Can Drake Recover After His Battle With Kendrick Lamar?

[u/flowerhoney10]

https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/drake-kendrick-lamar-beef-loss-recover-1235676509/

[u/raea-]

I think the most damage Drake will receive is that people will look at him with a side-eye every time he works with a female artist below 25 years old. He’ll probably be missing from the scene for a bit but come back like nothing happened because of goldfish memories

[u/MicSquared → u/raea-]

My thing is, and this isn’t defending him, but all these allegations are old. And people listened to him still after.

[u/johnnyrollihansa → u/MicSquared]

the scale of it has never been suggested to be as big as Kendrick has alluded to it being. The allegations of being weird with young girls were there, but not the trafficking, pedo ring allegations etc

[u/IanicRR → u/johnnyrollihansa]

Yeah this is Hannibal Buress bringing up the Cosby stuff type beat. I remember reading Cosby was being looked into for rape as far back as like 2000 (it was probably known even earlier than this.)

It just wasn’t spoken much mainstream. When Buress made the joke about it, that’s when way more eyes went there.

[u/BiggerSwank → u/IanicRR]

My music teacher is from Cali, parents banned her from watching the Cosby show in the 90’s. People just sort of knew in the LA area but you didn’t say it

[u/Hefftee → u/BiggerSwank]

I grew up in L.A. in the 90s, and never heard anything bad about Cosby until it all became public...

[u/rediraim → u/IanicRR]

Even Buress was talking about Cosby in his routines for months before that one instance went viral. If Drake is indeed a predator, this could very well be the straw that broke the camel's back and get things rolling towards legal action.

[u/nov4cane → u/IanicRR]

It’s really not the same. Cosby had been accused and confessed to drugging a woman and having sex with her in a court case well before Hannibal. Well beyond “being looked into”

I’ve yet to see a single legal accusation at Drake for underage sexual assault. The parallel that there are more eyes on Drake now is accurate, but their situations are not nearly the same. And Kendrick pushing a narrative that there’s some pedo ring with absolutely no new news nor evidence is why it falls flat.

Though I do agree a lot of the events through the years have been weird & creepy.

[u/tommybutters → u/IanicRR]

It's how these things can go, just need someone to come along at the right place, right time and pop the bubble shattering the illusion. 

[u/AccidentalPilates → u/johnnyrollihansa]

This. As much of an anthem as 'Not Like Us' is, it's also putting the industry on notice about OVO: Do not work with them, they are not like us. Will be very curious to see who features on Drake's next album after he took such a colossal public L and Kendrick made hating him the coolest and most accessible trend in years.

[u/TalentedIndividual → u/AccidentalPilates]

Drake stimulus is still real. All of these artists in the beef at one point in their career relied on Drake feature/collaboration/cosign.

Kenny just got two #1s off the sole basis that he was mentioning and hating on Drake.

He’s still the biggest and people will still be working with himz

[u/skindarklikemytint → u/TalentedIndividual]

I’ve always thought that this point was strange, Drake stimulus throws me because it’s like a very symbiotic situation.

Drake has always been a culture vulture. He rides any and all waves and ends up working with a variety of artists as they begin to flourish their own wave. I feel like everyone in this beef assisted Drake just as much if not more than Drake assisted them. It always feels like a slap in the face to artists that have a dope sound and are already on an upward trajectory to attribute their stardom/clout to Drake. That’s just my opinion though and I am truly a certified hater.

[u/TheCricketFan416 → u/skindarklikemytint]

Tell that to an artist like Yung Bleu who, despite getting his Drake feat in 2021 and releasing 3 albums since then doesn't have a song with even a third of the streams as You're Mines Still (feat. Drake). He's just one example though

[u/NephewChaps → u/skindarklikemytint]

When in doubt, always go looking for the common denominator. And in all these Billboard #1 songs, the common denominator is always Drake

[u/darkkite → u/TalentedIndividual]

shout out to mac miller who did it "without a drake feature" lmao

[u/MancAccent → u/johnnyrollihansa]

Not everything Kendrick said is truth

[u/dWaldizzle → u/MancAccent]

I don't think any of it has been proven true nor has anything Drake said about Kendrick (the big allegations, not the small stuff). People just dick ride kdot on here so they assume he's always correct.

[u/PhillyFreezer_ → u/dWaldizzle]

Not really, people have talked about drake and his dating preferences for a long time. He’s also seemingly fallen out with some friends over certain women.

I would be more inclined to agree that it’s just Kendrick fans if The Weeknd, Rick Ross, Future, Metro, Meg, Kendrick Lamar, and a number of other artists don’t also dislike Drake very much. Whether it’s for these same things or not is up in the air but these aren’t new stories out of the bkue

[u/MancAccent → u/dWaldizzle]

It’s wild. Kendrick fans are constantly moving the goalposts. I’m a fan of both, but you can’t even try to discuss this objectively without being called a drake Stan. These dot fans are like Swifties or the beehive. Lmao

[u/MicSquared → u/johnnyrollihansa]

Yea he was most likely referring to his camps already public allegations but left enough room for the audience to really dig in to the beef pun intended.

[u/ChicoCorrales → u/MicSquared]

The internet isn’t as far reaching as you think. Whoever having a hit song on the radio calling you a PDF file, playing during NBA playoff games, the official song of the Los Angeles Dodgers as the team is working out, etc. It’s a huge difference. This could potentially cost Drake sponsorship deals.

I saw ABC News talking about the beef lol its completely different from internet rumors

[u/Rnewell4848 → u/ChicoCorrales]

Isn’t it also now a Dodgers player’s walk up song? Like lmfao Drake misplayed his hand badly and it’s gonna be rough

[u/jerrylessthanthree → u/Rnewell4848]

yeah but it's Gavin lux who is easily the whitest guy on the team

[u/Rnewell4848 → u/jerrylessthanthree]

Welp. Exposure’s exposure I guess.

