Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: A Complete Timeline of Their Feud (2011–2025)
Two of the biggest names in hip-hop—Drake, a chart-dominating superstar known for his genre-blending hits, and Kendrick Lamar, widely regarded as one of the greatest lyricists of all time—were once on friendly terms. But over the years, their relationship has deteriorated into one of the most intense rivalries in modern rap.
Their beef, spanning more than a decade, has been fueled by lyrical jabs, public tension, and fan-driven debates over who truly reigns supreme. While Drake is celebrated for his commercial success, Kendrick has established himself as a Pulitzer Prize-winning artist with deep storytelling abilities.
What started as a friendly competitive spirit gradually transformed into a full-blown war, culminating in diss tracks, allegations, and even lawsuits. This timeline breaks down every major moment in their feud, year by year.
2011 – Kendrick Lamar’s Career Beginnings and Early Friendship with Drake
At the start of the 2010s, Kendrick Lamar was an up-and-coming rapper from Compton, California, known for his intricate lyricism and storytelling. Meanwhile, Drake, who had just released his debut album Thank Me Later (2010), was already a rising star in mainstream hip-hop.
Drake saw promise in Lamar and invited him to join the Club Paradise Tour, a move that suggested he respected the young rapper's talent. Kendrick later described Drake as a "genuine soul" and revealed that Drake was the first person outside his immediate team to hear his independent debut album, Section.80 (2011).
Lamar then appeared on Drake’s sophomore album, Take Care (2011), featuring on the song “Buried Alive Interlude.” The verse showcased Kendrick’s introspection about fame, hinting at the pressures of the music industry—something that would become a recurring theme in their relationship.
At this point, their dynamic was more collaborative than competitive. But that was about to change.
2012 – Kendrick’s Rise to Stardom and the First Tensions
By 2012, Kendrick Lamar’s career was gaining serious momentum. His album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (released in October) was a critical and commercial success, earning him widespread acclaim.
Drake, at the time, was still showing public support for Lamar. However, subtle differences in their artistic approaches started to emerge. While Lamar presented himself as a deep, socially conscious artist who focused on storytelling, Drake embraced a more mainstream, luxurious lifestyle, often flaunting his success on social media.
In interviews, Lamar hinted that he believed bragging about wealth was superficial. Though he never directly called out Drake, many fans believed his comments were aimed at him. This subtle ideological clash marked the beginning of their growing distance.
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2013 – The “Control” Verse and the First Direct Shots
Everything changed in August 2013 when Big Sean released the song “Control” featuring Kendrick Lamar and Jay Electronica. On the track, Lamar called out nearly every major rapper, including Drake:
“I got love for you all, but I’m tryna murder you ns / Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you n**s.”
Lamar’s verse sent shockwaves through the rap world. While some artists, like A$AP Rocky, took it as a healthy challenge, Drake seemed less amused. In an interview with Hot 97, he dismissed Lamar’s verse as nothing more than a publicity stunt.
“Was that real or was that just for the people? … Those were harsh words, right? You can’t just say that and then see me and be like, ‘Yeah man…’ pretending like nothing ever happened.”
Drake then appeared to respond on his 2013 album Nothing Was the Same, particularly on the song “The Language”:
“F** any na that’s talking that s just to get a reaction.”*
Later, Lamar fired back during a BET Hip-Hop Awards freestyle, mocking Drake’s sensitivity:
“Nothing’s been the same since they dropped ‘Control’ / And tucked a sensitive rapper back in his pajama clothes.”
From this point forward, their friendly competition turned into a cold war.
2014 – Public Digs and Drake’s Ghostwriting Controversy
By 2014, the tension between Drake and Kendrick was simmering. Lamar continued to take subtle jabs at Drake in interviews, implying that he was more focused on pop hits than lyrical excellence.
That same year, controversy erupted when rapper Meek Mill accused Drake of using a ghostwriter for his verse on Dreams Worth More Than Money. The ghostwriting allegations, which later led to Drake’s famous diss track “Back to Back,” raised questions about his credibility as a lyricist.
Though Lamar didn’t directly address the controversy, he made a pointed comment in a freestyle:
“I’m the only rapper that they compare to ‘Pac / But I never trade my core fans for pop.”
Many saw this as another shot at Drake.
2016 – Drake’s Commercial Domination vs. Kendrick’s Critical Acclaim
Drake reached new commercial heights in 2016 with Views, an album that included chart-topping hits like “One Dance” and “Hotline Bling.” He became the most-streamed artist of the year.
Meanwhile, Kendrick dropped untitled unmastered., a collection of unreleased tracks from the To Pimp a Butterfly sessions. While it wasn’t a mainstream success like Views, critics praised it for its artistry.
Drake, however, appeared to take issue with the notion that he wasn’t a “real” rapper. On The Game’s song “100,” he rapped:
“I would have all of your fans if I didn’t go pop / And I stayed on some conscious sh*.”*
This was seen as another response to Kendrick’s subtle jabs about authenticity.
2017 – DAMN. and Kendrick’s Pulitzer Prize
In 2017, Kendrick released DAMN., which was met with universal acclaim. The album included subtle disses at Drake, particularly on “ELEMENT.” and “DNA.”
Drake, however, tried to downplay any beef, even posting about how DAMN. outsold his own project More Life.
In 2018, Kendrick became the first rapper to win the Pulitzer Prize for music, solidifying his status as one of the greatest lyricists of all time.
2024 – The Beef Escalates with Diss Tracks
Everything came to a head in 2024 when Kendrick Lamar made a surprise appearance on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That,” where he directly dissed Drake and J. Cole:
“Motherf** the big three, n**a, it’s just big me.”
This opened the floodgates for a series of diss tracks:
- Drake responded with “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle.”
- Kendrick fired back with “Euphoria,” “6:16 in LA,” and “Not Like Us.”
- Drake released “Family Matters,” accusing Kendrick of hypocrisy.
- Kendrick dropped “Meet the Grahams,” alleging Drake had a secret daughter.
- Drake retaliated with “The Heart Part 6.”
At this point, the beef had become one of the most talked-about feuds in rap history.
2025 – Drake Takes Legal Action
In an unexpected twist, Drake sued Universal Music Group and Spotify, alleging they artificially boosted streams of “Not Like Us” to make Kendrick appear victorious.
Hip-hop figures, including Charlamagne Tha God and Joe Budden, mocked Drake for taking legal action over a rap battle.
Meanwhile, Kendrick remained silent, seemingly letting “Not Like Us” serve as his final statement.
A Feud for the History Books
The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud has defined a generation of hip-hop. Whether the battle is truly over or another round is coming, one thing is certain—this rivalry will be remembered as one of the most intense lyrical wars in rap history.
