Drake is back—and he’s not holding anything back. The 38-year-old rapper addressed his highly publicized feud with Kendrick Lamar in his latest single, “What Did I Miss?”, marking his first major musical release since the explosive lyrical battle that shook the hip-hop world in 2024.
The new track dropped on July 4 as part of Drake’s Iceman: Episode 1 livestream, and it’s already making headlines for its bold lyrics and pointed references to those who, in his words, “stood beside traitors.”
Drake Calls Out Loyalty Issues Amid Kendrick Lamar Feud
In the emotionally charged single, the “In My Feelings” hitmaker takes aim at both former allies and rivals. Without naming Kendrick directly, Drake alludes to the “Pop Out” concert hosted by Lamar in June 2024, where Kendrick famously performed his chart-topping diss track “Not Like Us” five times in a row.
“I don’t give a f— if you love me, I don’t give a f— if you like me,” Drake raps in the first verse. “Last time I looked to my right, you n—-s was standing beside me / How can some people I love hang around p—— who try me?”
He continues with, “Love for my brothers and death to a traitor,” and doubles down later with a direct line:
“I saw bro went to Pop Out with them, but been d— riding gang since Headlines.”
The track is widely being interpreted as a response not only to Kendrick Lamar but to the former friends and collaborators who may have taken sides—or stayed silent—during the fiery rap battle that played out through multiple diss tracks last year.
A Tense Year in Hip-Hop History
Drake and Kendrick’s feud dominated music headlines in 2024, turning into a lyrical war that included Lamar’s Grammy-winning diss “Not Like Us” and several barbed tracks from Drake. The back-and-forth became a defining moment in both artists’ careers, igniting debates across fanbases and sparking viral trends.
What started as a rap battle even escalated into legal territory. Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of deliberately promoting Kendrick’s diss track and harming his reputation. UMG has deniedany wrongdoing and called the accusations baseless.
A Bold Return and New Era for Drake
“What Did I Miss?” marks a dramatic return for Drake and sets the tone for what fans can expect from his upcoming music. The track blends reflective lyrics with direct confrontations, positioning the Toronto native as someone who’s ready to reclaim his narrative and cut ties with those he no longer trusts.
While Drake hasn’t announced a full album title or release date yet, his Iceman livestream series signals that more content is on the way—and it’s likely to keep stirring the pot in the hip-hop world.