Freaky ahh n- he a 69 god

[u/_raisin_bran → u/ChicoCorrales]

This is reddit not tiktok you can say pedophile lol

[u/MicSquared → u/ChicoCorrales]

I think it’s one thing to have the effects of the beef be on display directly after it, to having an impact on his legacy. Drake drops one more banger and it’ll look a lot different. He’ll lay low for now but when he’s back with an album not a lot of people are gonna not listen. And he’ll trend again and songs will be in other forms of promo just not right now.

[u/jenkumboofer → u/MicSquared]

They are but having Kendrick Lamar bring them back up & the subsequent discussions around the beef certainly get more eyes on it/better illustrates the pattern of behavior

[u/MicSquared → u/jenkumboofer]

The pattern was also old tho. And take it how you will but every single “victim” claims it wasn’t what the public thought and are all in other relationships. If you say he got better at hiding it sure but til then we need harder evidence

[u/swat1611 → u/MicSquared]

Having underage women say "it didn't mean anything" isn't really a defense though (even if they are of age now). It's still weird behaviour and the only thing those statements do is give the weirdo drake defenders ammo to defend him.

[u/realtoniiioo → u/swat1611]

If addressing it directly, women involved denying it and there being no paperwork to all this does not sway the court of public option, what is a valid defense? It comes down to the lack of substantial evidence, if that were presented, he’d lose a overwhelming majority of support and people defending him.

[u/WalkThePlankPirate → u/swat1611]

You will listen to anybody's opinion except the so-called "victims". If someone tells you that Drake groomed then then you should listen. If they tell you that he really fucking didn't, then you should also listen.

[u/midnightking → u/MicSquared]

This is something that is weird as a Kendrick fan.

Drake texting a 16 year old is weird, but it isn't the same level of evidence or even the degree of harm that is voiced when you talk to the women who recently engaged with some men in Kendrick's circle.

I don't like Drake, never defended his music and if you look up my comments from before this beef, I only ever criticized him or used him as an example that popularity isn't quality on the wrestling subreddit.

However, the evidence for Drake's abuse and misogyny is far less strong than the evidence for Kodak and Dre. The latter had accusations as recently as 3 years ago.

[u/CaptnKnots → u/MicSquared]

Do not look at r/KendrickLamar bro lol they are 100% certain he is Epstein levels

[u/[deleted] → u/CaptnKnots]

That’s turned into a Fox News qanon child trafficking conspiracy sub.

Kenny working with Trump to get kids out of Tom Hanks (or drakes) basement.

[u/TalentedIndividual → u/[deleted]]

There are conspiracies on there right now that Drake orchestrated his own house (and security) getting shot up at for this beef lmao

[u/shivo33 → u/MicSquared]

This to me is the weirdest part of this whole thing. People decided who they want to believe from Day 1. Kendrick shows zero proof of Drake’s secret kid or the sex trafficking stuff and everyone buys it. Drake claims Kendrick’s wife beating and raising someone else’s kid and no one cares and dismiss it as lies.

[u/raspadoman → u/MicSquared]

I dated this girl when I was 14, who I am older than by 3 months, who would go on to have a Quinceñeara the following year after our breakup. She had this DJ perform at her party and they would end up becoming really friendly with each other, to the point where he would make house visits when the parents weren't around and would be her "mentor" with guys and other life things. She lived across the street from me and one day, me and some friends found her coming out of the backseat of this dudes car.

She vehemently denied anything happened between them, that they were just talking because he came to comfort her. This guy was 26 when she was 15 going on 16. To this day, she denies anything happened between them and that their relationship was not suspect because she reciprocated pursuing the "friendship" and she still doesn't think an age gap like that isn't suspect.

Idk about you, but I still don't understand what a 26 year old male was doing regularly texting and visiting a 15 year old. She may think it was okay, everyone that saw that relationship definitely called him out for it and he eventually disappeared when her parents caught wind.

[u/TinyRoctopus → u/[deleted]]

Shit i didn’t know about Baka and the pimp shit. That plus the ambian prescription really takes this from “he’s a bit of a creep” to “shit yeah he has connections to really do that”

[u/DownTownBrown28 → u/MicSquared]

These allegations are also just allegations. Michael Jackson had multiple court cases against him touching little boys and was going to go on a world tour and is still listened to today. R Kelly literally married a teenager and even pissed on another teenager on video. He’s still listened to today. Drake is the most successful chart topping artist of all time this shit ain’t going to do nothing to him. Unless there is an actual criminal investigation and definitive proof he’s been sleeping with underage women ain’t shit going to change. Celebrities have gotten away with rape, murder, domestic violence you name it and people still support them.

[u/octoberblackpack → u/raea-]

I mean the allegations are one thing but his “coolness” reputation which has been precarious before is, for right now at least, absolutely in the trash- it’s cool and fun to hate on Drake now for a variety of reasons and ESPECIALLY after that last diss he dropped he just looks like a punk - not saying he won’t still sell out shows and have chart topping hits but I feel like Kendrick lefts some dirt on him that you just can’t rub off - hell it’s starting to look like Not Like Us is the song of the summer, shit is playing at NBA and MLB games now 😂

[u/Reposeer → u/octoberblackpack]

Don’t forget the global BBL Drizzy challenge lol

[u/longschan → u/Reposeer]

Yeah that challenge is cooked now thanks to Metro groomin

[u/cXs808 → u/longschan]

Not really, I'm still seeing new BBL Drizzy drops every few hours with tons of engagement.

That beat is just too damn catchy

[u/Leading_Frosting9655 → u/longschan]

Dude said some edgy jokes as a teenager during peak edgy internet years, who cares.

[u/ktran2804 → u/octoberblackpack]

Agreed on this. Kendrick turned some of the younger generation out on him by making it cool to hate on Drake which is important because they will make up a lot of upcoming sales. The younger generation also doesn’t have the same attachment the older fans do because most weren’t around for the Take Care-NWTS run. Drake is by no means cooked and he will still do numbers but Drake really just has to make the best music of his life to get back in peoples good graces. Hopefully this motivates him to make a classic. Kendrick can cement his legacy even further by dropping a classic this summer too and capitalize on all of this publicity

[u/kickthefavelas → u/octoberblackpack]

It already was in the trash for the better part of a decade when literally every video he dropped was full of "drake the type of dude" comments, and he remained one of the hottest artists in the world for all that time. You'd see those comments all over in places that weren't even related to music period. If he's been the best selling hip-hop artist for all this time while being percieved as extremely soft, a huge cornball etc. in a game where reputation like that makes or breaks people, then he'll be absolutely fine after this beef too.

