Drake has once again sparked controversy, this time with a surprise appearance on Twitch streamer XQC’s livestream, where he took direct shots at his longtime rival Kendrick Lamar. During the stream, Drake went on a rant, doubling down on lines from his song The Heart Part 6, asserting that Lamar couldn’t take him down without “facts” and that “fairy tales won’t do it.” The comment was a clear jab at Lamar, whose name has often been a target in Drake’s ongoing beef with the rapper. In true Drake fashion, the online tirade added fuel to an already simmering fire between the two hip-hop heavyweights.
Lamar, who recently released his album GNX, wasted little time responding, though his reaction was more subtle. In a now-deleted Instagram Story screenshot, Lamar expressed his disbelief at Drake’s comments, asking a friend, “He trippin??!” The response, brief as it was, carried an air of both amusement and confusion, signaling that Lamar wasn’t particularly bothered by Drake’s attempt to escalate their ongoing rivalry. While the back-and-forth between the two has been brewing for years, Lamar’s reaction in this case suggests that he may not be taking the bait.
Meanwhile, the drama didn’t stop with Lamar. Drake also took aim at American singer Steve Lacy during the same livestream, calling him a “fragile opp” while also giving a backhanded compliment, admitting that Lacy’s track Bad Habit was a good song. Lacy, unamused by the insult, responded with a selfie on Instagram, humorously captioned, “WAITTTTTT LMAOOOO WHAT IN THE.” The singer’s reaction, which was part confusion and part amusement, resonated with fans who saw Drake’s attempt to start a beef with Lacy as a bit of a misfire.
The situation took a more serious turn when news surfaced that Drake was preparing legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG). The rapper is accusing the music giant of using bots, payola, and other shady tactics to inflate Lamar’s streaming numbers for Not Like Us, a track that takes direct aim at Drake. According to Drake’s claims, UMG even allegedly used Apple’s Siri to push Lamar’s track over his own. This accusation added a new layer to the rivalry, suggesting that Drake believes his competition is being unfairly bolstered by behind-the-scenes manipulation.
UMG was quick to respond to the allegations, dismissing Drake’s claims as both “offensive and untrue.” In a statement to Variety, the company called the accusations “absurd” and reiterated that fans are the ultimate arbiters of music success, choosing which artists and tracks they want to listen to. Despite UMG’s strong defense, the back-and-forth has only escalated tensions between Drake, Lamar, and now Steve Lacy. As the drama continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the legal battle or public insults will have any lasting impact on the careers of these major players in the hip-hop world.
