Drake vs Kendrick Lamar Beef: Diss Tracks, Lawsuits, and Grammy Wins

Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s feud is one of the biggest in recent rap history. What started with a few disses has now turned into a legal battle, with both rappers taking shots at each other in songs, courtrooms, and public statements.

It wasn’t always like this. Drake and Kendrick Lamar used to collaborate. They worked together on songs like Drake’s “Buried Alive Interlude” and Lamar’s “Poetic Justice.”

But in 2013, everything changed when Lamar rapped on Big Sean’s “Control,” calling out several rappers, including Drake. He said, “I’m trying to murder you,” and this set the stage for their long rivalry.

Drake didn’t take it well. In a Billboard cover story, he responded, saying Lamar wasn’t “murdering” him in any way.

The two rappers exchanged jabs over the years, but things escalated again in 2023, when J. Cole referenced their rivalry on a track. This reignited the beef and led to several diss tracks being released.

Here’s a timeline of key moments in their feud:

March 22, 2023: Lamar disses Drake on “Like That,” a song with Future and Metro Boomin. He compares himself to Prince and Drake to Michael Jackson.

April 13, 2023: Drake’s response leaks. In the track “Push Ups,” he attacks Lamar’s place in the rap game.

April 24, 2023: Drake drops a diss track with AI, bringing in verses from Tupac and Snoop Dogg, but removes it after Tupac’s estate threatens legal action.

April 30, 2023: Lamar drops “Euphoria,” a six-and-a-half-minute track targeting Drake, accusing him of many things, including being a bad father.

May 3, 2023: Lamar follows up with “6:16 in LA,” attacking Drake’s record label and friends.

May 3, 2023: Drake responds with a video and a track called “Family Matters,” alleging issues in Lamar’s personal life.

May 4, 2023: Lamar strikes again with “Meet the Grahams,” attacking Drake’s family and calling him a “predator.”

May 4, 2023: Lamar releases “Not Like Us,” a track that takes things to another level, making strong accusations about Drake.

May 5, 2023: Drake drops “The Heart Part 6,” responding to Lamar’s allegations and challenging him.

May 18, 2023: “Not Like Us” becomes a huge hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

June 19, 2023: Lamar performs “Euphoria” and “6:16 in LA” during his Juneteenth concert, bringing out Dr. Dre.

September 9, 2023: Lamar is announced as the Super Bowl halftime headliner, with SZA joining him.

November 8, 2023: Lamar earns seven Grammy nominations for “Not Like Us” and other diss tracks.

November 25, 2023: Drake takes the battle to the courts, alleging that Universal Music Group inflated streaming numbers for Lamar’s tracks.

November 26, 2023: Drake files another lawsuit, targeting iHeartMedia for allegedly inflating radio plays for “Not Like Us.”

January 15, 2024: Drake files a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music, claiming that “Not Like Us” spread false allegations about him and caused harm to his brand.

February 2, 2025: Lamar wins five Grammys, including two of the biggest awards for “Not Like Us.”

This beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar shows no signs of ending anytime soon. While they’ve taken their feud to the courts, it’s clear that the rivalry is far from over, with both rappers continuing to make waves in the music industry.