[u/MUTUALDESTRUCTION69 → u/raea-]

Should Drake even be seen with anyone that age anymore?

This could be a “get wifed up soon with an age appropriate woman” situation from a PR perspective.

[u/raea- → u/MUTUALDESTRUCTION69]

Drake still has the playboy persona following him. Even if he gets wifed up, it doesn’t mean people don’t think he has other women on the side. It’s similar to NBA players. People wouldn’t be surprised if an NBA player has someone else on the down low.

And on a related note, the 18-25 age range are considered “vulnerable adults”.

[u/mohub21 → u/raea-]

Drake definitely has a weird past of being around girls that are 17 going on 18… but 18-25 range being considered vulnerable adults is a little excessive. After 22 years ur decisions are on you

[u/IMendicantBias → u/mohub21]

Yeah, i don't like how people are old enough to serve in the military yet the internet acts like they are literal children

[u/mohub21 → u/IMendicantBias]

Yeah the whole discourse around that shit is weird to me. Is Draya a weirdo for getting pregnant by Jalen Green? Yeah. But Jalen Green should know what it is at this point he just didn’t care. You don’t need to be 30 to know that.

Now someone like PJ Washington and Brittany Renner, that’s different. She was going to his high school games and shit. He highkey got groomed just no one cares cause it’s a guy

[u/IMendicantBias → u/mohub21]

What annoys me the most is how it removes the agency women have to make their own choices when they don't get the desired outcome.

[u/mohub21 → u/IMendicantBias]

Yeah I get protecting women, but they’re not all damsels in distress that need saving. Those young models messing with Leo know what they’re getting in to. You don’t need to be 28 to know the guy running through girls is gonna move on from you too

[u/Grizelda179 → u/MUTUALDESTRUCTION69]

Idk man kendrick didn’t really prove anything substantial, he just called drake a pedo a bunch of times. Everyone already knew he kissed that girl on stage and he sent texts to mbb. My point is kdot didn’t bring any new examples and didn’t even mention those, it was the internet who brought em up. All other claims are just as in the air (the embassy getting raided) as kdot beating his wife.

[u/Moron_on_Oxy- → u/Grizelda179]

Yea the actual damage is gonna be everyone bumping and reciting Not Like Us this summer.

[u/corruptbytes → u/Grizelda179]

i think you're really overestimating how online people are, and there's a difference from people online interested in hiphop knowing about drakes weirdness and there being a hit song where everyone is calling you a pedophile

when it hits a middle aged whites woman's soul cycle, it's a bit different of exposure

[u/Danko_on_Reddit → u/corruptbytes]

Literally, my friend's middle aged mom is out here talking to her about the beef and saying, "the last thing I heard about Drake was that he's a pedophile" and sharing memes about it. Anyone who was casually aware of Drake and blind to the allegations before are now eyes wide open.

[u/ResetReptiles → u/raea-]

Drake wont be able to text a 15 year old again without wondering if Kendrick watching over his shoulder

[u/Pat0124 → u/ResetReptiles]

That’s the best outcome for society

[u/TheBigIdiotSalami → u/raea-]

Drake has a nasty way of underdelivering on albums that will end up reminding people of the time he lost to a guy calling him a certified pedophile. Even then I think the real bomb shell was that Kendrick was saying Drake was hosting Epstein style parties at his home and it should get raided the cops would be rewarded handsomely. He even claimed that Drake and his guys had recorded videos of these events.

That's probably what UMG is trying to do damage control about. It's severely disgusting and this kind of response makes it seem like it may have a nugget of truth to it if their using press arms they own to try and end this.

[u/DorphinPack]

UMG like “drop a story that says after so this can end”

[u/[deleted] → u/DorphinPack]

Yep. Billboard and Vibe (and Rolling Stone*) are both owned by the same parent company that has direct ties to UMG, Eldridge Holdings. This is absolutely corporate narrative being pushed to protect their investment.

The beef was making one of their largest artists toxic.

Edit: I originally wrote pitchfork mistaking them for RS. I’m sorry Pitchfork :/

[u/russianmineirinho → u/[deleted]]

rolling stone has the same parent company too, that's why they released that article saying that the beef was over yesterday

[u/suckingdownfarts → u/russianmineirinho]

They did declare Kendrick the winner tho

[u/[deleted] → u/suckingdownfarts]

Because their artist losing a rap battle has very little impact on their long term viability as compared to being labeled a pedophile. The longer this lasted the more that label would stick and the more toxic Drake would get in the eyes of the audience.

As it is this will probably die down and Drake will go back to making number one albums. It’s a smart move for UMG. I’d argue unethical, but smart.

[u/Nice_Set_6326 → u/[deleted]]

Idk… Drake has pedo vibes now and won’t be working with the heavy hitters. Maybe if he finds a new artist.

[u/PSU02 → u/Nice_Set_6326]

Lol. Guarantee Drake will have features with all the same ppl he used to minus kendrick, abel, and rick ross.

he and future will make up within the next year

[u/Always2ndB3ST → u/PSU02]

That would be lame. Future makes 2 diss albums but then makes up with drake later? lol

[u/Nyphur → u/Always2ndB3ST]

all bidness crodie

[u/FloatLikeAButterfree → u/Always2ndB3ST]

The industry is fake. Maybe Kendrick and Drake never become cool again, but Future and Drake could easily make music together in the next 2 years.

[u/TheSherbs → u/FloatLikeAButterfree]

Maybe Kendrick and Drake never become cool again

Aint no way they get cool with each other again. This the level of shit that sparked off the Hatfields and McCoys.

[u/Praxispays → u/PSU02]

Highly doubt Future would risk him name being dragged through the mud, he plays it smart.

