Content Creators Rejoice Over Kendrick, Drake Beef
DMCA copyrights were lifted for both artists’ diss tracks.
(Getty Images)
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has intensified as both rappers trade barbs in a series of diss tracks, captivating fans and stirring up social media. The spat escalated in March when Lamar dropped “Like That” in response to Drake and J. Cole’s track “First Person Shooter.” Despite J. Cole bowing out, Lamar and Drake have continued the verbal onslaught, with each releasing four new diss tracks over the past weekend alone.
Newsweek reported an unprecedented move on the part of both artists’ and their copyrights on the songs they put out for this beef.
Amid the feud, a surprising turn of events unfolded as both artists allegedly removed copyright restrictions from their diss tracks. This move allows social media influencers, like streamer FaZe YourRage, to share reactions without fear of DMCA takedown orders. YourRage took to X (formerly Twitter) to express gratitude, revealing that Kendrick Lamar had waived copyright on his diss track reactions. Shortly after, Drake followed suit, granting similar permissions to YourRage for his diss track responses.
Kendrick removed all copyright away from all my reactions to his disstracks & is lettin me get paid for all of em
No label has ever done that for me so I’m thankful 🙏🏾
— FaZe YourRAGE (@YourRAGEz) May 5, 2024
The diss tracks themselves didn’t hold back, with Lamar accusing Drake of concealing an 11-year-old daughter in “Meet the Grahams.” Drake swiftly denied the claim in “The Heart Part 6,” alleging that he had strategically fed misinformation to Lamar. This echoes past controversies, such as Drake’s acknowledgment of a secret son during his beef with Pusha T in 2018.
The feud’s roots stretch back over a decade, punctuated by intermittent collaborations but primarily marked by lyrical jabs and media spats. The latest flare-up reignited in March when Lamar’s verse on “She’s Like That” was interpreted as targeting Drake, prompting Drake’s response with “Push Ups” in April.
Drake’s “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which utilized AI vocals from Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur, added another layer to the feud. However, the track has since been deleted, leaving behind a trail of headlines and speculation.
As the rivalry continues to unfold, fans eagerly anticipate the next moves from both Lamar and Drake, while the lifting of copyright restrictions offers influencers newfound freedom to dissect and react to the ongoing drama without fear of legal repercussions.
Noumaan Faiz, (he/him) is a journalist and entertainer from Hayward, CA who covers culture and entertainment.
Edited by Nykeya Woods