Rapper Drake has seemingly accepted defeat in his lyrical battle with Kendrick Lamar. The decision comes after a near-unanimous agreement among fans and critics that the Compton rapper emerged victorious.
The rapper recently took to his Instagram Stories to post an illustration of a lone samurai facing a massive cavalry. Many interpreted this post as a nod to the 20 vs. 1 narrative he referenced in his diss track Push Ups.
The post was widely interpreted by fans as a respectful bow out from the ongoing feud with Kendrick. The end of this battle has been met with mixed reactions, with some fans expressing relief and others disappointment.
In a previous response to the outcome of the feud, Drake posted a clip from the Netflix series ‘A Man in Full,’ featuring veteran actor Jeff Daniels. In the scene, Daniels’ character delivers a poignant monologue about legacy and living life with vigor, which many believe was Drake’s cryptic commentary on the situation.
While many, including Joe Budden, Cam’ron, and Ma$e, believe that Kendrick Lamar was the clear winner, Anthony Top Dawg Tiffith, the head of the TDE label, sees a different victor: the culture itself.
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According to Top Dawg, the battle, which remained purely lyrical, was a win for the culture, especially in the face of publications trying to escalate the situation. He also announced plans to wrap up the TDE 20th anniversary compilation.
Freddie Gibbs, known for his candid opinions, also believes that a third party benefited the most from the Drake-Kendrick feud. However, he has yet to reveal who he thinks this third party is.