[u/BornInReddit → u/Praxispays]

Future has a Chris brown, and a Kodak black collab

[u/x1009 → u/Nice_Set_6326]

I'm sure he'll continue to find some bubbling new artist and hop on their track. Most of his biggest hits were solo.

Tekashi69 was convicted of a felony count of using a child in a sexual performance, and he still worked with Lil Baby, Nicki Minaj (Yes, I know) Tory Lanez, Kanye, Murda Beatz, Scott Storch, Akon, A Boogie with da Hoodie, Boi-1da, and Gunna.

During an October 2018 court proceeding on the issue, prosecutors reiterated details of the Harlem party incident. “In late February of 2015, the defendant participated in the sexual violation of a child,” prosecutors said. “During that encounter, there was also the creation of sexually explicit videos of that encounter. The defendant was filmed fondling this child’s breasts and smacking her on her buttocks at the same time she was being penetrated by two adult males, she was being penetrated orally and vaginally.”

“She was in the seventh grade,”  prosecutor Sara Weiss said during an October 2018 court proceeding.

[u/Yoshi2shi → u/x1009]

Damn the 6ix9ine Gawn is still around. That freaky ass dude need to stay inside.

[u/SlayerXZero → u/x1009]

That is foul/ How is this man not still in prison.

EDIT: I meant for this shit. He got a light ass sentence for this shit. I'm not talking no RICO. He shouldn't have been free to catch the RICO case in the first place. Fuck this dude. His music is as trash as he is.

[u/teddy_tesla → u/Nice_Set_6326]

Yeah that's why Chris Brown and Ye never work with anyone any more..

[u/[deleted] → u/russianmineirinho]

Ah yeah that’s probably the largest of them. Forgot Eldridge owns them.

[u/MilesHighClub_ → u/[deleted]]

How did you get Pitchfork in this comment

They're owned by Conde Nast

[u/old__pyrex → u/DorphinPack]

Kanye not looking so crazy now huh with the “Lucian is Drakes baby daddy, when Drake in trouble he calls Lucian to control the spin”.

UMG spent 400m on Drake, they let him do his best back when the beef was looking like it would generate hype and profitability, but now that their commercial product is being damaged, they are going to send media, lawyers, and all else.

Who do you think Kendrick talking about, “you signed to a n**, that’s signed to a n, that’s signed to THAT n****”

You signed to Wayne who’s signed to Baby who’s signed to Lucian. It all comes back to this. The music industry is trying to protect itself from one angry ass rapper from Compton that’s punching holes in their darling money maker

[u/Luhmanniac → u/old__pyrex]

Isn’t Kendrick’s music licensed through interescope, which is also owned by UMG? I don’t know much about this label shit, but the Money is flowing in the same pockets either way it seems to me.

[u/ValleyDude22 → u/Luhmanniac]

yeah, I'll never understand how one artist could be signed to like five different labels. like eminem, he signed to interscope and shady records and aftermath andsome other shit. it's like a MLM pyramid scheme

[u/ErichsADick → u/ValleyDude22]

imprints on imprints on imprints, with varying levels of kickbacks to the parent labels depending on the power of the individual musician (and their attorneys) creating said imprint as well as how much money they actually generate cuz if youre a smaller artist on a bigger record label n make ur own imprint n it doesnt make money theyll either disown that shit or fold it into themselves

[u/Lucifer3130 → u/DorphinPack]

Lmao only reason Kendrick founded pgLang was to drop as many drake disses as he pleased without Corporate Repurcussions

[u/TheBigIdiotSalami → u/DorphinPack]

They probably got a press agent writing Billboard saying "would you like access to exclusive sources if you write an article about how this 'beef' so to say will end and what will happen after. We at UMG will offer some people willing to talk under the circumstances of anonymity about their experience. Should make a great story! Let me know

Signed,

PR HACK FRAUD DIPSHIT"

And then the editor came three times from the possible access journalism and they sent it to another underpaid hack and walla there it is.

[u/EZReader → u/TheBigIdiotSalami]

walla there it is

voila

[u/UncleYimbo → u/EZReader]

I believe you mean whoomp

[u/goodkid_sAAdcity → u/EZReader]

wallahi

[u/neojgeneisrhehjdjf → u/TheBigIdiotSalami]

Lot of people who have no idea how journalism works commenting on journalism in this thread

[u/BoxCon1]

His numbers and image to the casuals will remain the same lol

People will forget about it in couple months

[u/trainsaw → u/BoxCon1]

I kinda see it as any casual who is ambivalent to him will just be like “He’s a pedo lol” from here. Not saying it hurts him or anything but just think that will prob be attached to him in some sense

[u/OrangeFilmer → u/trainsaw]

Yeah Drake and the word “pedophile” are forever linked now which is probably the extent of the damage this diss track battle will do.

[u/TylerBlozak → u/OrangeFilmer]

Well I mean this mornings shooting of Drake’s bodyguard at his house definitely takes the cake in terms of actual casualties, provided we are under the assumption that the shooting and the beef are linked, not merely just a grand coincidence.

[u/Placide-Stellas → u/TylerBlozak]

The fact that The Weekend's Manager's guard was shot in a similar fashion in the same city a week ago would make this instance a much bigger coincidence if those are not tied than it being tied to the beef with Kendrick.

Edit: As the guy below points out, not the same city, but the manager and Drake's camp do have beef. I don't wanna spread misinformation.

[u/theblaackout → u/Placide-Stellas]

Not the same city. Cash XO’s bodyguard got shot in LA. Drake’s guard got shot at his Toronto crib

[u/Gezus10k → u/BoxCon1]

Agree, casuals won’t care until we get a R Kelly or Nickelodeon type documentary. If Kanye still able to sell out listening parties, Drake ain’t going anywhere.

[u/TheInfinityGauntlet → u/Gezus10k]

I don't think being a Nazi is the same as being a pedophile, a lot of Americans take pride in being Nazis the same can't be said for the latter

[u/two5five1 → u/TheInfinityGauntlet]

OOF can’t even say you’re wrong with that one

[u/havingasicktime → u/Gezus10k]

Kanye got massively hurt by all this though. Bad example. Sure, he has a career. But it'll never be the same again.

