
One Year Later: Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Should Have Been Drake's Wake-Up Call
2025-04-30
Author: Ying
Flashback to 2018: After dominating the hip-hop scene for nearly a decade, Drake began to unravel. His overconfidence was palpable.
In late 2019, he had a brief moment of humility during a candid interview on the Rap Radar podcast, where he admitted to being outclassed in his rap feud with Pusha T a year prior. Yet, he brushed it off lightly, stating, "I sleep well at night knowing I didn't get out-barred..."
Fast forward to 2025, and the narrative has shifted dramatically. While at first, I thought Drake was haunted by his track "Not Like Us," the real source of his sleepless nights can be traced back to Kendrick Lamar’s seismic track, "Euphoria," released last April.
This song was Kendrick's fiery response to Drake’s provocations, including diss tracks like "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle," where Drake insulted Lamar and boasted about potentially ending his career. By throwing names like Snoop Dogg and the late 2Pac into the mix, he essentially dared Kendrick to battle.
And boy, did Kendrick rise to the occasion. "Euphoria" was not just a song; it became the keystone of their rivalry. It was the moment Lamar laid bare his disdain for Drake and expertly dissected the dynamics of their beef. His perceptive lyrics foretold the tumult ahead and reshaped how Drake views himself.
One undeniable lesson stands out: Drake has an unusual relationship with defeat. Numerous times during this feud, he could have wisely chosen to back down—for instance, immediately after "Euphoria" dropped.
Kendrick even extended a lifeline, rapping, "We ain’t gotta get personal, this a friendly fade, you should keep it that way." It was an olive branch, hinting at the chaos that was brewing. Instead of opting for a hasty retaliation, Kendrick gave Drake the chance to gracefully bow out, akin to J. Cole’s retreat from similar situations.
As we reevaluate this ongoing saga, it's clear that "Euphoria" was not just a song; it was a pivotal moment in hip-hop history—a stark reminder of the dangers of underestimating your competition.