The hip-hop world is once again ablaze as Kendrick Lamar and Drake’s long-standing feud reaches new heights.
Lamar’s performance at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show took direct aim at Drake, fueling an already intense rap battle.
Millions of viewers watched as Lamar delivered a fiery set, and fans were left shocked by a particular moment that sent social media into a frenzy.
Drake, who had been embroiled in the feud for months, responded swiftly with a strongly worded statement through his legal team.
The tension between the two rap heavyweights has been brewing for over a decade, with their relationship transitioning from camaraderie to rivalry.
Their connection dates back to 2012, when they collaborated on “Poetic Justice,” but subtle lyrical jabs soon replaced friendly exchanges.
It all began to unravel in 2013 when Lamar’s now-infamous verse on Big Sean’s Control called out several top rappers, including Drake.
What initially seemed like a competitive push soon developed into a deep-seated rivalry that would span years and multiple diss tracks.
By 2024, the animosity between the two escalated dramatically after Lamar took shots at Drake and J. Cole on Like That.
Drake, unwilling to back down, fired back with Push Ups and Taylor Made Freestyle, the latter of which was later pulled from streaming services.
Lamar, in response, released Euphoria and 6:16 in LA, adding even more fire to the ongoing battle between the two rap icons.
Then came Not Like Us, the song that shifted the entire landscape of their feud and solidified Lamar’s aggressive stance against Drake.
The track featured a scathing line that quickly went viral, directly attacking Drake in a way that was impossible to ignore.
Lamar rapped, “Certified Loverboy, Certified ‘p***ophile’… trying to strike a chord and it’s probably a Minor,” a direct hit at Drake’s Certified Lover Boy album.
The diss not only topped charts but also sparked heated debates online, with fans dissecting every lyric and its implications.
Drake’s legal team swiftly intervened, alleging defamation and accusing Universal Music Group (UMG) of prioritizing profits over artist integrity.
In a statement released prior to the Super Bowl, Drake’s lawyers condemned UMG, claiming they were complicit in the spread of false allegations.
“UMG is masquerading as a champion of artistic freedom by calling its actions merely ‘entertainment,’” the statement read.
“But there is nothing entertaining about pedophilia or child abuse in the real world,” it continued, pushing back against Lamar’s harsh accusation.
Drake’s legal representatives assured that evidence would be presented in court to expose UMG’s role in spreading defamatory claims.
Despite the legal action, Lamar remained unfazed, and speculation swirled over whether he would perform Not Like Us at the Super Bowl.
When the moment finally arrived, he delivered one of the most shocking halftime performances in recent history.
Looking directly into the camera, Lamar altered the lyrics, stopping short of the full diss but leaving no doubt about his target.
Then came an unexpected move—Lamar brought out Serena Williams, a rumored former flame of Drake’s, onto the stage.
Williams, dressed in all black, performed a brief dance that fans speculated was a calculated dig at the Toronto rapper.
The set also included actor Samuel L. Jackson portraying “Uncle Sam,” taking a jab at conservative critics of Lamar’s performance.
One viewer tweeted, “Kendrick Lamar performing Not Like Us and calling Drake a p*do in front of 100M viewers at the Super Bowl is historic.”
Drake has yet to make a direct statement about the halftime show, but his legal battle with UMG is already gaining traction.
While Kendrick Lamar is not named in the lawsuit, the case could have major implications for both rappers and the music industry.
UMG fired back, stating that Drake’s claims were “untrue” and that they had invested heavily in his music career for years.
The label accused Drake of trying to “weaponize the legal process” to silence artistic expression and control how his music is distributed.
Fans are left wondering if this is the climax of their feud—or just the beginning—as the Super Bowl controversy settles.
Featured Image Credit: (Gregory Shamus)