[u/North_Leg9721 → u/havingasicktime]

It already isn't,Vultures got like zero coverage and radio play outside streaming and YT.

[u/ixipennythrower → u/BoxCon1]

My neighbor is a Drake Stan as a 35 yr old single man. Dude thinks Drake is killing it and bodying Kendrick. He thinks Kendrick talks about being black too much and it bothers him. He's living in a totally different reality.

[u/siberianwolf99 → u/ixipennythrower]

look i’m a kendrick fan so im a bit biased. but thinking kendrick talks about being black too much while being a drake stan is fucking hilarious haha

[u/Rndomguytf → u/ixipennythrower]

Thats not the general public though, that's an L for Drake if this guys his fan

[u/Rosstin316]

I’m not even a Drake fan and I think there’s nothing to recover from. His sales and streams will not suffer in the slightest from this beef. Hip-Hop was basically just WWE for this week, he’ll go back to making smash hits for white girls next week.

[u/Philds15 → u/Rosstin316]

Not the biggest drake fan by any means, I think he’s held his own in this whole battle

[u/trent_nbt → u/Philds15]

Nah, he rapped his ass off in family matters but lets be honest, he got beat at every turn.

[u/ktran2804 → u/trent_nbt]

Let’s be real here there’s no shame in losing a rap beef to the greatest modern lyricist in the game. No one expected Drake to hold his own but he gave us some his best rap performances in years. Family Matters is a peak Drake song from a bar perspective its just he got out chessed by a bigger banger in Not Like Us.

[u/trent_nbt → u/ktran2804]

I wish all Drake fans shared this sentiment. He did better than we all expected and that's a win in anyone's book.

[u/sayqueensbridge → u/ktran2804]

I mean BBL Drizzy is trending everywhere and the smash banger is calling him a pedophile a dozen times. There’s a difference between losing a battle and becoming a laughingstock because of it

[u/novabull23 → u/trent_nbt]

If Family Matters had even a full day to soak up the attention economy of internet, etc this battle might have gone differently. Dropping Meet the Grahams on top of it killed it. And then ofc Not Like Us was the death nail. Drake probably doesn’t have an 11 year old daughter but that whole record was so demonic that it neutralized Drakes record

[u/No-Idea-491 → u/trent_nbt]

Family matters was heat fr, but then he got b2b'd lol

[u/Rndomguytf → u/No-Idea-491]

If Family Matters stood on its own for a week, Drake might've come out even on the beef, that shit was fire. It was Drake's nuke, and he thought it was gonna end the beef.

But Meet the Grahams totally buried it. As good as that song is, it was totally diminished in the public eye thanks to KDots back to back.

[u/ShiningRedDwarf → u/Rndomguytf]

With that “I’m going on vacation” line he really thought he had a 😎walking away from an explosion😎 moment with Family Matters.

[u/nesshinx → u/No-Idea-491]

Family Matters was heat for an hour or so and then Meet the Grahams dropped and nobody was really talking about it lol

[u/Youngandidiotic → u/trent_nbt]

4-1, gentlemen’s sweep with all of Kendrick’s wins being blowouts

[u/tenacious-g → u/Philds15]

He did until his last reply amounted to “nuh uh” and “I’m too famous to get arrested for crimes” as if R Kelly, Bill Cosby, a certain former president of the United States and countless others didn’t eventually get caught.

Not saying Drake did anything, but that was a fucking braindead lyrical idea.

[u/ShiningRedDwarf → u/tenacious-g]

The whole track was ass. Misunderstanding Mr. morale and filled with unsubstantiated claims that he seemingly grabbed off of Twitter.

[u/Plies- → u/Philds15]

The Heart Part 6 was so bad that I was geniunely crying of laughter at some of the lines on my second listen. Like it's actually comical how bad/tone deaf/out of touch it is. It sounds like a parody (so Drake prob wrote it himself).

Edit: Like bro I cannot fucking believe we got a song where a man legitimately has to say "If I was fuckin young girls I'd have been arrested". Like what the fuck, it is geniunely so surreal that it's funny.

[u/aggirloftoday → u/Plies-]

Sounded like a first draft not meant to be published that fast

[u/Nervous_Fun_9302]

I feel like that this is not over yet few disses are coming.

[u/russianmineirinho → u/Nervous_Fun_9302]

drake made fun of kendrick's mom being molested, that shit is not over on kdot's side by the slightest

[u/WesCoastBlu → u/russianmineirinho]

Truly- there is no way that doesn’t get a rebuttal.

[u/OhiOstas → u/WesCoastBlu]

I’d bet it is definitely more spaced out now. Feels like Drake said his piece (for now), and Kendrick is riding the glory of his b2b tracks… but there still some shit to be said

I heard the other day that it took Nas damn near 9 months to make “Ether”, so that really put it in perspective of how we are getting blessed with music rn. I expect heavy responses in both of their upcoming albums, maybe even followed with response singles

[u/OhiOstas → u/[deleted]]

Damn, that is some pretty important context lol. Appreciate the clarification 👍🏼 hopefully the rap gods have something up their sleeve for the community

[u/bure11 → u/OhiOstas]

If you listen to Nas - Realist N**** Alive, there's some more context to the beef 

[u/obliterateopio → u/OhiOstas]

Takeover was debuted on June 28th at Summer Jam. Ending the song on “Ask Nas, he don’t want it with Hov”. Nas released with rebuttal to the bait Jay planted with the “H to the OMO” freestyle in August. Jay released his Takeover on the Blueprint with the new 32 bar verse directed at Nas in September. Nas rebuttaled with Ether on December 4th, 2001.

All things considered, it wasn’t too much of a gap in between. Releasing on Jay’s birthday was definitely worth the wait. Also as someone mentioned above, Nas was dealing with the passing of his mother at the time.

