The high-profile feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has been reflected in their streaming statistics. According to Billboard, Kendrick’s numbers have significantly surged, while Drake’s figures have experienced a slight dip.
Kendrick’s diss tracks Euphoria, Meet the Grahams, and Not Like Us have collectively amassed millions of streams. Euphoria alone garnered an impressive 27.6 million on-demand streams in the U.S. between May 3 and 6. The track debuted at No. 11 on this week’s Billboard Hot 100 and is poised to climb to No. 1 on next week’s chart. Not Like Us is also vying for the top spot, registering 21.1 million streams within its first three days of release.
These tracks have also boosted the streams of songs sampled by Kendrick. Teddy Pendegrass You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration saw a 76 percent increase in streams, while Al Green’s What a Wonderful Thing Love Is spiked by 283 per cent after being featured on 6:16 in LA, which is yet to be released on streaming platforms.
Beyond his diss records, Kendrick Lamar’s back catalog is also reaping benefits, with his overall discography earning 50.62 million streams from May 3-6, marking a 49 percent increase from the previous week.
On the other hand, Drake’s discography experienced a 4.9 percent dip during the same period, despite the release of two diss tracks. His catalog fell from 105.9 million streams between April 26 and 29 to 100.7 million from May 3-6. However, Drake’s streaming stats are still roughly double that of Kendrick’s, and he remains the most streamed artist in Spotify history with over 98 billion spins.
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In a twist of events, Kendrick Lamar recently broke Drake’s record for the biggest single-day streams of a Hip-Hop song in U.S. Spotify history with Not Like Us. The track surpassed Drake and Lil Baby’s hit “Girls Like Girls,” which previously held the record with 6.593 million streams in a day. “Not Like Us” shattered this record, totaling 11 million streams in one day.
On this radio-friendly song, Kendrick continued his assault on Drake, repeating allegations of improper relationships with young girls.
He rapped, “Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young/ You better not ever go to cell block one/ To any girl that talks to him and they’re in love/ Just make sure you hide your little sister from him.”
Kendrick Lamar also accused Drake of having an affair with Lil Wayne’s girlfriend while the Young Money boss was in jail on gun charges. Drake has since denied these paedophilia allegations in his response record The Heart Part 6.