Kendrick Lamar Wins Rap War With Drake, But Drizzy Could Still Post A Comeback
Kendrick Lamar has won his historic rap battle with Drake in the eyes of many hip-hop stars, fans and critics, but DJ Akademiks believes Drizzy hasn't lost the war yet.
Fans speculated that Drake may have waved the white flag Sunday in "The Heart Part 6," his latest entry in his rap beef with Lamar.
But DJ Akademiks said during a chat with "TMZ Live" Monday that he doesn't think Drake bowed out and that a comeback is still possible for the "Hotline Bling" rapper.
The podcaster praised Drake for showing off his lyrical prowess but acknowledged that the subject matter of "The Heart Part 6" -- in which the Canadian rapper denies being a predator -- "doesn't belong in a battle."
While he believes Lamar is winning the battle "slightly," DJ Akademiks said he and others in the hip-hop community are still waiting for a "knockout" to decide who the winner is once and for all.
He suggested that Lamar's claim that Drake allegedly has a secret daughter could have been the "revelation" to end the battle -- if it was true. Drake, however, has since debunked this allegation.
If neither Drake nor Lamar can find a big enough revelation to end their diss war, DJ Akademiks suggested that the one who puts out the biggest hit song would be crowned the winner.
"I think both of these guys are looking for the drop-mic moment, and they can't find it in terms of gossip or news," the rap media maven said. "I don't think either one raps that much better than the other to also have that moment, so we have only one possible option: who's gonna make the biggest hit song?"
DJ Akademiks pointed to Drake's diss track "Back to Back," which ended his rap beef with Meek Mill.
"After Drake dropped 'Back to Back,' we didn't care what Meek said afterward. He dropped three or four songs, but the conversation was over," he recalled.
DJ Akademiks noted that Lamar's latest diss track, "Not Like Us," has started to "make waves" reminiscent of the attention "Back to Back" got.
A post on X, formerly Twitter, Monday by the Art of Dialogue backed up this claim.
"Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss song, 'Not Like Us,' has LA super turnt up," read the tweet, which included videos of hundreds of people dancing to Lamar's track at various clubs and shows.
Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss song, "Not Like Us," has LA super turnt up. pic.twitter.com/OXT91cOq6E
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) May 6, 2024
Social media users also praised Lamar's song, in which the rapper called out Drake's alleged interest in young women and referred to him as a "certified pedophile."
"This is insane," one X user commented. "It's a f**king diss track."
"I can't believe how bad Drake took this L. But Kendrick is a different opponent," another wrote.
"Most genius thing I think Kendrick did was try and make a West Coast anthem in the beef," a third person wrote.
A fourth comment read, "I knew Kendrick would fry Drake, but I did not expect for KENDRICK to be the one to get the [club] banger in all of this."
But other social media users claimed Lamar's song was not as popular as some may think and was only getting played in Los Angeles.
"Only L.A.! S**t aint getting no burn where I'm from," one critic claimed.
While DJ Akademiks doesn't think the fight is over yet, Rolling Stone has already chosen its winner, declaring that "the crown goes to Compton," referring to Lamar's hometown.
Music reviewer Anthony Fantano also said Drake may have to admit defeat after Lamar's one-two punch of "Meet the Grahams" and "Not Like Us," which dropped Friday and Saturday, respectively.
"Drake could throw in the towel. It's starting to look like that might need to happen," Fantano said during a livestream. "This is pretty devastating."
Drake denying that he pursued young girls and name-dropping Millie Bobby Brown in his latest diss track, "The Heart Part 6," only had fans trolling him rather than impress them.
