Kendrick Lamar’s beef with Drake and J Cole explained - BBC News

A seemingly innocuous lyric has erupted into a flurry of back-and-forth insults between the rappers.

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, A song on Drake's latest album has triggered a flurry of back-and-forth insultsBy Mark SavageMusic correspondent, BBC NewsRappers have been trading insults since the dawn of hip-hop.

It's part of the culture - a test of lyrical skill and a declaration of superiority that has produced hundreds of classic "diss tracks", from 2Pac's Hit 'Em Up to Jay-Z's Takeover.

The latest beef has erupted between three of hip-hop's biggest stars - Drake, Kendrick Lamar and J Cole - and was triggered by a seemingly innocuous lyric praising their respective careers.

Here's a guide to what's happened so far.

Drake - the Canadian actor-turned-musician whose vulnerable blend of rap and R&B has made him the most commercially successful hip-hop artist of the 21st Century. Among his multi-platinum hits are tracks like Hotline Bling, One Dance and Hold On We're Going Home.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-68739398

---