Last weekend, Metro Boomin and Future dropped their joint album, “We Don’t Trust You,” which has recently gained attention for featuring Kendrick Lamar, who seems to appear solely to diss Drake and J.Cole. The three rappers have been sending shots back and forth since 2013, when Kendrick featured on “Control” by Big Sean, claiming that he’d take his spot as #1. Their competition could have been read as friendly, but Kendrick’s latest verse shows this may not be the case. With the line “f*ck the Big Three… it’s just big me,” the rapper refers to “First Person Shooter” where Cole says that the three are in competition for top rapper.
Although Kendrick appears to spend his entire verse insulting the two rappers, he could just as well be criticizing the ingenuine nature of the rap industry. Calling Drake and J.Cole “goofies with a check” he insinuates their success is due to their resources instead of their experience, comparing them to icons like Melle Mel, 40 Water and Andre 3000. Even saying “Prince outlived Mike Jack,” in response to Drake saying he’s one hit away from being on Michael Jackson’s level.
Drake and Cole both supposedly helped Kendrick establish himself in the beginning of his career, collaborating and even touring together. It seems like Kendrick distanced himself from the two, and Cole admitted that they would likely never collaborate on an album. The reasons behind this have remained unclear, but Kendrick lets us know that he’s serious on his stance against them, saying, “f*ck sneak dissin’, first person shooter I hope they came with three switches.” Offense was clearly taken by the suggestion that the three were in competition, but the motive behind Kendrick’s verse may have been deeper than trying to establish his superiority as a rapper.
Kendrick’s latest album “Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers” sent a message to his audience about the struggles he’s had to overcome, and how he’s evolved as a person and an artist. It would be contradictory for Kendrick’s motive to simply be success in this “competition.” The message being sent may have more to do with Kendrick placing value judgments on the two. He’s essentially saying he doesn’t want anyone to think he’s competing with people whose actions he disagrees with.
Cole and Drake have been known to be controversial, Drake even having a history of insulting artists like Rihanna, SZA, and Megan Thee Stallion, all of whom Kendrick has outwardly supported. While both have received plenty of backlash from other public figures, none have been as closely tied to them as Kendrick seemed to once be. Drake and Cole have yet to directly respond to “Like That,” leaving fans wondering if Kendrick could have the ability to further expose the two if they choose to retaliate.
