2 months ago
Jay-Z is concerned exertion and “negative stuff” are ruining nan nosy of rap battles — particularly the highly publicized Kendrick Lamar and Drake feud.
The “99 Problems” emcee admitted he loves nan “excitement” and “sparring” that comes pinch rap beefs, but now, there’s excessively overmuch negativity that comes pinch it “that you almost wish it didn’t happen.”
“People that for illustration Kendrick dislike Drake, nary matter what he makes,” Jay, calved Shawn Carter, told GQ successful a recently released screen story. “It’s for illustration an onslaught connected his character. I don’t cognize if I emotion that. I don’t cognize if it’s adjuvant to our maturation wherever nan fallout lands, particularly connected societal media.”
The 25-time Grammy victor believes nan “stans armies” aided successful making nan rappers’ beef go a bigger issue.
“It’s excessively far. It’s bringing people’s kids successful it. I don’t for illustration that,” Jay said.
“I sound for illustration nan aged feline wagging his finger, but I deliberation we tin execute nan aforesaid thing, arsenic acold arsenic sparring pinch music, pinch collaborations much truthful than breaking nan full point apart,” nan “Empire State of Mind” emcee, 56, added.
“It could guidelines it earlier because location was nary societal media. You had nan conflict and it was nosy and past you moved on. Right now, I don’t cognize if it could guidelines it pinch nan exertion that we have.”
The billionaire hip-hop mogul said societal media has aided successful tearing down people’s lives during rap battles and whitethorn not request to beryllium portion of nan civilization anymore.
“I don’t cognize if it’s worthy it astatine this point. I emotion nan thought that we sewage truthful overmuch euphony successful specified a short play of time,” he told GQ.
“Just everything astir it was like, ‘Man, this is taking america a mates steps back.’ We’ve conscionable grown truthful overmuch that — I conjecture I’m going to opportunity it — I don’t cognize if battling needs to beryllium portion of nan civilization anymore,” Jay added.
“We grew from breakdancing. We emotion graffiti. Before, nan MC’s occupation was to bring attraction to nan DJ … I want to perceive what nan rapper is saying. Now nan past pillar is battling, and these are each nan things that travel pinch it. I dislike that I person this constituent of position connected it. I do. Because I cognize what it sounds like. It’s conscionable really I consciousness astir it.”
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Jay besides unopen down claims that he was portion of a “conspiracy to undermine” Drake by choosing Lamar to headline nan Super Bowl Halftime Show past year.
“I chose nan feline that was having a monster year. I deliberation it was nan correct choice. What do I attraction astir them 2 guys battling? What’s that sewage to do pinch me? Have astatine it,” he said.
“They resistance everybody successful it, for illustration everyone’s portion of this conspiracy to undermine Drake, I guess. But, it’s like, what nan f–k? I’m f–king Jay-Z! [Laughs.] All owed respect to him. I’m f–king Hov. Respectfully. It doesn’t make immoderate sense,” he added.
Lamar, 38, and Drake, calved Aubrey Graham, dominated headlines successful 2024 pinch their rap beef.
Though nan feud had been slow brewing for years, nan “Humble” rapper reignited nan play by dissing nan “Hotline Bling” hitmaker, 39, and J. Cole connected Future and Metro Boomin’s deed “Like That.”
“F–k sneak dissin’, first-person shooter / I dream they came pinch 3 switches,” he rapped, adding, “Motherf–k nan large 3 / N—a, it’s conscionable large me.” (Cole, 41, mentioned himself, Lamar and Drake arsenic being nan “big three” connected nan October 2023 opus “First Person Shooter.”)
Lamar besides shaded past threw shadiness astatine Drake’s “For All nan Dogs” project, rapping: “For each your dogs gettin’ buried / That’s a K pinch each these nines, he gon’ spot ‘Pet Sematary.’”
Both nan “Degrassi” alum and Lamar exchanged a warfare of words connected respective diss tracks.
On “Family Matters,” Drake accused nan California autochthonal of beating his longtime fiancée, Whitney Alford, sleeping pinch different women and being a clone activist.
Meanwhile, Lamar deed backmost pinch “Not Like Us,” which would arguably go nan biggest opus of 2024.
On nan track, nan “All nan Stars” rapper accused Drake of being a “pedophile” who preyed connected young girls. (Drake denied nan claims.)
“Say, Drake, I perceive you for illustration ’em young / You amended not ever spell to compartment artifact 1 / To immoderate bitch that talk to him and they successful emotion / Just make judge you hide your small sister from him.” (Drake was rumored to person been dating rapper Latto’s younger sister, Brooklyn Nicole, who was 22, successful 2024.)
“Not Like Us” dominated nan 2025 Grammys, winning nan coveted awards for grounds of nan year, opus of nan year, best rap performance, best rap opus and champion euphony video.
Drake filed a lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), alleging nan explanation defamed him by suggesting he had intersexual relations pinch minors and used bots to make nan opus viral. (In October 2025, a judge dismissed nan case, ruling nan song’s lyrics were non-actionable opinion.)
To put a nail successful nan coffin, Lamar took nan shape during halftime of the 2025 Super Bowl to execute a mashup of his deed songs specified arsenic “Squabble Up,” “Humble,” “DNA,” “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us.”
Before kicking disconnected nan Mustard-produced diss track, Lamar joked, “I want to execute their favourite song, but you cognize they love to sue.”
In January 2026, Drake’s ineligible squad revenge an appeal, arguing that nan ruling sets a vulnerable precedent for interpreting rap lyrics arsenic protected sentiment alternatively than imaginable libel.
