Kanye West and Drake are undoubtedly two of the greatest performers in hip-hop history. But their relationship and beef is complicated and confusing, to say the least. The former friends, now friends, appear to have been at loggerheads over the past few years, but there are also signs that they have reconciled. This creates a strange cycle. Ye recently said “F**k Drake” on Instagram with a snarky caption, but the question remains: Is this really beef or more like The Impossible Whopper?
It was all love in the beginning. Drake rapped over several leaf beats on projects early in his career. In 2009, Drake told MTV News that Ye was his biggest musical influence. “As far as music goes, Kanye West has shaped a lot of what I do,” the young Aubrey revealed. “Before I met him, I had the greatest respect for Kanye West. I would even go so far as to say that he is the most influential person in terms of musicians that I have ever met in my life.”
Over the next few months, they would become even closer. That same year, Ye directed the video for Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” and that summer, they both appeared on Jamie Foxx’s single “Digital Girl.” Ye also appeared on Drake’s single “Forever” with Eminem and Lil Wayne, and co-produced Drake’s 2009 single “Find Your Love,” which appeared on Drizzy’s 2010 debut album Thank Me Later” in.
Watch Drake’s “Best I Ever Had” Video”
What’s the first sign Kanye West and Drake have beef?
The first sign of trouble between the pair came in January 2011, when Drake appeared on British DJ Tim Westwood’s radio show for an interview and appeared to comment on Ye and Jay-Z’s then-upcoming joint album Watch the Throne. 》Carried out an attack. while also talking about his own potential collaboration with Lil Wayne.
“I heard some other people put out an album,” he said. “There are two other rappers who are putting out an album together. I don’t know where they got the idea.”
That December, Drake appeared to take another jab at Kanye on DJ Khaled’s “I’m on One,” in which he sang: “I just feel like the throne is about to be taken/Watch me take it.”
Read More: Jay-Z and Kanye West Drop ‘Watch the Throne’ Album: Hip Hop Today
Watch Drake’s interview with Tim Westwood
The public thinks the relationship between Drake and Ye is good
However, at least in the public eye, things appear to be clean. In the summer of 2013, Ye was a surprise guest at Drake’s OVO Music Festival. During the performance, he encouraged Drake to put pressure on himself and Hough. Drake later spoke about his respect for Leaf’s game.
But it wasn’t long before the cycle of praise and criticism started again. In February 2014, Drake criticized the bars on the Yeezus album for being lackluster in an interview with Rolling Stone. Drizzy concluded by saying that he loved “everything about that guy.” Ye didn’t take the negativity bait, telling the audience at a concert in New Jersey, “Tonight, that’s not what happened. We love Drake.”
The following year, Ye revealed a joint album with Drake in an interview on The Breakfast Club and performed again at OVO Fest. There’s no sign of friction, aside from Drake bragging about his pool being bigger than Ye’s in 2016’s Summer 16. However, things will be different in 2018.
Watch Kanye West’s interview on “The Breakfast Club”
Kanye tells Pusha T that Drake is hiding a son
In May 2018, Pusha T released his Daytona album, which contained the song “Infrared”, in which Push accused Drizzy of previous ghostwriting accusations. Drake fires back at ‘Duppy Freestyle’ before Pusha drops bombshell ‘The Story of Adidon’ Pusha reveals Drake hid a son. Drake later admitted that he believed Ye told Pusha the secret information after revealing he had a son. Ye and Drake’s relationship dynamic would change forever.
Listen to “Aditon’s Story” by Pusha T
From then on, the strange cycle of beef and makeup would continue in a series of events. In 2018, Drake rapped Ye on French Montana’s “No Stylist.” Ye denied that he leaked information about Drake giving birth to his son to Pusha T and apologized to Drake on Twitter. Weeks later, the Chicago rapper and producer reversed course and began mocking Drake on Instagram as people began speculating whether he included Ye’s then-wife, Kim Ka, in his hit song “In My Feelings.” Kim Kardashian is called “KiKi”.
Rumors are growing that Drake slept with Kim Kardashian, and Kanye isn’t happy about it. “For people to spread rumors or think you slept with my wife and you said nothing… it goes against my spirit,” Ye wrote on Instagram.
Drake later admitted on LeBron James’ YouTube talk show “The Shop” that he felt betrayed by Kanye. In December 2018, Ye shared a screenshot of a message from an alleged Drake colleague requesting the removal of Ye’s “Say What’s Real” sample.
“Turns out this is more fake than wrestling,” Ye wrote in the post. He later said he had spoken to Drake and the matter appeared to have been resolved. Not so fast. The next day, Ye announced that if anything happened to him, Drake should be the number one suspect. Like we said, it’s complicated.
READ MORE: Drake Seems to Take Off Pusha-T on New Headie Track “Only You Freestyle”: Listen
Kanye and Drake go all out for Larry Hoover event
Fast forward to 2021. J Prince Jr. convinced Drake and Ye to put aside their grudges and perform together at a free Larry Hoover benefit concert in Chicago. The pair agreed to put their differences aside and perform to a sold-out show. Drake even got emotional watching Ye perform “Runaway.” So, all’s well and good, right? correct? !
Not so fast. The following November, Drake dropped the 21 Savage collaborative album Her Loss. In the song “Circo Loco,” Drizzy appears to recount how he temporarily patched things up with Ye in order to perform at a free Larry Hoover benefit concert. “Link to the opps, b***h, I did that for J. Prince/B***h, I did that for Mob Ties,” Drake raps, referring to Rap-A-Lot Founder.
In 2023, Drake used Kim Kardashian’s voice in his “Search and Rescue” song and called Ye’s apology fake in his “For All the Dogs: Scary Hours Edition” song “Red Button.”
Ye and Drake’s beef continues
Unfortunately, this repetitive revolution continues. Ye recently said “F**k Drake” in an Instagram post celebrating the No. 1 hit of Ye and Ty Dolla $ign’s song “Carnival.” In the article, Ye expressed dissatisfaction with Adidas, Hailey Beiber and Drake. Ye accused Drizzy of strategically taking Lil Durk on tour, allegedly to express displeasure with Ye’s Vultures 1 launch. Durk appears on Ye’s lead single “Vultures.” Drake appeared to respond to Ye with a hilarious 50 Cent viral video.
While Drake and Ye’s issues aren’t quite what the Notorious Big One talked about on “What’s the Beef,” there’s definitely a lot of static going on. There was also a lot of love, mutual colleagues, apologies, cooperation and general kindness along the way. This is confusing to say the least. Is there any beef between the two? Don’t expect the hilarious back-and-forth between Ye and Drake to stop anytime soon.
Watch Drake’s video responding to Kanye and check out Ye’s Drake Diss
Look at the unnecessary hip-hop beef that should never have happened
50 Cent and Fat, Meek Mill and Drake, etc.
