An unexpected K-Pop group entered the infamous rap beef.
In the fall of 2023, Canadian rapper Drake released “First Person Shooter” featuring American rapper J. Cole. Apparently, Kendrick Lamar was initially asked to feature, but he declined. With this release, J. Cole and Drake placed themselves as two of this generation’s Big Three of rap.
Love when they argue the hardest MC
Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?
We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali
Huh, yeah, yeah, huh-huh, yeah, Muhammad Ali— J. Cole, “First Person Shooter”
Kendrick Lamar disagreed. So, he responded with the release of the Future and Metro Boomin collab “Like That.” In it, he unexpectedly dissed J. Cole and directly referenced his and Drake’s previous lyrics.
Ah, yeah, huh, yeah, get up with me
F*ck sneak dissin’, first-person shooter, I hope they came with three switches
I crash out like, “F*ck rap,” diss Melle Mel if I had to
Got 2TEEZ with me, I’m snatchin’ chains and burnin’ tattoos, it’s up
Lost too many soldiers not to play it safe
If he walk around with that stick, it ain’t André 3K
Think I won’t drop the location? I still got PTSD
Motherf*ck the big three, n*gga, it’s just big me
N*gga, bum
What? I’m really like that
And your best work is a light pack
N*gga, Prince outlived Mike Jack’
N*gga, bum
‘Fore all your dogs gettin’ buried
That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see Pet Sematary (Yeah)
N*gga, bum— “Like That”
It seemed like Drake finally responded to the beef on April 13 when DJ Akademiks shared “Push Ups,” which was initially leaked and speculated to be AI. In it, Drake took a shot at Kendrick’s height, referenced his wife, and claimed other music artists are currently more influential in the industry.
On ‘Push-Ups,’ the Canuck basically says Lamar was an indentured servant under Top Dog for not only taking an alleged 50-50 earnings split while he was at the label, but hitting military-style push-ups anytime the label head demanded with ‘drop and give me 50.’ It’s an admittedly clever turn of phrase on top of a dig at Big Steppers: ‘Your last one bricked, you really not on sh*t, they make excuses for you ’cause they hate to see me lit.’ He also made a bunch of short-king jokes: ‘Pipsqueak pipe down you ain’t no big three / SZA got you wiped down / Travis got you wiped down / Savage got you wiped down’ and ‘I’m at the top of the mountain so you tight now / Just to have a talk with yo a*s I had to hike down.’ But he also cast a few strays in the direction of the Weeknd, who has historically denied being a part of Drake’s factory of artists who only make songs for Drake; A$ AP Rocky, who emptied the clip on Drake’s obsession with his partner, Rihanna, on We Still Don’t Trust Youtrack ‘Show of Hands’; and … Rick Ross. The Rozay stray seemed outta nowhere but it also could shine some light on the more understated issue at hand: women. ‘I might take your latest girl and cuff her like I’m Ricky,’ Drake adds. ‘Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this n*gga turning 50.’
— Vulture
It took some time for Kendrick Lamar to respond, but he didn’t hold back when he finally did. He released the six-minute song “Euphoria.” In it, he hit all of Drake’s possible insecurities but also claimed he hates everything about him. Shortly after, he dropped another diss track, “6:16 in LA.” Lamar warned Drake that he had a lot on him.
@anniesright #kendrick #euphoria #drake #rapbeef #kendricklamar
♬ original sound – annie
Drake released “Family Matters” in response, claiming Lamar’s wife sleeps around, questioning whether his kids are his, etc. Kendrick Lamar retorted with “Meet the Grahams,” claiming that Drake has a secret daughter, even accusing him of being a pedophile, and more. He followed up yet again with “Not Like Us,” reiterating the serious allegations against Drake.
Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him
They tell me Chubbs the only one that get your hand-me-downs
And Party at the party playin’ with his nose now
And Baka got a weird case, why is he around?
Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles
Wop, wop, wop, wop, wop, Dot, f*ck ’em up
Wop, wop, wop, wop, wop, I’ma do my stuff
Why you trollin’ like a b*tch? Ain’t you tired?
Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor— Kendrick Lamar, “Not Like Us”
Now, MNH Entertainment‘s eight-member boy group, 8TURN (previously known as BOM, Boys of MNH), unexpectedly inserted themselves into the infamous rap beef.
8TURN’s Seungheon and Minho uploaded a video via TikTok, which has now gone viral with 1.1M views at the time of writing. With Mario-inspired filters, the two danced to Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us,” which became a viral audio on the video-sharing app.
호헌장담즈📢😲
▶️ https://t.co/bMzlgmrwVr#8TURN #에잇턴 #エイトターン#민호 #MINHO #ミノ#승헌 #SEUNGHEON #スンホン pic.twitter.com/Mp1wLA99vC
— 8TURN (@8TURN_official) May 28, 2024
Netizens were taken aback by 8TURN’s use of the audio. Many joked that they had revealed whose “side” they were on in the rap beef.
@8turn_official 호헌장담즈📢😲 #8TURN #에잇턴 #エイトターン #민호 #MINHO #ミノ #승헌 #SEUNGHEON #スンホン #fyp #trend #trending
♬ Not Like Us – Kendrick Lamar
Netizens believe this video will go down in “K-Pop history.” Some saved it or commented they were there before it was deleted, suspecting management might take it down.
Previously, Stray Kids‘ Bang Chan reacted to the rap beef. Read more below.
Stray Kids’ Bang Chan Reacts To Drake Vs. Kendrick Lamar Rap Beef
