself as “big as the Super Bowl”, a comparison that seems ironic now that the NFL has chosen Lamar as their pick for the Super Bowl halftime performance.
With regards to the Super Bowl, many fans are in complete accordance with the choice. Senior Tavian Boone describes it as “a great business decision considering the year Kendrick’s had so far, not to mention the fan excitement regarding his supposed new album coming soon”, yet he remarks that although it “would be cool to see him perform the songs from his recent feud with Drake”, it shouldn’t be “the main focus of the whole thing”.
Senior Aryam Agili-Shaban agrees, saying how “Kendrick is definitely the right pick, given that Drake is so weird and controversial”.
Overall, the rapper’s beef won’t detrimentally end either of their careers, with both of them being some of the most acclaimed rappers in our modern era. However, it has seemed like Drake has been getting the shorter end of the stick recently, but fans await his response to the news of Kendrick’s recent success and whether or not there will be more responses in the future.
