Timeline of a Rivalry: Drake’s Struggle to Reclaim the Spotlight After Kendrick Lamar’s Victory

Drake’s rivalry with Kendrick Lamar has been heating up since Kendrick’s major victory with “Not Like Us,” leaving Drake scrambling to reclaim his dominance.

Since Kendrick Lamar’s decisive win with the summer hit "Not Like Us," Drake—normally a chart-topping force—has been struggling to reclaim the spotlight. In the wake of K-Dot's victory, Drake has dropped 12 tracks and fired subtle shots at Kendrick, while also trolling him relentlessly on social media. Here’s a breakdown of each track and the ongoing tension between the two rap heavyweights.

May 24, 2024: Drake and Sexyy Red – “U My Everything” After Kendrick’s diss on “Euphoria,” Drake responded by releasing “U My Everything” with Sexyy Red. Kendrick had mocked their connection, and Drake leaned into the insult with lines about plastic surgery and past rumors, though the track debuted at a lackluster #44 on the Billboard Hot 100.

June 3, 2024: Snowd4y f/ Drake – “Wah Gwan Delilah” Drake’s cover of Plain White T’s “Wah Gwan Delilah,” released with Snowd4y, tried to joke his way out of the Kendrick feud. Using heavy Toronto slang, the track fell flat, leaving fans confused and drawing criticism across social media.

June 28, 2024: Camila Cabello and Drake – “Uuugly” and “Hot Uptown” Camila Cabello brought Drake in for two tracks on her album C,XOXO. While “Uuugly” was a solo effort by Drake, neither track made much impact, with “Hot Uptown” peaking at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100.

July 26, 2024: Gordo and Drake – “Healing” and “Sideways” EDM artist Gordo’s Diamante featured two Drake-assisted tracks, “Healing” and “Sideways.” Despite the feud with Kendrick, Gordo claimed Drake was in high spirits, though both tracks failed to boost his standing.

August 6, 2024: Drake – “Blue Green Red” In response to Kendrick’s “Meet the Grahams,” Drake dropped “Blue Green Red,” which originated from a set of unreleased tracks. The song touched on his career longevity, but ultimately failed to make a major impact.

August 6, 2024: Drake, Young Thug, and 21 Savage – “It’s Up” “It’s Up” was one of the three leaked tracks from Drake’s 100 Gigs project, featuring Young Thug and 21 Savage. Kendrick had previously criticized Drake for collaborating with Atlanta artists to maintain relevance, a sentiment ironically echoed in the track’s themes of wealth and power.

August 23, 2024: Drake – “Circadian Rhythm,” “SOD,” and “No Face” Drake’s second round of 100 Gig leaks saw him release “Circadian Rhythm,” “SOD,” and “No Face.” The tracks, particularly “No Face,” subtly addressed Kendrick’s previous insults, including references to therapy and Drake’s public image, but Kendrick has yet to respond.

Conclusion: Drake’s Fight to Reclaim the Spotlight Despite his efforts, Drake’s post-feud releases have seen mixed success. While he remains a powerhouse in hip hop, Kendrick’s victory has undoubtedly shaken his reign. Time will tell if Drake can fully reclaim his spot at the top or if the rivalry will continue to shift the balance of power in the rap game.