Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: The Beef's Impact on Tracks
In the world of hip-hop, few rivalries have captured as much attention as the ongoing feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Both artists are celebrated globally for their distinct lyrical prowess, chart-topping hits, and influential personas. Their rivalry, dating back to 2011, has seen periods of dormancy punctuated by flare-ups through diss tracks and indirect jabs, keeping fans and critics guessing about what comes next. This article provides an in-depth look at the history of the Kendrick Lamar-Drake rivalry and how their beef has impacted the music industry.
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Overview of the Beef
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake began in 2011 when Drake invited Lamar to feature on his album Take Care. However, tensions escalated significantly in 2013 following Lamar’s explosive verse on Big Sean’s "Control." In this verse, Lamar provocatively called out various rappers, including Drake, setting off a series of indirect disses and subtle shots over the following years.
In the wake of "Control," the rivalry took on new life, with notable moments including Lamar's freestyle at the BET Hip-Hop Awards and Drake's "The Language" from Nothing Was the Same. Kendrick seemed to take aim at Drake's ghostwriting controversy in "King Kunta," while Drake's verses on "100" and Future’s "Sh!t" were perceived to be digs at Lamar.
Recently, the rivalry reignited after Lamar dropped two diss tracks in response to Drake and J. Cole's collaboration "First Person Shooter." Lamar did not hold back, asserting his dominance while also referencing aspects of Drake's career, such as his involvement as executive producer on the series Euphoria and his past as an actor on Degrassi.
For a more detailed timeline of their beef, check out Time's comprehensive article or CBS News’ breakdown.
Impact on Tracks
At Viberate, we analyzed YouTube view data to understand how this feud has impacted engagement across the various tracks from Drake and Kendrick Lamar.
Individual Track Analysis
Drake - "First Person Shooter" (feat. J. Cole)
This track shows moderate popularity across the top 10 countries, with one-week-to-one-month view ratios ranging from 25.8% to 31.6%.
The highest one-week viewership ratios are in the United Kingdom (31.6%) and Canada (30.6%).
Drake - "Push Ups"
This track exhibits less trendiness, with most regions observing ratios around 20%, except for the Philippines (25.6%).
The United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom all hover around 20%.
Kendrick Lamar - "Not Like Us"
This track is highly trending, with all countries showing identical one-week and one-month view counts, indicating its recent release and rapid traction.
Drake - "Family Matters"
"Family Matters" is extremely trending globally, with view counts identical over one week and one month, suggesting that all views occurred recently.
Overall, both "Not Like Us" and "Family Matters" are trending strongly due to their recent releases. "First Person Shooter" is moderately trending, while "Push Ups" is less trending overall.
Country-Level Analysis
United States
"First Person Shooter" (29.7%) and "Push Ups" (20.7%) show notable ratios. New tracks "Not Like Us" and "Family Matters" are highly trending.
Canada
"First Person Shooter" (30.6%) is highly trending, with "Push Ups" at 20.8%. Newly released tracks are performing well.
United Kingdom
"First Person Shooter" (31.6%) and "Push Ups" (20.2%) have strong ratios. New tracks are highly trending.
South Africa
"First Person Shooter" (25.8%) and "Push Ups" (21.4%) are well-received. New tracks dominate.
India
"First Person Shooter" (27.8%) and "Push Ups" (21.1%) are trending, with new tracks in high demand.
Australia
"First Person Shooter" (31%) and "Push Ups" (21.6%) have solid ratios, with new releases dominating.
Germany
"First Person Shooter" (30.8%) is trending, while "Push Ups" (19.1%) is less popular. New tracks are performing well.
Philippines
"First Person Shooter" (29.4%) and "Push Ups" (25.6%) are strong, with new tracks popular.
Brazil
"First Person Shooter" (26.5%) remains consistent, and new tracks are trending.
France
New tracks are trending, showing consistent popularity.
Overall, the most consistent trends across tracks appear in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, and Australia.
Conclusion
The Kendrick Lamar-Drake rivalry continues to be one of the most fascinating sagas in modern hip-hop, evolving through time and maintaining public interest. Despite their long-standing differences and lyrical skirmishes, their mutual rivalry continues to shape their music and attract fans globally. The recent release of diss tracks has further solidified their competitive dynamic, while influencing the trending engagement of songs like "Not Like Us," "Family Matters," and "First Person Shooter." As each artist pushes to assert dominance, the hip-hop world will be watching to see where their next lyrical exchange leads.
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