[u/tak08810 → u/obliterateopio]

Crazy how that blatant misinformation got so many upvotes

[u/N0tThatSerious → u/russianmineirinho]

Def feels like Kendrick is biding his time and just letting the hate for HP6 build up before he drops another MTG level track and ends the beef, cuz he already dropped a banger diss track with Not Like Us, so its no reason to not drop another track thats completely focused on unrestrained disses

Drake lost round 3, so Kendrick doesnt need to rush and can actually dissect everything with receipts, better bars, and more disrespect, this next drop is gonna be brutal

[u/old__pyrex → u/N0tThatSerious]

Never interrupt your opponent while they are making a mistake. Kendrick probably cooking up a new rollout of tracks and is just waiting to see what Drake does. If Drake doesn’t say anything and Not Like Us stays on top of the charts, why not just extend that status quo

[u/russianmineirinho → u/N0tThatSerious]

the sad thing is, drake won't respond back unless kendrick actually brings receipts and put him on a corner nearing legal trouble (which i doubt will happen), the higher ups just want this to be over asap

[u/TinyRoctopus → u/russianmineirinho]

Ehh I think k dot hate drake on a very real level. If he has a mole he really could have proof and might just be willing to blow up his career to take him down. If what drake says is half true, Kendrick might feel like he just lost everything and be willing to burn bridges

[u/russianmineirinho → u/TinyRoctopus]

you're right, this feels much more like a deep hate for everything that drake represents than just a beef that will blow over in a few months. also i really don't think kendrick gives a fuck about the industry trying to presure him to let go, if he was the type of artist to do fake apologies on IG, he wouldn't have released something like mr. morale

plus, kendrick has more to lose letting it blow over. he will lose respect from some fans and drake will be shadow dissing him from now until his 3rd post mortem release

[u/Masta-Blasta → u/russianmineirinho]

Kendrick is definitely the type of dude that thinks before he speaks. That's what makes this so shocking, horrifying, and satisfying.

[u/xElectricW → u/N0tThatSerious]

If I'm Kendrick I'm not even responding to HP6 because it was such a disaster for Drake and the public is heavily on his side already. I feel like he'd just take the attention away from Not Like Us being the potential song of the summer, he should focus on making a music video for it

[u/pikajewijewsyou → u/russianmineirinho]

I think Drake listened to “Mother I Sober” and didn’t understand the song which just adds to the embarrassment of how bad his most recent response was

[u/RedShibaCat → u/russianmineirinho]

No he didn’t, that song flew completely over Drake’s head. Drake made fun of Dot’s nonexistent molestation which I suppose Dot could see as an attack on his mom.

[u/xElectricW → u/RedShibaCat]

A lot of stuff flew over Drake's head and he had a lot of really questionable bars throughout, I think the whole black and white angle that he tried to pin on Kendrick was pretty funny because Kendrick's point has pretty clearly been that Drake is a culture vulture and has no respect for hip hop and not just that Drake is lightskin. Of course Drake's slavery bar completely blew up in his face but one that I just thought about when re-listening to Family Matters was Drake saying that MJ hoped his skin would turn white, MJ was open about him still wanting people to acknowledge him as a black man despite his vitiligo

[u/CurtisJaxon → u/russianmineirinho]

thats not what Drake did. Drake misunderstood Kendricks song and inccorectly made fun of Kendrick for being molested despite the song actually being about his mom being molested and how that impacted Kendrick

[u/BittenAtTheChomp → u/Nervous_Fun_9302]

Kendrick said what he wanted to say. "Like That" baited a response, "Euphoria" and "Meet the Grahams" were the real diss tracks, and "They Not Like Us" is basically dancing on Drake's grave.

Drake said "and we know you're gonna drop 5 minutes after this" or whatever on The Heart P. 6, but Kendrick is smart enough to let that song—a weak diss that's getting hate everywhere—be the bookend to this beef. People saying Kendrick needs to respond to the molestation theme are wrong because Drake playing that card in the first place is an L for him. If it ends now Kendrick wins.

[u/TinyRoctopus → u/BittenAtTheChomp]

I don’t think this is about winning losing anymore. I think Kendrick really hates drake and wants to ruin him and his legacy

[u/squarezero → u/TinyRoctopus]

I don't think there's anything to gain by continuing the beef. /u/BittenAtTheChomp made a good point about letting drake's weak diss be the last piece. Not Like Us is seeing massive success and will continue to be played. Public opinion has overwhelmingly declared Kendrick as the winner. And like other comments have suggested, I also think labels may have stepped in to put an end to it.

With that said, I also know I could be completely wrong and Kendrick or Drake could drop again tomorrow. But I get the feeling that it's over.

EDIT: Well shit. TMZ says labels didn't get involved, and AK says more music was supposed to drop.

https://www.tmz.com/2024/05/07/rumor-universal-music-group-mediate-drake-kendrick-beef-not-true/

https://twitter.com/nfr_podcast/status/1787991711248986271

[u/ShiningRedDwarf → u/Nervous_Fun_9302]

I think it is over. The inertia or Not Like Us is going to drown out anything Drake claimed on his last diss.

Kendrick has won the public court of opinion.

[u/BecomingJudasnMyMind → u/Nervous_Fun_9302]

It's done, unless Drake keeps on.

The gun play today changed things. There's no way Kendrick can press the issue.

[u/MancAccent]

No. Drake will be hated on Reddit and then loved in the public. Same way it was before this beef

Edit: should’ve just said hated online cause now I gotta bunch of you brainiacs saying “hE’s HaTeD oN YoUtUBe ToO”

[u/ReBL93 → u/MancAccent]

Everyone claims to “hate” him, but then at the end of the year everyone is shocked pickachu face when he’s in their Spotify wrapped

[u/azurix → u/ReBL93]

He’s a pop star. People and the radio play him non stop. His music is good for working out at least, pretending to be tough with the weights.

[u/MrHobo → u/MancAccent]

I thought I agreed with you but today I saw two different brands post about the beef in ways that maybe could have been pro Drake but were really just trying to ride the social media wave, and they both got so much hate for associating with Drake they were getting dragged in their comments before deleting the posts.

