Just two days into Black History Month, on Feb. 02, Kendrick Lamar won five Grammys for his explosive track, “Not Like Us.” A week later, Lamar delivered a halftime show that garnered over 133.5 million viewers, making it the most-watched in history, surpassing Michael Jackson’s record of 133.4 million. Through this performance, Lamar not only uplifted his community and embedded political messages into his artistry but also solidified his victory over Drake in their ongoing feud. As he turned to the camera and smirked while saying, “Say Drake,” on national television, his dominance became undeniable. Kendrick’s artistry performance has solidified his position as one of the best rappers alive and elevated the cultural integrity of hip-hop.
The Beginning of Drake’s downfall
Kendrick strategically crafted his disses to lure Drake into a battle that would ultimately expose his weaknesses while sending a deeper message. In early March, after the release of “Like That,” where Kendrick first disses Drake, he intentionally provoked Drake, knowing he would fight back. Over the next month, Drake released multiple diss songs telling him to, “Drop, Drop, Drop,” in the song Family Matters, trolled Lamar on Twitter, and even used AI-generated disses featuring voices of artists such as Taylor Swift and Tupac to intentionally upset him. Mimicking rap legends like Tupac for a mere battle not only showed his lack of creativity but also his blatant disrespect towards the West Coast and hip-hop’s artistic integrity.
Quality vs. surface-level hits
While Lamar prioritizes quality and artistic depth, Drake focuses on catchy, surface-level lyrics intended to have people bop their heads to the melody rather than reflect on the deeper meaning of the words. In his next released song, “Euphoria,” Kendrick raps, “This not about critics, not about gimmicks, not about who the greatest / It’s always been about love and hate, now let me say I’m the biggest hater.” He makes it clear that this isn’t just rap beef; it’s personal. Even after that warning, Drake escalated the feud with Family Matters, a track that targeted Kendricks family. Within 24 minutes, Kendrick dropped “Meet the Grahams,” a meticulously crafted response that took aim at Drake’s loved ones: “Dear Sandra, Your son has some habits, I hope you don’t undermine them, Especially with all the girls that’s hurt inside this climate,” By incorporating various elements that enhance his storytelling, Lamar showcases his superiority in music. The song carries a multi-layered message, from the chord progression to the letter-style storytelling directed at each family member, proving Kendrick is a force to be reckoned with in rap.
The summer anthem that sealed the battle
“Not like Us” was the final blow—a diss track that simultaneously became the anthem of the summer. By creating a danceable, high-energy song, Lamar beat Drake at his own game. The song was heard everywhere—-parties, cookouts, schools and community events—transforming a rap battle into a cultural movement. The momentum continued with a music video and a Juneteenth “Pop out Concert”, where rival groups within the West Coast community came together in celebration. Lamar’s impact extended beyond the music, fostering unity while putting Drake down in the process.
More than just numbers
While Kendrick’s has irrefutably won the lyrical battle, some argue that this battle won’t do much damage toward Drake because of Drake’s massive global fanbase and streaming success. However, Kendricks continues to thrive, with milestones that highlight his success— such as performing at the Super Bowl halftime performance, seeing a 400% increase in album streams, becoming the first rapper to reach 100 million monthly listeners and lastly earning five Grammys in just two weeks—all of which prove his victory in this battle.
A victory for hip-hop
Kendricks victory isn’t just about one artist defeating another—it’s about maintaining the integrity of hip-hop. “Not Like Us” winning during Black History Month sends a powerful message: true artistry, cultural authenticity, and lyrical depth will always outlast gimmicks. But recognition is only the first step. The challenge now is ensuring that hip-hop continues to elevate and celebrate the voices that stay true to its roots.