The latest chapter in the ongoing saga between Kendrick Lamar and Drake is no exception. Tensions are flaring over a rejected collaboration that has fans and insiders buzzing.
A feature request on one of Drake’s biggest hits from last year, First Person Shooter, reignited this feud. According to media personality Akademiks, Kendrick Lamar’s decision to turn down a guest spot alongside J. Cole on the track has caused a rift between the artists.
The situation escalated when J. Cole’s First Person Shooter verse referred to himself, Drake, and Kendrick as the “big three” of Hip Hop. This mention reportedly did not sit well with Kendrick, who felt sidelined by the narrative that only Drake and Cole were at the top of the game.
In response, Kendrick delivered a fiery verse on Future and Metro Boomin’s track Like That, which many interpreted as a direct shot at his peers. The verse suggested that those who couldn’t secure his feature now claim supremacy in the Hip Hop hierarchy.
Further fueling the fire, Akademiks suggested that the lyrics on First Person Shooter were altered after Kendrick refused to participate. This claim implies that the song’s original intent was to celebrate the unity and prowess of the three artists, but Kendrick’s absence led to a change in tone.
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The narrative took another turn with the release of Kendrick’s diss track Euphoria, where he alludes to the feature request and hints at unresolved issues. The track started a chain reaction, leading to a second diss track titled “6:16 in LA.” In this song, Kendrick scrutinizes the loyalty within his circle and aims at Drake’s camp with sharp wit and biting commentary.
While Akademiks has clarified that his insights are speculative and not directly from Drake, the speculation has been enough to stir the pot in the Hip Hop community. Fans and commentators have dissected the lyrics and speculated on the deeper meanings behind the verses.
