Game On: Athletes Take Sides in Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar Rap Beef
Most of us have caught wind of the intense and ongoing feud between rap powerhouses Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Yet, few may know that its origins trace back to the sports world when Drake threw shade at Lamar on ESPN a decade ago. Fast-forward to today, and the feud has escalated to its breaking point. Both artists have released four diss tracks since mid-April, causing tension and drama. This rap feud has everyone taking sides, even our favorite athletes!
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Even athletes have taken sides, with tennis star Coco Gauff siding with Kendrick after tennis star Naomi Osaka showed her support. Gauff appreciates Kendrick's defense of Serena Williams, especially after Drake dissed Williams and her husband in a 2022 song. Kendrick's track "Not Like Us" was released on May 4, explicitly warning Drake against speaking ill of Serena.
Drake and Serena Williams were first seen together in 2011. They've sparked rumors, especially when Drake cheered for Williams at her tennis matches in 2015. But their relationship remained a mystery. In 2022, Drake mentioned Williams and her husband in a song, causing drama. He called her husband a "groupie". This upset fans and strained Drake and Williams' relationship.
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LeBron James, a big fan of rap, appears to have chosen a side. Although he has enjoyed music from both artists over the years, it seems that LeBron is now favoring Kendrick. Kendrick even mentioned LeBron in one of his songs, urging athletes close to Drake to be careful. There have been sightings of King James dancing to "Not Like Us" at a club and singing along to Kendrick and Future's track "Like That" during warm-ups.
“Ayy, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, will you keep the family away?”
Among the upcoming rookie class of the WNBA, Caitlin Clark, Celeste Taylor, Kamilla Cardoso, and seven other draft picks have expressed their support for Drake. Cameron Brink stood alone in her support for Kendrick.
Meanwhile, basketball player Angel Reese, known for her competitive spirit, avoided taking sides during an interview with the Chicago Sky. While most of her teammates favored Drake, Reese opted not to choose a side to avoid stirring up more controversy. Reese has received a lot of hate on social media, which could be why she has decided to remain neutral.
The feud has also hit the college football world, with Michigan leading the discussion. The official Michigan football account used audio from Kendrick's "Not Like Us" along with videos of their team winning the 2023 national championship. USC also featured the track in its social media content. USC may feel a sense of loyalty to Kendrick, considering it's the closest Big 10 school to his hometown in Compton, California.
The ongoing battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar isn't just a hot topic in music. It's a feud that has reverberated through the sports world, from locker-room banter to social media chatter. It's caught the eyes of athletes and sports teams, highlighting this historic clash's significant and widespread impact on the sports community.