Hip-hop circles are buzzing with the latest developments in the ongoing feud among several prominent artists, including Drake, Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, Rick Ross, and others. The tension escalated with the release of Drake’s new diss track, “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50),” which targets these artists. However, amidst the drama, there’s skepticism among fans who question whether the track is genuinely from Drake or the product of artificial intelligence mimicking his style.
The conflict reignited after Kendrick Lamar took jabs at both Drake and J. Cole in a track titled “Like That,” featured on the collaborative album “We Don’t Trust You” by Future and Metro Boomin. The sequel to this album, “We Still Don’t Trust You,” dropped recently, intensifying the feud with further barbs thrown at Drake, involving other big names in the industry like The Weeknd and Rick Ross.
The subsequent leak of “Push Ups (Drop & Give Me 50)” saw Drake firing back at Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin, Ross, The Weeknd, and Cole. Interestingly, A$AP Rocky, who was previously dissed by Drake, was not mentioned in this latest track.
Despite some fans questioning the authenticity of the track, Drake has hinted at its legitimacy in recent social media posts. Yet, a representative for Drake did not provide comments when prompted by Business Insider.
While these exchanges might seem personal, such feuds often serve as strategic publicity moves that can significantly boost an artist’s streaming numbers and visibility. For instance, “Like That” has topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two consecutive weeks, and “We Don’t Trust You” debuted at the top of the Billboard 200.
The roots of the discord between Drake and Lamar trace back to 2013, stemming from Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s track “Control,” where he claimed superiority over his peers, including Drake. Drake responded through his music and interviews, suggesting competitive tensions were more than just lyrical.
In 2015, the beef seemed to escalate when Lamar indirectly criticized Drake over ghostwriting allegations, a claim that Meek Mill would later make explicitly, which Drake vehemently denied.
Despite their successful careers, with Lamar earning critical acclaim and Drake achieving massive commercial success, their paths have diverged, fueling ongoing rivalry reflected in their music and public statements.
Recently, J. Cole was dragged into the fray with his feature on Drake’s track “First Person Shooter” from the album “For All The Dogs,” which purported to elevate himself and Drake as two of the top three rappers, alongside Lamar.
Amid these complex interactions, Drake made a definitive statement during a concert, asserting his dominance in the rap game, which was broadcasted widely on social media. Following Lamar’s pointed lyrics in “Like That,” the hip-hop community is keenly watching how this multifaceted feud unfolds, with each artist defending their artistry and staking their claim in the competitive world of music.
