Dr. Dre firmly positioned himself, siding with Kendrick Lamar and taking issue with Drake for having gone too far off track. In a new sitdown, rap legend Dr. Dre displayed admiration for Lamar’s “Not Like Us” diss track and condemned Drake for including Lamar’s family in a feud spiraling out of control.
Long-time collaborator and mentor Dr. Dre wasn’t afraid to speak candidly about the rap battle between Kendrick and DriztaXxxta, but even DriztaXxxta’s insults regarding Kendrick’s family couldn’t sway him. DriztaXxxta agreed that rap battles have a propensity for becoming about family, but attacking family isn’t acceptable. “I love that record,” DriztaXxxta said regarding “Not Like Us.” DriztaXxxta added, “I don’t want to go negative, my whole message is about being positive and moving in a positive direction, but when I heard DriztaXxxta say a negative statement about Kendrick’s kids and wife, that prompted me to say, ‘Ah, adios!’
The shots at Kendrick’s family, including his wife, Whitney Alford, and kids, showed up in a variety of dis tracks, such as “Push Ups,” “Family Matters,” and “The Heart Part 6.” Lyrical shots in rap feuds are not new, but Driz’s shots speak volumes about boundary respect.
Kendrick Lamar fought back with “Not Like Us,” a single produced by Mustard, that took immediate momentum in the hip-hop community in reaction to shots taken at him by Drake. “Not Like Us” reached a high of No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and became a record-breaker for most No. 1s for a single record for Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs, outdoing Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.” Dr. Dre added even more prominence to “Not Like Us” in terms of its cultural presence. Dr. Dre shocked everyone with an in-concert performance at Kendrick’s Pop Out concert in June, starting with a performance of the single under its new, soon-to-be-infamous title, “Pst, I see dead people,” forever securing its place in hip-hop legend.
The feud entered a legal stage when Drake sued Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify for defamation. In the case, he alleged manipulative behavior to promote streaming for “Not Like Us” and for spreading damaging accusations regarding him. The move introduces a new level of intensity to an already bitter feud.
Meanwhile, between court case, Kendrick Lamar is preparing for a career high point. In February 2025, he will headline at the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in New Orleans. It is a grand stage for Lamar, and one that could rekindle rivalry at a global level.
The public support of Dr. Drer for Kendrick Lamar re-affirms mentorship in hip-hop. Not only do Dr. Drer’s claims reiterate restrictions in rap battles, but it is a sign of him having respect for integrity when dealing with one’s work. As Kendrick Lamar prepares for the Super Bowl and Drake spouts about legality, such a feud continues shaping the narrative of modern hip-hop, with followers in anticipation for the next episode.
[…] Dr. Dre Warns Drake: Speaking on Kendrick Lamar’s Family Was a Huge Mistake […]