While fans and podcasters have been dissecting Kendrick Lamar and Drake‘s 2024 rap feud incessantly, the Compton wordsmith has revealed that, for him, it was simply about the art of battle rap.
In a rare interview Thursday (Feb. 7), K. Dot sat down with Apple Music’s Ebro Darden and Nadeska Alexis ahead of his Super Bowl halftime show this weekend, with Darden asking if he intended to “draw the line” with his ferocious 2024 output. While not mentioning Drake by name, Kendrick asserted that his intent, “from day one, was to always keep the nature of it as a sport. I don’t care how muthaf**kas look at it as far as a collaborative effort. That’s cool, too, but I love when artists grit their teeth.”
“I still watch battle raps, I still watch Smack/URL, from Murda Mook to [Loaded] Lux to Tay Roc to my bro Daylyt. This has always been the core definition of who I am. I don’t think it was a thing for this year; I think it was just a continuation [of what I’ve been doing].”
He went on to add, “What I will say about this year, it was more from a space where I think a lot of people were putting rap to the back and you didn’t see that grit, you didn’t see that bite anymore.”
Kendrick Lamar is welcomed to the stage during the Super Bowl LIX Pregame + Apple Music Halftime Show press conference. Thursday February 6, 2025. (Photo by PA Wire/PA Images via Getty Images)
Fans of the lyricist defended his stance, reminding those questioning his sincerity that on “Euphoria,” he rapped, “We ain’t gotta get personal, this a friendly fade, you should keep it that way,” with Drake’s decision to speak on his girlfriend, Whitney Alford, and their children’s paternity opening the floodgates for more vicious bars. Others argued that accusing someone and/or their associates of being pedophiles goes beyond the “sport” of battling.
For the record, anyone who follows professional battle rap — Smack/URL, King Of The Dot, etc. — knows that “personals” are an aspect of the sport, with rumors, family, court cases, relationships — see Eazy The Block Captain and Remy Ma — and more being considered fair game.
Check out Kendrick’s interview below.
The interview was in promotion of Sunday’s Super Bowl and Halftime show headlined by Lamar, with the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Philadelphia Eagles during the game. Catch the Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 9, at 6pm EST on Fox.
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