Drake and Kendrick Lamar, two of hip-hop's biggest names, have had a rollercoaster relationship that started with collaborations but has since turned into a full-blown rivalry.

Back in the day, they teamed up on tracks like "Buried Alive Interlude" (2011) and "Poetic Justice" (2012). However, things took a turn in 2013 when Kendrick dropped a verse on Big Sean's "Control," calling out several rappers, including Drake, to step up their game. Drake played it cool in interviews, but fans noticed some subtle digs in their music.

Fast forward to March 2024, and Kendrick released "Like That," which many saw as a direct shot at Drake. Drake fired back with tracks like "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle." The latter even featured AI-generated vocals mimicking Tupac, which didn't sit well with Tupac's estate and got pulled from streaming platforms. Kendrick didn't hold back either, dropping "Euphoria" and "6:16 in LA," bringing personal jabs into the mix. Drake's "Family Matters" accused Kendrick of domestic issues, and Kendrick responded with "Meet the Grahams," alleging Drake had a secret child and shady connections. Kendrick's "Not Like Us" further accused Drake of inappropriate relationships, leading Drake to deny the claims in "The Heart Part 6."

Last week, Kendrick surprised fans by dropping a new album, "GNX," on November 22, 2024. The 12-track project is his shortest yet, clocking in at just over 44 minutes. It's a more straightforward album than his previous work, featuring clear, direct lyrics and a strong West Coast vibe. Some fans speculate that another project might be on the horizon, but even as a standalone, "GNX" captures a moment of triumphant fun and reflection in Kendrick's career.

But on the heels of the praise and social media traction the album received, the beef didn't stay on wax; it spilled into the courtroom. On November 25, 2024, Drake's company, Frozen Moments LLC, took legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify. Drake alleges they used bots and shady deals to inflate the popularity of Kendrick's "Not Like Us," including offering Spotify a 30% discount to push the track and making under-the-table payments to radio stations—a practice known as "payola," which is illegal. Drake's team argues these actions could violate laws against fraud and bribery and is seeking more info from UMG and Spotify before moving forward.

UMG has denied these claims, stating they follow ethical marketing practices and that fans choose the music they want to hear. They dismissed Drake's allegations as "contrived and absurd."

The next day, November 26, 2024, Drake upped the ante with another lawsuit against UMG, this time for defamation. He claims UMG allowed the release of "Not Like Us," which he says falsely accuses him of being a sexual predator and having a second secret child. Drake argues this has seriously harmed his reputation and alleges UMG engaged in more shady deals with iHeartRadio to promote Kendrick's track, putting his own music at a disadvantage.

Will Kendrick respond with defamation lawsuits of his own? Who knows?

Needless to say, this rivalry may change the face of hip-hop beef forever.