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Right now, for the first time in decades, competition is driving hip-hop forward. At the center of the brewing beef in the genre is Drake, who is catching more heat than anyone else. Longtime friendships have turned into bitter rivalries, and some of the best rappers alive are coming at him in full force. Many important players in the rap world have turned on Drake, and with good reason. When you analyze both his personality and his music, it becomes clear that he has filled his albums, especially recent ones like “Certified Lover Boy” and “Scary Hours 3,” with subliminal disses aimed at various artists. As a result, many rappers are only accepting the challenge of taking him down.
The Kendrick Lamar Challenge
One rapper who has filled this role better than anyone else is Kendrick Lamar. With his feature on the chart-topping song “Like That,” he dropped one of the most insane verses the genre has heard in years. This verse targeted Drake directly, asserting Lamar’s dominance over him. While tensions between Drake and Kendrick have been high for years, Kendrick decided to escalate the tensions to an all-time high with bars that not only claimed he and Drake don’t belong in the same conversation because he’s better, but also called Drake an illegitimate artist. This challenge from Kendrick Lamar is by far the biggest test Drake has faced in his career.
The Future and Metro Boomin Coalition
Another rapper who has turned against Drake is Future, who was once one of his closest collaborators. The tension between them dates back to 2022, and it seems to have escalated recently. Drake himself has been subtly taunting Future for some time, with tracks like “What Would Pluto Do” being prime examples. Future got tired of the jabs and decided to unleash havoc on Drake with his new album, “We Don’t Trust You.” In addition to Kendrick Lamar, many other rappers featured on the album have also taken a stance against Drake. Metro Boomin, a producer who has had public tensions with Drake, has also joined forces with Future. With his skills behind the board, Metro Boomin has been able to escalate the beef in a way that most producers couldn’t. His production on the album, featuring vocal interludes from Prodigy, creates an intense atmosphere that echoes the sentiments against Drake.
The Unexpected Beef with Travis Scott
Travis Scott, who has collaborated with Drake on iconic tracks in the past, has surprisingly taken the side of Future and Metro Boomin in this feud. He not only appears on multiple tracks off their new album, but during a recent performance, he urged Metro to play the crowd, which implies that Travis knew about the storm of attacks that were coming Drake’s way. While it’s unclear if Drake and Travis Scott are in a full-fledged beef like others, it’s evident that there is tension between the two.
The Fallout with Rick Ross
Rick Ross, who has had over a decade of iconic collaborations with Drake, has also turned against him. After Drake invited one of Rick Ross’ exes to his show in Florida, Ross posted a video of himself listening to Kendrick Lamar’s verse on “Like That.” This confirms that the tension between them is personal and goes beyond just musical beef.
The Rocky Relationship with ASAP Rocky
Drake’s beef with ASAP Rocky stems from Rocky marrying Rihanna, who Drake had hoped to be with. Drake has been extremely petty about it, with subliminals about Rihanna and her relationship with Rocky appearing in his recent projects. In response, ASAP Rocky officially clapped back at Drake on the song “WOW,” taunting him about living rent-free in his head and stealing the girl of his dreams.
The Megan Thee Stallion Clash
Drake’s beef with Megan Thee Stallion started when he name-dropped her in his song “Circle Loco” out of nowhere. While Meg has focused her efforts on Nicki Minaj recently, she has been vocal about her disdain for Drake. However, it’s unlikely that this beef will escalate any further from here.
The Complicated Beef with Kanye West
The beef between Drake and Kanye West has become extremely complicated over the years. Despite making up and doing a concert together, Drake dissed Kanye less than a year later on “Certified Lover Boy” and continued to throw shots at him on subsequent projects. After Kanye’s album “Vultures” went number one on the Billboard Hot 100, he cursed out Drake in a celebration post, expressing his anger towards him. It’s expected that Drake will respond to Kanye with more subliminal disses, as he tends to do on each of his albums.
The Lingering Pusha T Feud
The beef between Drake and Pusha T is one of the most talked-about feuds in hip-hop. Despite Pusha’s decisive victory with “The Story of Adidon,” Drake continues to taunt him with subliminals on tracks like “Church Hill Downs.” Pusha has nothing left to say after exposing Drake’s hidden child and causing a major endorsement deal to fall through. However, Drake continues to provoke Pusha, showing his refusal to accept defeat.
The Unexpected Nav Beef
One of the strangest feuds surrounding Drake is with fellow Toronto native Nav. Nav seemingly unfollowed Drake after the release of Future and Metro Boomin’s “We Don’t Trust You.” While Nav is often seen as a joke in the rap game, Drake still opted to respond with an Instagram post featuring lyrics from his track “Turks.” This ongoing feud shows Drake’s willingness to engage in controversy, even with less threatening opponents.
The Reasons Behind the Feuds
As more and more rappers challenge Drake, it’s essential to examine the reasons behind these feuds. While some may view it as a byproduct of Drake’s success, there are valid reasons why his peers have turned against him. Drake’s taunting of rappers who are more skilled than him, his pettiness and selfishness in destroying relationships, and his obsession with lost relationships have all contributed to his current position. Despite the criticism, Drake continues to prioritize selling records over maintaining the respect of his peers. As the rap game moves against him, his image is being tested like never before.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Drake finds himself in the middle of multiple feuds within the hip-hop industry. These feuds have arisen due to his conduct, music, and brand. Whether it’s taunting fellow rappers or being petty about lost relationships, Drake has alienated many in the industry. While some may argue that jealousy plays a role, the reasons behind these feuds go deeper. As Drake’s reputation takes a hit, the rap game stands united against him. The question remains whether Drake will respond or continue to prioritize controversy over respect.
