Kaylah Walton
Warfare inevitably leads to collateral damage, and even those uninvolved can find themselves affected. This was evident when rappers Kendrick Lamar and Drake ignited a major rivalry earlier this year, resulting in some hurt feelings. With Lamar receiving widespread acknowledgment as the victor, it appears that Drake may have emerged from this battle in a more painful position.
The tension peaked on June 19, during Lamar’s concert titled The Pop Out: Ken & Friends. Coinciding with Juneteenth, Lamar concluded the dynamic show by performing his track “Not Like Us” repeatedly—five or possibly six times. Throughout the performance, he brought several notable Los Angeles representatives to the stage, including the NBA athletes Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan.
Drake cuts ties with LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan on Instagram
For Drake, seeing DeRozan on stage likely stung given their past friendship from his time with the Toronto Raptors. To compound his discomfort, LeBron James was present in the audience, enjoying Lamar’s performance, and the two had built a friendship over time.
In light of these events, Drake appeared to take decisive action by conducting an Instagram unfollowing spree that included both NBA players and others like Playboi Carti.
As reported by Page Six, it was noted that Drake still followed Diddy despite the music executive’s recent legal troubles. His refusal to unfollow Diddy raised eyebrows.
Eventually, after receiving backlash, Drake opted to finally sever ties with Diddy. Nonetheless, this perceived focus on athletes over Diddy did not project the best image for Drake.
