Kendrick Lamar Takes Aim at Drake on Playboi Carti’s Album: What Sparked the Explosive Feud?

The long-standing tension between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has reached new heights, with Lamar taking another shot at the Canadian rapper on Playboi Carti’s latest album Music. The track in question, Good Credit, features a verse from Lamar that many fans believe contains subtle jabs at Drake, adding fuel to an already intense rivalry. But what exactly ignited this explosive feud?

The Origins of the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake Beef

Tensions between the two rap superstars have simmered for years, but the feud escalated dramatically in March 2024. Future and Metro Boomin’s joint album We Don’t Trust You contained indirect shots at Drake, stirring speculation about fractures in the rap industry’s alliances. However, it was Kendrick Lamar’s verse on the track Like That—a direct response to Drake—that truly ignited the conflict.

Following Like That, Lamar intensified the beef with his scathing diss track Not Like Us. In this song, he accused Drake of inappropriate behavior, allegations that not only dominated rap conversations but also earned Lamar five Grammy Awards.

Drake’s Legal Response and Industry Backlash

Faced with the impact of Not Like Us, Drake took an unusual step—filing a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG). He alleged that the label was complicit in promoting defamatory content against him. However, UMG quickly responded with a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Drake was simply trying to salvage his reputation after losing a rap battle he had initiated.

The lawsuit has only added another layer to the already heated dispute. While some view Drake’s legal actions as an attempt to shift the narrative, others see it as an admission that Lamar’s diss tracks hit harder than expected.

Kendrick Lamar’s Verse on Good Credit

Now, Lamar has seemingly returned to take another swipe at Drake on Playboi Carti’s album. His verse on Good Credit doesn’t directly name Drake, but fans have pointed out several lyrical references that could be interpreted as shots at his longtime rival. Given the history between the two, the verse has sparked further speculation about whether Lamar is gearing up for yet another round in this lyrical war.

The Impact on Both Artists

The feud has significantly shaped the public perception of both rappers. Lamar’s Not Like Us not only became a cultural phenomenon but also led to a historic Super Bowl Halftime Show performance. Meanwhile, Drake, who has dominated mainstream hip-hop for over a decade, is now facing one of the most serious challenges to his credibility.

With Kendrick Lamar’s latest verse stirring more controversy, the question remains: will Drake fire back, or will this feud continue to be one-sided? Either way, hip-hop fans are closely watching, knowing that the battle between these two titans is far from over.

Plaboi Carti‘s new album Music is finally here — and it features a guest verse from Kendrick Lamar that appears to address the messy aftermath of his beef with Drake.

Adopting some of Carti’s distinct vocal quirks, the Compton native spits a playful yet braggadocious verse on “Good Credit” which includes a curious mention of “conspiracy theories.”

The numbers is nothing, the money is nothing, I really been him, I promise / Say Kenny been heavy out West and I carry the weight, n-gga, I’m Luka Dončić / Conspiracy theories is a given, but I must admit it, you got the wrong person,” he raps.

The lyrics appear to reference Drake’s bombshell lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which accuses the music giant of conspiring with Kendrick’s longtime label Interscope, Spotify and other companies to artificially inflate the popularity of his hit diss song “Not Like Us.”

The complaint, which was filed in January, claims UMG used streaming bots, payola and other illegal tactics to turn the blistering track into a global smash in an attempt to harm Drake’s reputation and reduce his leverage when renegotiating his contract.

Kendrick himself is not named as a defendant and has yet to formally address the allegations, although he did previously reference the lawsuit during his Super Bowl halftime show last month.