DJ Hed and Mal Unpack the Kendrick-Drake Feud One Year Later

One year after what many consider the most seismic battle in hip-hop history, media heavyweights DJ Hed and Mal sat down for a marathon discussion on the Kendrick Lamar vs. Drake feud. Their debate spanned the roots, the turning points, and the fallout — a nuanced look at the layers behind each move and verse.

They began where it all arguably started: Kendrick’s iconic “Control” verse. DJ Hed framed that moment as “sport — until it wasn’t.” At that stage, both agreed the exchanges between Kendrick and Drake remained in the realm of competition. “It’s like Ron Artest,” Hed said. “Sport — until it crosses a line.”

The “Control” moment, according to Mal, helped set the tone for a future battle, even if no one realized how big it would become. “It was competitive energy, but you could feel that Kendrick had something more to say,” he noted. While nothing escalated immediately, both participants suggested that hip-hop fans should have known this wasn’t over.

First Person Shooter Fallout

The two also examined the long-rumored story that Kendrick was initially supposed to appear on Drake’s track "First Person Shooter." Mal suggested Kendrick likely backed out intentionally, sensing the record’s framing of a “big three” alliance might dilute his independent legacy. DJ Hed wasn’t certain if timing or creative direction played a role, but both agreed this was not the spark of the battle — rather a missed link in a chain of brewing tension.

“It didn’t feel like beef energy,” said Hed. “It just felt like Kendrick had his own plans, and this record didn’t fit.”

Competitive Spirit or Premeditation?

Rumors long circulated that Kendrick had been planning this moment for years. DJ Hed pushed back on the notion of it being “plotted,” saying instead Kendrick was simply “prepared.” “Like a registered firearm,” he explained. “You’re not plotting to use it, but you’re ready.”

Mal leaned toward the idea that Kendrick was strategically laying groundwork. “Why wouldn’t you want a moment against one of the biggest artists in the world?” he asked. He cited Kendrick’s decision to wait and release precise, targeted verses — including on tracks with Future and Metro Boomin — as signs of long-term planning.

The pair also explored the idea of other artists joining the fray — Future, Metro Boomin, Rick Ross — as more than coincidental. Mal suggested that once one artist opened the door, others who had their own frustrations with Drake were quick to capitalize. “Sometimes people are just waiting for the first move,” he said.

Personal Relationships and Business Boundaries

Both hosts agreed that business and personal relationships complicated this clash. Mal pointed out how some artists, after not getting a verse back from Drake or being passed over for collaborations, might interpret it as personal. DJ Hed countered that some resentment came from how Drake conducted himself behind the scenes: “If your character isn’t solid, people will feel a way, regardless of stimulus packages.”

“It’s not always about jealousy,” said Hed. “Sometimes you’re just a bad friend, a bad person, and people start reacting accordingly.”

Rules of Engagement and Crossing the Line

At one point, Mal confirmed that Kendrick and Drake did speak before fully engaging in battle — an informal agreement on rules and boundaries. The conversation likely included restrictions on family and personal lives. But when Drake mentioned Kendrick’s fiancée Whitney on “Push-Ups,” it may have signaled that those lines were open for crossing.

DJ Hed saw that moment as significant: “If someone sets a boundary, even if it’s just ‘don’t mention my earlobes,’ and you do — now you’ve escalated it.”

The two compared this to past battles — from Pusha T referencing Drake’s hidden child, to earlier battles involving Nas and Jay-Z — and how mentioning loved ones often led to turning points.

Strategy vs. Execution

Drake’s rollout of “Taylor Made Freestyle,” which featured AI-generated voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg, was a focal point of criticism. DJ Hed viewed the move as culturally tone-deaf and disrespectful. “You don’t hand your opponent a weapon,” he said, referencing Drake’s inadvertent use of West Coast legends that may have unified support behind Kendrick.

Mal found it clever but admitted the execution — especially without clearance from estates — might have overshadowed the bar work. “It wasn’t the content — it was the optics,” he said. “It made it look like Drake didn’t understand West Coast culture.”

The debate highlighted a cultural divide: what some perceived as innovative, others saw as overstepping. “That’s just not how we play it out here,” said Hed.

Family Matters vs. Not Like Us

Mal called Drake’s “Family Matters” the best diss record of his career — lyrically and in production. “Not Like Us” may have had more impact, but Mal argued it was built more for viral moments and regional support. “If you go bar for bar, Drake outwrapped him,” he said.

DJ Hed acknowledged that Kendrick’s timing — releasing “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us” in rapid succession — disrupted Drake’s momentum. “Kendrick bumped the needle at the party,” Hed said. “Then dropped his own record. That flipped the energy.”

Mal believed Drake’s strategy of using one long track with beat switches may have worked better if broken into smaller, sharper releases. “Drop the first part, wait for a response, then follow up,” he said.

Did Anything Go Too Far?

From domestic violence allegations to claims of pedophilia, the battle featured some of the most personal bars in modern rap beef history. Mal asserted that unproven accusations were a step too far. “You’re throwing bombs that can’t be walked back,” he said.

Hed, however, noted that “nothing is off the table if both parties accept the consequences.” He compared it to street fights: “You don’t bring gloves to a war.”

They both agreed that if either party had real-world consequences — lost business, damaged reputation — those choices had to be considered in advance.

Psychological Warfare: The Mole and the Daughter

One of the most bizarre elements of the saga was Kendrick referencing a supposed “mole” in Drake’s OVO camp. Mal and DJ Hed confirmed the rumors, adding that Drake may have intentionally planted false info about a secret daughter to bait Kendrick.

Whether real or not, DJ Hed said, the effect was clear: “It made Drake look at his circle sideways.”

This layer of espionage added a spy-vs-spy feel to the beef — blurring the lines between diss record and psychological thriller. “It’s the Jason Bourne of rap beefs,” Mal joked.

Who Really Won?

The debate wrapped with the inevitable question. Who won?

Mal said definitively: “Drake outwrapped him.” He cited artist conversations and lyrical analysis in defending that stance. “Rappers I respect were telling me Drake’s pen was better throughout.”

DJ Hed, more cautious, leaned into optics and strategy, acknowledging that Kendrick had the better rollouts and cultural impact. “You’re asking who had the better punchline,” he said. “But Kendrick had the better moment.”

Ultimately, they landed where hip-hop fans across the world still sit — divided. For some, it was Kendrick’s moment. For others, it was Drake’s battle to lose. “This was chess, not checkers,” said Hed. “But also? It was fire.”

Legacy and Aftermath

What happens now? Both agreed the battle reshaped hip-hop’s landscape. Kendrick reminded people of the power of live performance with his Pop Out show and redefined what a “response” could look like. Drake, meanwhile, showed he’s still willing to step into the ring, even when critics doubted he would.

They discussed how the feud shifted the public’s understanding of vulnerability and branding in hip-hop. “It wasn’t just lyrics,” said Mal. “It was narrative.”

As of now, both artists have moved on — or at least gone quiet. But DJ Hed and Mal believe the effects of this moment will ripple for years.

“Whatever side you’re on,” said Hed, “we witnessed something historic.”