Kendrick Lamar shocked the rap world with one verse — and Hip Hop hasn’t been the same since.
It was just another Friday in March when Future and Metro Boomin finally dropped their highly anticipated joint album. Fans were excited to hear hard trap beats and wild lyrics about money, drugs, and women. But no one expected Kendrick Lamar to steal the spotlight.
The Verse That Shook the Game
By the fifth track, “Like That,” the album was already a standout. Metro Boomin brought in wild laser sounds and dark melodies, while Future delivered his usual hypnotic flow. But then Kendrick Lamar jumped in — and everything changed.
Kendrick opened his verse with fire: “These n-ggas talkin’ out of their necks.” It was loud, aggressive, and nothing like the thoughtful tone we usually hear from the Compton rapper. He took shots at both Drake and J. Cole, mocking their claims of being “the big three” in rap. Kendrick’s bars were bold, intense, and a clear warning shot.
A Hip Hop Civil War Begins
Before this moment, Drake had a lot of friends in the industry. He’d made hits with Future, 21 Savage, Lil Wayne, Lil Baby, Lil Durk, and even Kendrick himself. But after “Like That,” those friendships started to fade.
The verse caused a split in Hip Hop. Many artists started picking sides — and most didn’t pick Drake. Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, and even Future started throwing shots at him. Rocky especially had personal reasons — many believe it was because of Drake’s past with Rihanna.
There was no neutral ground anymore. You were either with Kendrick or against him.
Drake’s Downfall
Drake couldn’t let Kendrick’s diss go unanswered. He dropped multiple diss tracks, including “Push Ups,” “Family Matters,” and “The Heart Part 6.” But none of them hit hard. Instead, they exposed his insecurities and made him look weak in the eyes of many fans.
Meanwhile, Kendrick just kept winning. His diss track “Not Like Us” swept the Grammys and became the most awarded song in history. Then he performed it at the Super Bowl in front of over 130 million viewers — a clear power move. Drake, meanwhile, was performing overseas, far from the spotlight.
Kendrick’s Rise to Superstardom
Nobody expected Kendrick’s rise to be this big. A year after “Like That,” he’s still topping charts with his song “Luther,” while Drake’s latest album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, flopped hard. Not a single hit. Kendrick beat him on the mic and on the charts.
Kanye West Tried to Join the Conversation — And Got Ignored
Of course, Kanye West tried to get attention by releasing a remix of “Like That.” But it fell flat. No one cared. His lyrics were weak, and the song didn’t even make it to streaming platforms. That was the moment people realized Hip Hop had officially moved on from Kanye.
New Competition Is Heating Up
Kendrick’s “Like That” didn’t just spark beef — it brought competition back to Hip Hop. Artists like J. Cole and Joey Bada$$ started stepping up their game. Cole dropped better tracks after his awkward apology to Kendrick, and Joey began calling himself the “King of New York.”
Kendrick’s verse reminded everyone that rap is about skill, rivalry, and pushing limits. Just like his famous “Control” verse back in 2013, “Like That” set a new standard — and forced everyone else to level up.
