What's the deal between Drake and Kendrick Lamar's long-standing beef as new lawsuit is lodged?

• The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has now gotten litigious, according to reports.
• A pre-action petition has been filed against Spotify and Universal Music Group over “illegalities” leading to Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” gaining substantial streams.
• But how did something that started so innocuous lead to a battle between style vs substance?

Kendrick Lamar may have “bodied” Drake during their feud after the release of ‘Not Like Us,’ but the war rages on between two of modern hip-hop’s most influential figures.

The latest development between the Drake and Kendrick beef comes in the form of a new lawsuit filed by the Canadian rapper’s team, Frozen Moments LLC, against both Spotify and Universal Music Group (UMG) for “engaging in an illegal scheme involving bots, payola and other methods to promote Lamar’s song.”

Drake's legal team has filed a "pre-action petition" against Universal Music and Spotify, and while this type of petition is not a full lawsuit, it is a legal step to request that the court order both parties to preserve all relevant documents and information. The petition is designed to ensure that critical evidence is not lost or destroyed before a potential lawsuit is formally filed.

This move is part of Drake’s larger legal strategy, allowing him to investigate the alleged artificial promotion of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’ and the streaming practices involved, while setting the stage for further legal action.

Though Spotify and Lamar have yet to respond to the accusations, a spokesperson for Universal Music Group has called the lawsuit “offensive and untrue” and that “fans choose the music they want to hear.”

So how did we get from subtle jabs almost a decade ago to what could now be another contentious music battle? Let’s delve into the history of their pair and find out what the deal is between Drake and Kendrick’s very public feud.

Drake vs Kendrick Lamar - a timeline of their feud

2013-2014: Early tensions

Although it wasn’t overt, the rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar began to take shape during this period. In 2013, Kendrick Lamar’s verse on ‘Control’ by Big Sean, in which he called out several rappers, including Drake, was seen as an early public challenge. Lamar’s mention of “King of New York” and his call for fellow rappers to step up their game were interpreted as a challenge to the entire rap industry, including Drake.

One line in particular from the song that was noted as a shot towards Drake was “I’m trying to murder n***** / ‘Effin’ with the flow.”

In interviews, such as the one he conducted with Hot 97 in 2013, Drake acknowledged the challenge, but he downplayed the significance of Lamar’s remarks, choosing not to engage in direct conflict. However, his response to Lamar’s jabs in the years that followed continued to suggest some level of competition.

Kendrick didn’t address the issue head-on, but his “To Pimp a Butterfly” (2015) and interviews around the release hinted at his growing sense of superiority in terms of lyrical ability and authenticity.

2015: The "The Language" and The Subtle Shots

By 2015, tensions had been bubbling beneath the surface. In his mixtape “If You're Reading This It's Too Late,” Drake released the track “The Language,” which many fans speculated was aimed at Kendrick Lamar. Though the track didn’t contain direct disses, its lyrics about “real rap” and being above the competition were seen as part of the ongoing rivalry.

The line "I’m on my worst behaviour, don’t you ever get it f***** up" was interpreted as a response to growing tensions in the rap community, including Lamar’s implied challenges. While not a direct diss, the lyrics contributed to the simmering rivalry.

Kendrick’s entire album “To Pimp a Butterfly” reflected his belief in the importance of authentic, meaningful rap. Lines like “I’m the closest thing to God, so I can’t be modest” pointed to a larger commentary about his standing in the rap world, placing himself as a more 'real' figure compared to Drake’s perceived commercial success.

His lyrics, while not directly naming Drake, built on the notion that “real rap” is what Lamar embodied.

2018: The BET Cypher and The 'Real Rap' Challenge

The rivalry flared up again in 2018 when Kendrick Lamar appeared in the BET Hip-Hop Awards cypher. In his verse, Lamar subtly called out other rappers, including Drake, for participating in “mumble rap” and not maintaining the authenticity that Lamar himself embodied.

Lamar’s lines "I’m from the South / What’s that about? / It’s true" subtly referenced the perceived lack of lyricism in current rap, and although he didn’t name Drake, many fans believed he was targeting him as part of a broader commentary on authenticity.

This created an open space for public speculation. Drake, while not engaging in a direct back-and-forth, had a clearer stance on the rivalry, as his public interviews and lyrics began to reflect the growing tension.

2023-2024: ‘First Person Shooter,’ ‘Like That’ and ‘Not Like Us’ clapback

In late 2023, Drake’s ‘First Person Shooter’ featuring J. Cole declared himself, Kendrick Lamar, and J. Cole as “the big three.” Kendrick responded sharply in 2024 on Metro Boomin and Future’s ‘Like That,’ dismissing the claim with the now-infamous line, "Motherf*** the big three, n****, it's just big me." Kendrick’s verse also compared himself to Prince, painting Drake as Michael Jackson—a nod to their respective legacies and rivalries.

Drake struck back in April with ‘Push Ups,’ mocking Kendrick’s height, collaborations, and even his persona, followed by ‘Taylor Made Freestyle.’ The latter used AI-generated voices of West Coast legends, resulting in a cease-and-desist from Tupac Shakur's estate.

Kendrick unleashed ‘Euphoria’ and ‘6:16 in LA,’ attacking Drake’s artistry, image, and team dynamics. The tension escalated with ‘Meet the Grahams,’ where Kendrick targeted Drake's family and alleged personal scandals.

Drake’s ‘Family Matters’ fired accusations about Kendrick’s private life, including sensational claims about his family and collaborators. This led to ‘The Heart Part 6,’ Drake’s direct parody of Kendrick’s ‘The Heart’ series, where he denied rumours and hinted at the feud's manufactured elements.

However, the most significant blow came in 2024 when Kendrick Lamar released ‘Not Like Us,’ which many considered the most direct diss track aimed directly at Drake to date, with lines such as “You ain’t like us / You never will be,” mocking Drake’s image of perfection.

“Not Like Us” quickly went viral, with reports indicating it amassed 96 million streams within its first week of release, reached number one on the US charts, and became a prominent hit on radio stations.

The song itself was considered the feud ‘ender,’ with many claiming that Lamar’s response “bodied” Drake in the process.

Some of the choicest shots aimed at Drake include “Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young [...] Just make sure you hide your lil' sister from him,” heavily insinuates inappropriate behaviour and amplifying rumours (just rumours), while Lamar took aim at Drake’s brand, OVO, referring to Chubbs, PartyNextDoor, and Baka and claims of inappropriate behaviour by them too.

But one of the biggest strikes against Drake was Kendrick’s accusation of the Canadian rapper appropriating the Atlanta hip-hop scene for clout, going as far as to rap: “You run to Atlanta when you need a few dollars [...] No, you not a colleague, you a f***in' colonizer.”

But that has now led to Drake filing a pre-action petition against Universal Music and Spotify, accusing them of manipulating the track’s streaming numbers through illegal methods such as payola and the use of bots to artificially boost the song's visibility.

Do you think that the lawsuit has potential legs, or do you think this is a case of sour grapes between Drake and Kendrick Lamar? Let us know your thoughts about the beef by leaving a comment below.