Kendrick Lamar may have emerged as the perceived victor in his explosive lyrical battle against Drake, but not all fans are applauding his recent moves.
Following his performances of searing diss tracks like “Euphoria” and the chart-topping “Not Like Us,” many praised Lamar for his sharp critiques of Drake’s alleged image manipulation, questionable authenticity, and even his parenting.
However, just days after the dust seemed to settle, Kendrick is facing backlash for what some are calling hypocrisy.
(FOR EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Kendrick Lamar, winner of Record Of The Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video and Song Of The Year for “Not Like Us”, poses in the press room during the 67th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
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The controversy stems from Lamar’s Grand National Tour stop in Atlanta on Tuesday night (April 29), where he brought out Playboi Carti as a surprise guest. The two performed their joint track “Good Credit,” featured on Carti’s Music album.
While the crowd in attendance may have welcomed the high-energy moment, critics on social media were quick to call out what they see as a glaring contradiction.
“I like Kendrick’s music, but his personality screams hypocrisy,” one user posted after clips of Carti’s appearance surfaced online. “Call Drake a deadbeat and all sorts of, then go on to hang out and work with Carti, an actual deadbeat, and a domestic abuser with multiple cases.”
Playboi Carti performs at the 2019 Governors Ball Festival at Randall’s Island on June 01, 2019 in New York City.
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Playboi Carti has previously faced public accusations of being absent from his child’s life and has had run-ins with the law, including domestic abuse allegations—claims that make his partnership with Lamar a controversial choice given the themes Kendrick leaned on heavily in his disses toward Drake.
Other fans took issue with what they saw as geographic pandering. Throughout his battle with Drake, Kendrick called out the Toronto rapper for using Atlanta as a cultural crutch—especially on “Not Like Us,” where he took aim at Drake’s perceived exploitation of regional scenes for personal gain.
With Kendrick now performing in Atlanta alongside one of the city’s most prominent artists, critics see a similar play.
Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at Caesars Superdome on February 09, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
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“I gotta be honest bruh. That last verse on NLU really don’t hit the same when Kendrick is doing the exact same sh*t before our eyes lol,” another fan wrote, echoing growing skepticism over Kendrick’s own affiliations.
While Kendrick Lamar may still hold the crown in his lyrical duel with Drake—at least in the court of public opinion—fans are making it clear that consistency matters just as much as bars.
See footage of Kendrick Lamar’s Grand National Tour performance with Playboi Carti below.
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