The Six Shots That Exploded Rap: A Complete Timeline Of The Kendrick Lamar Vs. Drake Beef (2024 Update)

The rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, two titans of modern hip-hop, has recently escalated from subtle jabs into a full-blown, unprecedented war of words, dominating the music landscape in early 2024. This isn't just a typical rap beef; it's a deeply personal, high-stakes battle that has involved accusations of ghostwriting, secret families, alleged abuse, and even claims of stream manipulation, drawing in a host of other major industry players like Future, Metro Boomin, and Rick Ross. The sheer volume and intensity of the diss tracks released in a matter of weeks cemented this as one of the most significant and venomous feuds in hip-hop history, with the final word still hanging in the air as of late December 2025.

What started as a long-simmering professional tension—dating back to Kendrick’s famous 2013 verse on Big Sean’s "Control" where he called out Drake and other peers—boiled over into a cultural phenomenon in March 2024. The feud has effectively ended the long-debated concept of the "Big Three" (Drake, Kendrick, and J. Cole) and forced fans and critics alike to choose sides in a battle that transcends musical supremacy, delving into the personal lives and moral character of both artists. The following timeline breaks down the explosive events that defined this era-defining conflict.

The Genesis: From Subtle Shots to All-Out War (2013–2024)

The core tension between the two rappers has existed for over a decade, rooted in a competition for the title of "King of Rap." While early collaborations suggested a mutual respect, the rivalry was unmistakable. The initial flashpoint is widely considered to be Kendrick Lamar’s verse on the 2013 track "Control" by Big Sean.

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• 2013: The "Control" Verse: Kendrick Lamar names Drake, J. Cole, and others, declaring his intention to "murder" them lyrically and cementing himself as the top contender.
• 2015–2023: Undercurrents: Subtle disses and veiled shots were exchanged over the years, often disguised as general statements about the state of hip-hop or the authenticity of other artists.
• March 22, 2024: The Catalyst: The feud reignites with the release of "Like That," a track from Future and Metro Boomin’s joint album We Don’t Trust You. Kendrick Lamar delivers a blistering verse, directly dismantling the "Big Three" concept and declaring, "F* the big three, it's just big me," and taking a direct shot at Drake and J. Cole. This single verse was the match that lit the powder keg.

The Diss Track Exchange: A Rapid-Fire Timeline of the 2024 Feud

Following "Like That," the industry watched as the two stars exchanged a series of increasingly vicious diss tracks, each one dropping new, often shocking, allegations. The speed and intensity of this exchange were unprecedented.

J. Cole's Retreat and the Two-Week Silence (April 2024)

The initial response came from J. Cole, who released "7 Minute Drill," a track aimed at Kendrick Lamar. However, in a surprising turn, Cole later apologized for the song and removed it from streaming services, effectively withdrawing from the "Big Three" battle and leaving the stage clear for the main event. Drake, meanwhile, maintained a two-week silence before firing his opening shot.

The Main Event: Six Tracks in Two Weeks

The core of the feud is defined by six major diss tracks released in quick succession between April 19 and May 5, 2024:

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1. Drake – "Push Ups" (Alleged Leak/April 19): Drake’s first response, which was quickly followed by an official version, mocked Kendrick Lamar’s height, his deal with Nike, and his artistic collaborators, suggesting he was a puppet of his label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).
2. Kendrick Lamar – "Euphoria" (April 30): A nearly six-minute track where Kendrick directly attacks Drake, questioning his racial identity, his authenticity, and his use of ghostwriters. The track was widely praised for its lyrical complexity and emotional delivery.
3. Kendrick Lamar – "6:16 in LA" (May 3): A more subtle, yet chilling track, where Kendrick suggests that there are people within Drake’s own OVO camp who are secretly feeding him information.
4. Drake – "Family Matters" (May 3): Released hours after "6:16 in LA," Drake's track was a scathing counter-attack. He accused Kendrick Lamar of alleged abuse against his fiancée, Whitney Alford, and suggested that one of Kendrick's children was fathered by his manager, Dave Free. He also took shots at other artists like A$AP Rocky and Rick Ross, who had sided with Kendrick.
5. Kendrick Lamar – "Meet the Grahams" (May 3): Dropped just moments after "Family Matters," this track was the darkest and most shocking of the exchange. Kendrick addresses Drake's parents and son, Adonis, alleging that Drake is a sexual predator and a "degenerate" with a secret daughter he has hidden. This track was produced by The Alchemist, adding another layer of industry involvement.
6. Kendrick Lamar – "Not Like Us" (May 4): A complete shift in tone, this track was a West Coast-style anthem that quickly became a cultural phenomenon. It focused on the sexual predator allegations and used a catchy, highly viral beat to paint Drake as a non-authentic outsider in the hip-hop world, specifically in his hometown of Toronto.

The Aftermath and Legal Fallout: Stream Manipulation and Silence

The culmination of the diss tracks left the hip-hop world reeling, with "Not Like Us" achieving massive commercial success, including chart-topping positions, while "Meet the Grahams" created a moral dilemma for many fans due to its serious allegations. The final direct response came from Drake.

• Drake – "The Heart Part 6" (May 5): Drake released his final track, claiming that he had deliberately fed false information to Kendrick Lamar to expose him, specifically the secret daughter allegation. The song was met with mixed reviews and criticism, and Drake later deleted it from his social media.
• Kendrick’s Silence: As of today, Kendrick Lamar has not released a direct response to "The Heart Part 6." Many speculate that the commercial and cultural success of "Not Like Us" and the gravity of the allegations in "Meet the Grahams" were seen as the final victory in the battle.
• Legal and Industry Escalation: In a surprising post-feud development, reports surfaced that Drake was pursuing legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), his own label's parent company, alleging that they artificially inflated the streaming numbers of Kendrick Lamar’s diss track, "Not Like Us," using bots. This accusation shifted the focus from lyrical warfare to industry power and commercial manipulation, adding a new, complex layer to the ongoing animosity.

The Impact on Hip-Hop Culture and Topical Authority

This feud was more than just a lyrical competition; it was a cultural event that redefined the standards of rap beef and topical authority in the genre. It brought to the forefront serious issues and involved a vast network of industry entities:

Key Entities and Themes Involved:

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• Producers and Collaborators: Future and Metro Boomin were instrumental in starting the beef, while The Alchemist and Sounwave added their production weight.
• Allies and Critics: Rick Ross, who released the diss track "Champagne Moments," and Kanye West, who supported Kendrick, were vocal critics of Drake. Conversely, 21 Savage revealed he had advised Drake not to engage in the battle, calling it a "no-win situation."
• Core Allegations: The themes of ghostwriting, paternity (secret child), alleged abuse, and sexual misconduct became the central focus, moving the battle far beyond simple rap supremacy.
• Commercial Impact: The tracks generated hundreds of millions of streams, with "Not Like Us" becoming a monumental hit, proving that high-stakes rap beef still holds immense cultural and commercial power in the streaming era. The subsequent allegations of streaming bots and a defamation lawsuit against UMG highlight the immense financial pressures at play.

The Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud of 2024 is now cemented in history as a defining moment. It was a brutal, rapid-fire exchange that exposed deep-seated personal animosity and challenged the authenticity and moral standing of two of music's biggest stars. While the lyrical exchange may have paused, the fallout—both legal and cultural—continues to shape the landscape of modern hip-hop.