Kendrick Lamar‘s recent feature verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s “Like That” has caught the attention of fans, hinting at potential jabs towards fellow rappers Drake and J. Cole.
The song, which samples Rodney O & Joe Cooley’s and Eazy-E’s “Eazy-Duz-It,” showcases aggressive verses from Future and Kendrick, with the latter’s lyrics causing a particular stir.
The Lyrics in Question
Kendrick’s verse includes the line, “F*ck sneak dissin’, first-person shooter, I hope they came with three switches,” seemingly referencing Drake and J. Cole’s chart-topping collaboration “First Person Shooter” from Drake’s album “For All The Dogs.” This line is interpreted by many as a direct challenge to the two artists.
Adding fuel to the fire, Kendrick boldly declares, “Motherf*ck the big three, it’s just big me,” dismissing the notion of the hip-hop triumvirate that includes himself, Drake, and J. Cole. He also alludes to Drake’s self-comparison to Michael Jackson, countering with, “Prince outlive Mike Jack’ / ‘fore all your dawgs gettin’ buried / That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see Pet Sematary.”
This isn’t the first time these artists have been mentioned together in a competitive context. On “Control,” Kendrick asserted his dominance in the rap game by naming fellow artists including Drake and J. Cole, stating his intention to outshine them.
He raps “I’m usually homeboys with the same n*ggas I’m rhymin’ wit But this is hip hop and them n*ggas should know what time it is.
“And that goes for Jermaine Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Wale, Pusha T, Meek Millz, A$AP Rocky, Drake, Big Sean, Jay Electron’, Tyler, Mac Miller/ I got love for you all, but I’m tryna murder you n*ggas/Tryna make sure your core fans never heard of you n*ggas/They don’t wanna hear not one more noun or verb from you n*ggas.”
Drake and J. Cole’s previous collaboration on “First Person Shooter” showcased their camaraderie, with J. Cole referencing himself, Kendrick (K-Dot), and Drake (Aubrey) as the “big three” akin to starting a league. However, Drake’s subsequent lyrics seemingly ignore Kendrick’s presence, focusing solely on himself and J. Cole.
“Who the GOAT? Who you bitches really rooting for?/Like a kid that act bad from January to November, n***a, it’s just you and Cole.”
Fan Reactions
Kendrick Lamar’s verse has ignited discussions among fans, adding fuel to the ongoing debates.
“Drake needa treat Kendrick how he did Meek in 2015,” commented one user on X, reflecting on past rap beefs. Another user expressed, “Kendrick likes doing this thing calling himself the best rapper alive every now and then on a verse and then going quiet when niggas wanna test that claim.”
“Kendrick, Drake and Cole have been preserving rap as a competitive sport. You new rappers are NOT competitive. I know some ethos die over time but we can’t lose hip-hop’s competitive spirit. It’s partly what made hip-hop so special and separated it from other genres” wrote another fan, highlighting the significance of competition in hip-hop culture.
Listen to Future and Metro Boomin’s “Like That” featuring Kendrick Lamar below.
