In early April, it was Drake who released back-to-back diss songs at Kendrick Lamar. These were responses to a boastful feature verse on Future & Metro Boomin’s “LIKE THAT,” where Kendrick asserted himself as the king, refuting “The Big 3” notion of himself, J. Cole, and Drake. The first of Drake’s disses was “Push Ups,” an April 13 release that was initially speculated to be artificial intelligence. After multiple versions circulated, the song was eventually confirmed to be authentic, and eventually was added to Drake’s artist accounts on DSPs. That song made light of Kendrick’s small stature and shoe size, while questioning his business acumen as it relates to former label TDE. Less than a week later, Drake released “Taylor Made,” a second diss that did employ AI—using voices sounding like Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg to condemn Kendrick’s lack of response and West Coast Rap fortitude while claiming he yielded plans to past collaborator Taylor Swift. After Tupac’s family and estate threatened legal action, that song was pulled from the Internet.
In the last week (April 30), Kendrick responded. “euphoria” was a densely packed response where Kendrick literally listed the reasons he hated Drake, while claiming that the truth about the Toronto artist could be damning. The song (which is believed to be filled with hidden messages and symbolism) also demanded that Drake, whose father is Black and mother is white, stop using the N-word. Drake has not responded with a verse. Instead, following Kendrick’s diss on Tuesday, the OVO leader posted an Instagram story of a clip from teen romantic comedy 10 Things I Hate About You, featuring a poem he found similar to a section of “euphoria.”
Kendrick Lamar Disses Drake For 6 Straight Minutes
Today (May 3), there was not a Drake response—as some speculated and many anticipated. Instead, over the last hour, Kendrick doubled down with a song on his Instagram page. “6:16 in LA” borrows from Drake’s timestamp series. Over a Soul sample beat, Lamar touts at the top, “I think somebody lyin’, I smell somebody lyin’.” As his verse kicks in, he says, “Trifecta: money, morals, and culture, that’s my leisure.” Leading with principles, he prays to God in the song, coming back to broad melody: “Who am I if I don’t go to war? / There’s opportunity when livin’ with laws / I discover myself when I fall short / Raise my hands to a fallen sky, I fantasize / Me jumpin’ planets and mortal lies, I correspond / Three angels watchin’ me all the time / Put my children to sleep, with a prayer, then close my eyes, definition of peace / Tell me who gon’ stop me? I come from love, and still cover my heart, then open me up / Remember when, picked up a pen, wrote lyrics that I could trust / Timid soul, stare in the mirror, askin’ where I was from / Austin, I know this type of power is gon’ cost, but I live in Cicadian rhythms of a shooting star.” Kendrick appears to look at his inner-peace and inner-strength, and remind all that he’s up for the complications that come with leadership.
As the song develops, Kendrick speaks directly to his target—or targets. The MC compares himself to a master artist. “The mannerisms of Raphael, I can heal and give you art / But I pick the carcass apart / Yeah, somebody’s lyin’, I could see the vibes on Ak’ / Even he lookin’ compromised, let’s peel the layers back / Ain’t no brownie points will be on your chest / Harassin’ and, f__kin’ with good people / And good people go to ‘Bec.” Kendrick then moves squarely to Drake: “Conspiracies ’bout cash dog? That’s not even the leak / Find the truths like cash dog, I just need you to think / Are you finally ready to play have-you-ever? Let’s see / Have you ever thought that OVO was workin’ for me? / Fake bully, I hate bullies, you must be a terrible person / Everyone in your team is whispering that you deserve it / Can’t ‘Toosie Slide’ out of this one, it’s just gon’ resurface / Every dog gotta have his day, now live in your purpose.“
Pusha-T Says Producer “40,” Not Kanye West, Snitched About Drake’s Child (Audio)
Kendrick proceeds to suggest that Drake has been unsuccessful in digging up dirt. “It was fun ’til you start to put money up in the streets / Then lost money, ’cause they came back with the no receipts / I’m sorry that I live a boring live, I love peace / But war-ready, if the world’s ready to see you bleed.“
As Pusha-T had said about Drake’s musical partner Noah “40” Shebib during their feud, Kendrick suggests Drake’s circle is not as tight as he may think it is—and that there is an information leak. “These images trouble you, know the wire in the circle should puzzle you / If you were street smart, then you woulda caught that your entourage is only to hustle you / 100 n___as that you got on salary, and 20 of ’em want you as a casualty / And one them is actually, next to you / And two of them is practically tied to your lifestyle, just don’t got the audacity to tell you / But let me tell you some game, ’cause I can see you my lil’ homie / You playin’ dirty with propaganda, he blow up on ya.” He accuses Drake of misusing the Internet and hiding behind Wi-Fi. It is a contrast to Drake’s portrayal of Kendrick hiding in his recently-purchased Brooklyn penthouse. In the song, Kendrick mentions yacht purchases, exotic destinations, and Brooklyn pizzerias to seem to remind his opponent that he is everywhere—not sitting in solitude. The song closes with Kendrick’s latest comparison to Michael Jackson. “The forced opinions is not convincin’, y’all need a new route / It’s time you look around on who’s around you, before you figure that you’re not alone / Ask what Mike would do.” The reference to The King Of Pop leaves the song with Kendrick warning Drake to audit within his circle.
Kendrick Lamar Watches Vintage Tupac Shakur Footage & Reacts Powerfully (Video)
Notably, the artwork features a single Maybach leather driving glove. The lone glove may also be a MJ reference. Complex points out that 6:16, if a reference to the calendar date, June 16, is Father’s Day. In “euphoria,” Kendrick emphasized his dedication as a parent while knocking Drake’s—something that Pusha-T has done for almost six years. The date also corresponds with the funerals of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, the two nearly 30-year-old murders that have been associated with O.J. Simpson, who was acquitted in a criminal trial. A lone, ill-fitting glove left behind was a crucial part of OJ’s defense. June 16 is also Tupac Shakur’s birthday.
As the Internet speculates timing of a Drake response, the OVO leader is still on the clock.