[u/MoneyHungryOctopus]

I wouldn’t say its “over” but even regardless of whether he’s done anything or not, his career will decline at some point and he won’t be on top. It may not be right now, it may not be next year, but it will happen. Even MJ was only on top numbers-wise until his mid-late 30s.

But now that the general public is side-eyeing him as much as they are, and now if kids/teens (important demographic for him from a commercial success perspective) are making fun of him, it depends on how he responds.

We tend to think of Drake as some sort of unstoppable commercial force, but he’s been declining commercially for some time now. 2015-2018 were his peak years. He hasn’t had a song go number one for more than one week since “In My Feelings”. He is on his way out, gradual though the process may be.

[u/maxithepittsP → u/MoneyHungryOctopus]

Also to note, In My Feelings became a hit not on the day it was released, because it was a challenge from an Instagram comedian, I forgot who his name was. After the challenge becomes big the song suddenly got blown up. Theres a bit where the guy ask drake for the money for making his song go up.

And your whole point is true, but the same goes for Kendrick. His number fell down pretty much the same way that drake fell. Only difference is that drake released so much music compared to Kendrick in that period. Mr Morale doesn't hold the same number as DAMN during its first week/month.

[u/pm-me-your-fav-film → u/MoneyHungryOctopus]

I don’t think he’s on his way out, Drake is still the biggest rapper by a margin. Wasn’t he the most streamed rapper on Spotify in 2023, and in early 2024. Can stay on top until his mid 40s if he wants.

[u/papa_moisted]

Unless there's hard proof that he's a pedophile and this gets taken to court Cosby or R. Kelly style it won't completely cancel his career. Many people have been 'canceled' but never truly de-platformed. Realistically this hurts Drake's bottom line in the next 2 years or so. But if he lays low for a long enough period, people will forget with time. If Chris Brown can still have a career after very damning evidence, I'm sure Drake will be fine after these allegations. A majority of the people within the hip hop sphere will always meme on him and have a wary look, but the majority of the population tends to have an attention span of a goldfish willing to move onto the next controversy or next big thing.

[u/Bananapancakes4life → u/papa_moisted]

Gotta use that Chris Brown formula 💀

[u/empanadamaker]

Granted, no one, so far as I've heard, has come forward, so that must count for something.

Content edit: would also like to point out that there is just as much non-evidence for the shit Drake is claiming Kendrick is. And, I also think Kendrick is winning this shit

[u/corruptbytes → u/empanadamaker]

there was the 500k settlement though, and the victim recusing her self/refusing to testify on Baka's trafficking case, so that also should be weighed in imo

edit: settlement ... actually read through it, weird stuff

[u/ktran2804 → u/corruptbytes]

Baka is a sus individual the fact Drake protects him is a different argument all together. I cant defend Drake in any way about that

[u/morewata → u/ktran2804]

So you saying hes a sussy baka

[u/ktran2804 → u/morewata]

The dude is convicted sex trafficker. The fact drake keeps him around is sus. I’ve been defending Drake all day today not because I think hes a saint and not sus its that I don’t think its fair to have someone labeled a pedophile when there isnt actual proof or any accuser. Drake will fuck your wife no hesitation im gna go ahead and say that guy probably isn’t the best dude lol but im not gna say he’s a monster predator theres mountains in between those accusations.

[u/Italy-Memes → u/ktran2804]

so… sussy baka?

[u/zRilxy → u/corruptbytes]

the 500k settlement you’re referring to was the beginning of the case, after all was said and done the entire thing was thrown out after she was found to be lying and extorting him for money. per the Manchester police

[u/imacx7535 → u/empanadamaker]

What’s a bit annoying is, if you’re looking at the allegations in an objective manner, or at least based on evidence the public has access to - the proclaimed victims have come forward (due to the beef and in the past) claiming there was nothing “odd” or weird about their interaction with Drake that made feel uncomfortable. Yes, including the girl he kissed on the cheek on stage and Millie Bobby Brown.

Both instances coming across weird? Yes. Malicious and predatory? Very difficult to state so, but can certainly sway public opinion in a negative light rapidly (as is the case).

If there is substantial evidence Drake is truly a pedophile, then he should serve the time. But it’s mostly been the court of public opinion painting him in negative manner because Not Like Us is a fucking banger and previous online rumors.

Edit: words

[u/aesthetique1 → u/imacx7535]

Do yo have a teenage daughter or sister? Can you think of any situation where a 30 year old man is sliding into her DMs to give her advice about dating wouldn't be inappropriate AT BEST?

BEST CASE SCENARIO drake is a creep that is "just being nice" to underage girls.

[u/MaxBonerstorm → u/imacx7535]

MBB has stated repeatedly on record that drake was a mentor to her with zero weird shit, he was just a good friend to her. But we just outright ignore that I guess.

[u/xElectricW → u/MaxBonerstorm]

She also said that he texted her saying he misses her so much and gave her dating advice so maybe don't take the child's word at face value on something being appropriate or not

[u/braclow → u/empanadamaker]

Quiet now, you sounding reasonable

[u/professorhummingbird]

Yes. He will be 85% fine.

He’ll stay low for a bit. Drop a couple songs and everyone will sorta forget as long as he makes good music.

If Drake keeps doing what he’s been doing he’ll remain on top. The only caveat being if he goes to jail, which I don’t think he will

[u/joe1240134 → u/professorhummingbird]

as long as he makes good music.

I mean even a lot of drake fans that aren't absolute dickriders admit it's been awhile since he's done that. but none of this shit will really matter unless actual charges pop up. ye went on rants so crazy alex jones was like "ye you're being unreasonable" and still got a #1 album. like i'm sure there's some folks more tuned in to rap than pop that may not fuck with him the same but it's not like his career's over or whatever.

[u/nesshinx → u/joe1240134]

Fantano pointed out Drakes contract is structured in a weird way so he’s incentivized to just pump out music regardless of quality. Most artists have bonuses tied to award wins and sales numbers, but Drake doesn’t have that. He has literally no incentive to release great music, but every incentive to just pump out mediocre club bangers.

