American rapper Kanye West has weighed in on the long-standing rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, stating that Drake is vastly superior in terms of relevance and cultural impact on hip-hop.
In a recent interview with DJ Akademiks, West asserted that while Lamar may have gained the upper hand in their U.S.-based rap feud, Drake’s influence on the global music scene is unmatched. He likened Drake’s cultural dominance to that of Future and Young Thug.
“One thing is, Drake is a million times better than Kendrick [Lamar] and a million times more important [to the hip-hop world]. What Future and [Young] Thug have done is what Drake culturally is. That sht was insane, bro. It’s universal,”* West remarked.
The rivalry between Drake and Kendrick Lamar dates back to 2013 when Drake responded to Lamar’s verse on Big Sean’s track Control, in which Lamar challenged multiple rappers, including Drake. Though Lamar described the verse as “friendly competition,” tensions simmered over the years.
In 2023, J. Cole referred to himself, Drake, and Lamar as the “big three” of modern hip-hop in the song First Person Shooter. However, Lamar dismissed this idea in 2024 with his track Like That, where he asserted that hip-hop’s top spot belonged solely to him.
The feud escalated in May 2024 when Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us accused Drake of serious allegations. Drake responded with The Heart Part 6, refuting the claims and suggesting Lamar had been misled by false information.
By 2025, Drake took legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), alleging that Not Like Us was defamatory and had been promoted using illegal tactics.
Meanwhile, Lamar’s dominance in the battle was cemented when he won five Grammy Awards for Not Like Us, performing it and Euphoria at Super Bowl LIX.
Despite Lamar’s victories in the rap battle, West maintains that Drake’s cultural significance remains unparalleled, solidifying his legacy as a dominant force in hip-hop.
