Welcome to the May edition of The Boho Digest! If you haven't been keeping up with the latest in hip-hop, then boy, do we have some tea for you. This month's pop culture roundup dives deep into the recent lyrical war between some of the biggest names in the game: Drake, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Future, Metro Boomin and Rick Ross. Buckle up, because it's been a wild ride.
The Genesis: Drake and J. Cole's "First Person Shooter" (October 6, 2023)
The saga kicks off with Drake and J. Cole's release of "First Person Shooter" last October. Featured on Drake's album For All the Dogs, the track saw Cole positioning himself alongside Drake and Kendrick Lamar as the "big three" in rap. Cole's bars, "Love when they argue the hardest MC. Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?/We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali," set the stage for the drama to unfold.
Kendrick Strikes Back: "Like That" (March 22, 2024)
Fast forward five months and Kendrick Lamar clapped back hard. Teaming up with Future and Metro Boomin on their track "Like That," Kendrick took direct shots at the "big three" concept Cole had introduced. Kendrick boldly rapped, "motherf--- the big three," and "it's just big me." He also threw shade at Drake, comparing him to Michael Jackson and himself to Prince, while dissing Drake's album For All the Dogs.
"7 Minute Drill" cover art
J. Cole's Response: "7 Minute Drill" (April 5, 2024)
Not one to stay silent, J. Cole hit back with his own diss track "7 Minute Drill" from his surprise album Might Delete Later. Cole didn't hold back, calling Kendrick's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers “tragic” and implying that To Pimp a Butterfly was boring. He even criticized Kendrick's output, saying, "Four albums in 12 years, n----, I can divide."
Cole Backtracks on Kendrick Lamar Diss: April 2024
Shortly after the release of "7 Minute Drill," Cole had a change of heart. During his Dreamville Festival, he publicly apologized, stating that dissing Kendrick disrupted his peace. The song was subsequently removed from streaming services.
Meanwhile, Future and Metro Boomin kept the momentum going with their follow-up album, "We Really Don't Trust You". The Weeknd and A$AP Rocky added their own subtle digs at Drake on tracks like "All to Myself" and "Show of Hands."
Drake's Response: "Push Ups" (April 13, 2024)
Drake wasn't going to let the disses slide. On April 13, a leaked track called "Push Ups" surfaced, where Drake mocked Kendrick's stature, his collaborations, and his status in the rap game. The song, which many thought was AI-generated at first, was confirmed real when DJ Akademiks premiered it.
Rick Ross Enters the Beef: "Champagne Moments" (April 13, 2024)
Rick Ross quickly responded to Drake's jabs with "Champagne Moments," accusing Drake of having ghostwriters and other personal slights. This sparked a heated exchange on social media, with Ross calling out Drake for various grievances.
The AI Controversy: "Taylor Made Freestyle" (April 19, 2024)
Drake pushed the envelope further with "Taylor Made Freestyle," which controversially featured AI-generated verses from Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur. The track included jabs at Kendrick and hinted at Taylor Swift's influence over Kendrick's release schedule. However, Tupac's estate wasn't having it, and they threatened legal action, leading to the track's removal.
"Euphoria" cover art
Kendrick's Full-Length Diss: "Euphoria" (April 30, 2024)
Kendrick finally responded with a full-length diss track "Euphoria," taking aim at Drake's credibility and integrity. He even mentioned a Toronto restaurant and made references to Haley Joel Osment and Joel Osteen, adding a layer of complexity to his bars.
The Climax: A Weekend of Disses (May 3-5, 2024)
The first weekend of May was explosive. Lamar released "6:16 in LA" on May 3. Drake responded with"Family Matters," later that day making several serious allegations about Kendrick's personal life.
"Meet the Grahams" cover art
Kendrick wasn't having it, less than an hour later, Lamar released "Meet the Grahams" addressing Drake's family and even accusing him of having a secret daughter. The following day, Kendrick released "Not Like Us," continuing his attack and accusing Drake of inappropriate behavior.
The track, backed by DJ Mustard, hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and got crowned the unofficial summer anthem.
"The Heart Part 6" cover art
Drake wasn't going to stay silent. He released a song titled "The Heart Part 6" that referenced a famous series of songs Kendrick is known for. The artwork for Drake's song even included a social media post related to Kendrick's family. In the song, Drake defended himself against claims of bad behavior and questionable friendships. He also suggested that some of the rumors about him might have been started on purpose by his people at OVO and that Kendrick took the bait. Throughout the track, Drake seemed upset by the whole situation. He said his lyrics are based on truth while criticizing Kendrick for spreading negativity.
What's Next?
As the dust settles from this intense back-and-forth, fans are left wondering what the next move will be. Will the feud escalate further, or will the artists call a truce? Don't get your hopes up. One thing's for sure: the hip-hop world hasn't seen drama like this in a minute.
You wouldn't wanna miss the next Boho Digest, trust. All the pop culture juice you need is coming your way.
