The rap feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has reached new heights, blending legal battles, explosive diss tracks, and shocking allegations. What started as a war of words in 2024 has now spilled into courtrooms, with Drake suing his own label, Universal Music Group (UMG), over Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss track “Not Like Us.” Meanwhile, Lamar has dominated the charts, performed at the Super Bowl halftime show, and released a critically acclaimed album, GNX, while Drake faces backlash for taking the feud to court .
The Legal Battle Over “Not Like Us”
Drake filed an 81-page lawsuit in January 2025, accusing UMG of defamation and unethical promotion of Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” The track, which went viral in May 2024, includes lyrics calling Drake a “certified pedophile” and alleges he should be “registered on neighborhood watch.” Drake claims the song led to real-world consequences, including a shooting at his Toronto home and an intruder yelling racist slurs at his property .
UMG fired back, calling Drake a “bitter loser” who “provoked the rap battle” and lost. Court filings reveal UMG’s stance: “Drake encouraged the feud… Now, after losing, he claims defamation.” The label also pointed out Drake’s hypocrisy, citing his past support for artistic freedom in rap lyrics .
A judge recently ruled that Drake’s legal team can proceed with discovery, meaning they can depose UMG executives and possibly access Lamar’s contracts. Drake’s lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, claims UMG used “bots and payola” to inflate streams of “Not Like Us”—an allegation UMG denies .
The Diss Track War That Started It All
The feud intensified in April 2024 when Lamar dismissed Drake and J. Cole as the “Big Three” on Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” Drake retaliated with “Push Ups” and “Taylor Made Freestyle” (which used AI-generated Tupac and Snoop Dogg vocals to mock Lamar). Tupac’s estate threatened legal action, forcing Drake to remove the track .
Lamar then dropped “Euphoria,” attacking Drake’s authenticity, parenting, and even his fake abs. Days later, Drake released “Family Matters,” accusing Lamar of domestic violence and claiming his manager was the real father of Lamar’s child. Lamar fired back with “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us,” the latter becoming the biggest rap hit of 2024 .
Drake’s New Album and Australian Tour Timing
Amid the legal drama, Drake announced an Australian tour set to begin on the same day as Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime show—a move fans called “petty.” He also released a new album, though details remain scarce. Meanwhile, Lamar’s GNX debuted at #1, further cementing his dominance .
Hip-Hop Fans React: “Drake Took the L”
The rap community has largely sided with Lamar, mocking Drake for “calling the feds” instead of responding with music. Social media erupted with memes, including one user joking:
“Drake really sued over streaming numbers and not because Kendrick called him a pedophile… a choice!”
Others argued Drake could have “laid low and dropped heat later” instead of escalating legally. Even UMG’s motion mocked him: “Instead of accepting the loss like the unbothered rap artist he claims to be, he sued.”
What’s Next?
With the lawsuit moving forward and both artists refusing to back down, the feud shows no signs of ending. Lamar’s Super Bowl performance and Drake’s tour plans ensure the rivalry stays in headlines. One thing’s clear: Hip-hop has never seen a battle this explosive.
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