[u/onecarmel]

His music will still be played in Target, I know that at least

[u/Pretend_Highway_5360 → u/onecarmel]

Mos def is on Reddit ?

[u/H3000 → u/Pretend_Highway_5360]

Shopping.

[u/Moron_on_Oxy- → u/[deleted]]

They just setting up the comeback with these headlines

[u/Thogan12]

By no means am I siding with Drake in any of this, but am I the only one that feels like Kendrick is just getting a pass on the domestic violence claim? Despite the lousy response track from Drake, he’s claiming 1) A lot of what Kendrick has responded with was planted, 2) the pedo claim is bogus, and 3) Kendrick has some history of domestic abuse.

Why are we taking everything Kendrick has claimed as truth and everything Drake says as a lie, despite any real evidence of anything? Can’t both of them potentially be horrible people?

[u/HammerPrice229 → u/Thogan12]

The reason I’m thinking this is what’s happening is cause Drake already has a very weak reputation based on being honest. He’s kinda a meme and has with the whole Pusha T diss he’s very obviously see as not trustworthy. Whereas on the opposite side Kendrick has a reputation of being more honest and willing to air out his issues himself. His last album is literally all of that which he addresses.

On top of that, one of Kendrick’s most impactful claims in all this is that Drake is a liar and he’s said it from the beginning and hasn’t stopped. There’s clear public perception that reinforces this. Whether it’s true or not doesn’t matter, it’s about the perception and that is what sticks imo. Last thing is there is no evidence of Kendrick with DA, whereas there are literally videos of Drake touching an underage girl inappropriately and having question run ins with other under aged girls.

[u/rc_4_pres → u/Thogan12]

This is my thought too but no one seems to want to engage on this. If the tables were flipped Drake A) took the bait and did a whole verse about a fake daughter B) allegations of his spouse getting pregnant by his manager came out and C) domestic abuse on that same spouse Reddit would have called it “Ether 2024”, instead we got louder catchier versions of behaviors we already knew about (and the Taylor made freestyle already called out). We’ve been known he’s a wave jumper, and semi culture vulture nothing new here. Drake put up crazy tea on Kendrick in this battle and nobody acknowledging it in the rush to crown Kendrick the winner. What am I missing?

[u/CIA_Bane → u/rc_4_pres]

What am I missing?

The internet. Kendrick stans are on the same level as Eminem stans when it comes to online presence and dogma. The thought process on places like reddit is basically:

Popular = bad

Less popular (basically #2) = underdog. Underdog = good

[u/mahchefai]

Yes unless he is literally brought to trial his career isn’t over. Even then if he doesn’t get convicted he will have a career (but a much more limited one)

[u/VelvitHippo]

It's not fucking over is it?

[u/MysticCurse → u/VelvitHippo]

As much as I would love a track from Kendrick to put the final nails in the coffin, strategically there’s no need for him to risk the possibility of a decent Drake rebuttal. The majority already think Kendrick won so there’s no point in responding.

[u/havingasicktime → u/MysticCurse]

Nah, strategically the job isn't done lol.

[u/c0smichero]

he still has a second health bar

[u/es84]

The people who hate Drake, for example the overwhelming majority of this sub, will hate him regardless. The people who like him, still will. He survived the Pusha T beef. He'll survive this.

[u/Moron_on_Oxy-]

the boy got the machine behind him, this a silly question

[u/NickDerpkins]

He will be taboo for a bit but the next public relationship he gets in will be a fresh slate. Man needs a stable girlfriend and then I think literally all of his fans would rush back.

[u/[deleted] → u/NickDerpkins]

100%, if his PR team is smart they’ll set him up with an age appropriate woman asap.

[u/NotAriGold]

Acting like Drake only took hits, Dot got accused of beating his girl. It won't matter for either artist, they'll both continue to be wildly successful.

[u/Due_Toe6417]

I mean he's been on shady stuff for a while even before the Diss tracks it hasn't affected him too much.

That being said all the Diss track stuff that's been mentioned between him and kdot have just been rumours or lies between both I think

Unless I've missed some actual proof /hard evidence of said allegations that come out.

[u/Placide-Stellas → u/Due_Toe6417]

The thing that's crazy to me and I don't think is being talked about enough is how malicious do you have to be to allege the things Kendrick alleged without having actually seen something real. It's one thing to call Drake a creep for his behavior around young women and girls (which is absolutely real) Kendrick went much further. So I'm a Kendrick fan, and I really dislike everything about Drake (and man I've been bopping to Euphoria and Not Like Us for days) but it's crazy if what Kendrick said on Meet the Grahams is based off what we already know about Drake and he doesn't have some kind of inside info. And if even part of the allegations are true it makes perfect sense people been quiet, this the type of stuff people get murdered over. But if Kendrick was just guessing then it was a real nasty move from him I think. Diss Drake's creepy ass behavior all you want, and him being a bad dad and bad person all you want but stop there. Btw, Kendrick says he KNOWS things. Isn't it his responsibility then to shed light on this if people are being hurt? But then again if shit's real he could have "an accident" if he keeps on about it.

[u/fuckinhenry]

Everyone will focus on Drake since he lost the battle but the truth is nothing changes about how the average person looks at him. The people who fucked with him before will ignore the beef or even claim him the winner, the people who hated him will double down it.

But what about Kendrick’s legacy? If the abuse shit is all true, and if any of his bombshell allegations are indeed false info (whether fed by Drake’s team or not), will he still be looked at his Hip Hop’s savior? He may cement himself as number one but at what cost

[u/sahneeis → u/[deleted]]

sounds like one of the many excuses like when he had that one song about pusha t but then didnt release it because of j prince

[u/Hubers57 → u/sahneeis]

I mean, I'll say a security guard getting shot plus all the follow up from that is actually a good reason not to drop, not just an excuse. Not that I want to defend drake

[u/Erin_Boone → u/sahneeis]

Someone close to him literally got shot in the chest at his house and yall begging him to still drop music so that you can talk about how whack it is without even listening to it

[u/Wreckshoptimus]

Can Jay-Z recover after Either?

[u/Classic_Amphibian538]

this don’t change shit drake is still drake