Is Drake's lyrical war with Kendrick Lamar finally over? According to none other than DJ Akademiks, it absolutely should be. He even went so far as to advise Drake to holster the disses and move on. But here's the million-dollar question: will Drake actually listen?
Akademiks, known for being one of Drake's biggest online cheerleaders, recently shared a fascinating revelation during an interview with VladTV. He confessed that he told Drake not to directly address Kendrick Lamar or rehash their epic battle on Drake's upcoming album, "ICEMAN." And this is the part most people miss: Akademiks isn't suggesting Drake completely ignore Kendrick; he's advocating for a more subtle approach.
"When I mean leave him alone, we’ve got to leave the moment. There’s no more direct engaging. There ain’t no more with diss songs. It’s over,” Akademiks explained. Instead, he suggested Drake adopt a strategy similar to Jay-Z, implying that Drake should only throw subliminal shots toward Kendrick, rather than full-blown diss tracks. Think of it as a strategic retreat, not a surrender.
But here's where it gets controversial... Akademiks firmly believes this battle should be Drake's last. "After this battle, it should be Drake’s last," he stated emphatically. "Like, why engage with rappers? In any of these situations, you have nothing to gain. Would you go on a business deal you got nothing to gain?” He argues that Drake has already reached a level of success where engaging in rap beefs is simply unnecessary and potentially damaging.
"When you look at Drake’s career as a whole, why would he engage? It’s over," he added, reinforcing his point that Drake has already cemented his legacy. Consider this: Drake has broken countless records, sold millions of albums, and consistently topped the charts. What does he realistically gain by continuing to engage in lyrical warfare? Does it elevate his status, or does it risk tarnishing his image?
Beyond the Kendrick Lamar situation, Akademiks also dropped some interesting tidbits about "ICEMAN" itself. He theorized that the album might not be Drake's last project with Universal Music Group (UMG), despite their ongoing legal woes. Remember, Drake sued UMG earlier this year, alleging that they artificially inflated the success of Kendrick Lamar's diss track, "Not Like Us," to fuel a "false and malicious" narrative. While a judge dismissed the lawsuit earlier this month, Drake's team has indicated plans to appeal. This legal battle adds another layer of complexity to Drake's relationship with UMG and the release of "ICEMAN."
Adding fuel to the fire, Akademiks tweeted earlier in the week, "Just got the word… ICEMAN finna b a classic. Hollyyyy." While there's no official release date yet, anticipation is building for a potential drop sometime this month.
So, what do you think? Should Drake heed Akademiks' advice and retire from rap beefs? Is it a sign of maturity, or a missed opportunity to further solidify his dominance? Does Drake truly have nothing to gain from dissing other rappers at this stage in his career? And what are your expectations for "ICEMAN"? Will it live up to the hype? Sound off in the comments below!
