Kanye West Credits Kendrick Lamar for Taking Down Drake, For Now

Kanye West Says Kendrick Lamar "Killed" Drake in Their Rap Battle: “Yeah, for now”

Ye Discusses Drake and Kendrick's Rivalry After Grammys

After his post-Grammys event in Los Angeles, Ye, the iconic artist formerly known as Kanye West, sat down for an interview with Justin LaBoy where he touched on the ongoing saga between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. 

Although their rivalry captivated the rap world, Ye made it clear that Drake's career is far from over, no matter the tension between the two superstars.

Ye, who has amassed 24 Grammy awards, shared his perspective on Drake's position in the rap game, likening him to a superhero who "just goes away for a couple of films." 

While some might think the beef with Kendrick left Drake's future uncertain, Ye sees it as just a temporary pause.

Looking back on his "The Life of Pablo" era, Ye recalled the competitive feeling he had when Rihanna's "Work," featuring Drake, was dominating the charts.

“I’m like damn, man, It was really challenging for me to make ‘Father Stretch My Hands’ and different things and then you’ve got ‘Work.’ Like, top five songs ever created in life. We doing the drums and bringing Metro on.”

This moment of competition, however, didn’t deter Ye—it pushed him to step up his own game.

When asked whether Kendrick's recent victory over Drake marked the end of the 6 God's reign, Ye wasn’t quick to dismiss Drake. Instead, he stated, "Yeah, for now," recognizing Kendrick's current dominance. But Ye’s belief in the "frequency" of rap is clear. 

He compared the ever-evolving nature of hip-hop to the rapid rise of new artists, highlighting how Kendrick’s latest moves are pushing the genre forward.

Ye also referenced Tyler, The Creator’s freestyle over Kendrick’s “Hey Now” beat, calling it an example of the shifting trends in rap.

“You can’t ever count out Steph Curry. That man might get 200 points in one song or something. You know what it was is, like, look at the Tyler, the Creator freestyle that he did. ‘That Guy,’ right? Drake added something to the algorithm, to our frequency. He advanced us. Future advanced us. And now, Kendrick has advanced the frequency.”

Kanye West Claims Kendrick Lamar "Killed" Drake for the Moment:

In hip-hop, longevity comes from continually evolving, and that’s why Ye believes Drake will never truly be wiped out of the game. 

He emphasized how important it is for rappers to understand the sport of hip-hop, noting how Jay-Z learned from the fast-flowing style of Twista and adapted to stay relevant.
“It’s like when Twista came out. There was rappers that didn’t learn but then Jay-Z learned that you could do it. If you don’t really learn as just a professional rapper, as a sport, what Kendrick is doing, you might be wiped. You might be wiped out.”
At the 2025 Grammys, Kendrick Lamar swept the awards, taking home five trophies, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year, for his groundbreaking diss track “Not Like Us.” 

Ye, who has always been vocal in his support for fellow artists, gave Kendrick his props, even sharing a simple Instagram post: “Gemini season” alongside a goat emoji.

With Kendrick's Grammy wins, many fans are seeing this as a confirmation that K-Dot has claimed victory in the ongoing battle. 

But for Ye, it’s a reminder that in rap, no one ever stays on top forever. Everyone in the game is constantly advancing the "frequency," and you can never count out a rapper like Drake—who might just return with a game-changing move when you least expect it.

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