Is the Drake v. Kendrick Lamar Beef Over? Did Kendrick Really Win?
Brian Hiatt
Music Features
Now that the biggest hip-hop beef in years has gone quiet, we look back at its highlights — and its shocking low blows

Kendrick Lamar‘s battle with Drake may or may not be over for good, but it’s clear that it was easily one of the greatest hip-hop beefs of all time, producing no fewer than nine separate songs — including Lamar’s current Drake-savaging Number One hit, “Not Like Us.”

In the new episode of our Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, we look back at the rapid-fire exchange of songs between the two artists, with Andre Gee joining host Brian Hiatt for the discussion. Go here to find the episode on the podcast provider of your choice, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just press play above.

The episode breaks down just how quickly the beef turned super-ugly, with wild accusations flying back and forth. Gee also explains why he’s convinced Lamar won the exchange, thanks to a series of knock-out blows that culminated in “Not Like Us.” The discussion also looks at how Drake might go forward from here, whether Lamar’s next album could be poised to be a blockbuster, and much more.

Download and subscribe to Rolling Stone‘s weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts). Check out six years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth interviews with Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Questlove, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Taylor Hawkins, Willow, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Dua Lipa, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Charlie Puth, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, and Gary Clark Jr. And look for dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters.
Now that the biggest hip-hop beef in years has gone quiet, we look back at its highlights — and its shocking low blows
Kendrick Lamar‘s battle with Drake may or may not be over for good, but it’s clear that it was easily one of the greatest hip-hop beefs of all time, producing no fewer than nine separate songs — including Lamar’s current Drake-savaging Number One hit, “Not Like Us.” In the new episode of our Rolling Stone Music Now podcast, we look back at the rapid-fire exchange of songs between the two artists, with Andre Gee joining host Brian Hiatt for the discussion. Go here to find the episode on the podcast provider of your choice, listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or just press play above. The episode breaks down just how quickly the beef turned super-ugly, with wild accusations flying back and forth. Gee also explains why he’s convinced Lamar won the exchange, thanks to a series of knock-out blows that culminated in “Not Like Us.” The discussion also looks at how Drake might go forward from here, whether Lamar’s next album could be poised to be a blockbuster, and much more. Download and subscribe to Rolling Stone‘s weekly podcast, Rolling Stone Music Now, hosted by Brian Hiatt, on Apple Podcasts or Spotify (or wherever you get your podcasts). Check out six years’ worth of episodes in the archive, including in-depth interviews with Mariah Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Questlove, Halsey, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Brandi Carlile, Phoebe Bridgers, Rick Ross, Alicia Keys, the National, Ice Cube, Taylor Hawkins, Willow, Keith Richards, Robert Plant, Dua Lipa, Killer Mike, Julian Casablancas, Sheryl Crow, Johnny Marr, Scott Weiland, Liam Gallagher, Alice Cooper, Fleetwood Mac, Elvis Costello, John Legend, Donald Fagen, Charlie Puth, Phil Collins, Justin Townes Earle, Stephen Malkmus, Sebastian Bach, Tom Petty, Eddie Van Halen, Kelly Clarkson, Pete Townshend, Bob Seger, the Zombies, and Gary Clark Jr. And look for dozens of episodes featuring genre-spanning discussions, debates, and explainers with Rolling Stone’s critics and reporters.