Drake & Kendrick Lamar: A Feud Years in the Making

To many fans, Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s beef is officially over. After Kendrick’s Super Bowl halftime performance of “Not Like Us”, it was clear that he had the upper hand in their battle. However, their rivalry didn’t happen overnight—it built up slowly over more than a decade.

At one time, these two hip-hop giants had mutual respect for each other. But as the years passed, tensions grew, and they eventually became open enemies.

Where Did the Beef Begin?

Many fans trace their feud back to 2013, when Kendrick Lamar dropped his famous verse on Big Sean’s “Control”. In the song, he name-dropped Drake, Mac Miller, Tyler, the Creator, Meek Mill, and others, rapping:

“I got love for you all, but I’m tryna murder you n*ggas.”

It was meant to be playful competition, but Drake took it personally. After that, both artists threw subtle jabs at each other in songs, interviews, and freestyles whenever they could.

Even though they had their differences, the music industry often forces artists to work together for the sake of business. And before their beef became too serious, Drake and Kendrick actually collaborated on a few songs.

Drake & Kendrick Lamar’s Collaborations

Despite their rivalry, Drake and Kendrick have appeared on three songs together:

1. “Buried Alive Interlude” – Drake (2011)

This track appeared on Drake’s second album, Take Care. Interestingly, Drake doesn’t rap on it at all—it’s a solo Kendrick Lamar verse that lasts about two and a half minutes. Even though it wasn’t a single, it was still part of a chart-topping album.

2. “F*ckin’ Problems” – A$AP Rocky (2013)

This hit song featured A$AP Rocky, Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and 2 Chainz. It was released before Kendrick’s “Control” verse, so any tension between him and Drake wasn’t public yet.

Produced by Noah “40” Shebib (Drake’s longtime producer), the song became a huge hit, peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually going 8× platinum.

3. “Poetic Justice” – Kendrick Lamar (2012)

This was the fourth single from Kendrick’s iconic album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. While both Drake and Kendrick rap on the same song, they strangely don’t appear together in the music video.

Produced by Scoop DeVille, the track samples Janet Jackson’s “Any Time, Any Place” and became a fan favorite. Kendrick even performed it on Saturday Night Live.