Metro Boomin Breaks Silence on Drake-Kendrick Lamar Beef, Discusses His Role and Stan Culture’s Impact
4 min read
Taylor Hill/Getty Images
One of the biggest rap beefs of the year involved two of hip-hop’s most iconic names, Drake and Kendrick Lamar. While fans dissected the drama, there was one person who played a key role behind the scenes but stayed relatively quiet: Metro Boomin. The super-producer, known for his work with both artists, has finally addressed his “diplomatic” role in the conflict, giving fans insight into his perspective.
At Forbes’ Under 30 Summit in Cincinnati on September 23, Metro Boomin opened up in an interview about his involvement in the beef and shared his thoughts on rap rivalries. “I feel like the competition is great for the game, you know?” Metro remarked. “Hip-hop has always been more of a competitive genre. Even if just keeping it on music, it’s not as serious as everybody makes it out to be. But with hip-hop, there’s a lot of ego involved. You’re supposed to feel like you’re the best.”
Metro Boomin when asked about the Drake Vs. Kendrick Lamar beef 👀
— NFR Podcast (@nfr_podcast) September 24, 2024
“As far as being diplomatic, it’s just entertainment, at the end of the day.”
“I have love & respect for all my collaborators. And I just want to see everybody do they best & help push [Rap] forward.” pic.twitter.com/o8qLNg3yuV
Metro’s comments shed light on how competition is an intrinsic part of hip-hop culture, but he believes that today’s “stan culture” has altered the way rap beefs are perceived. He reminisced about the days of Jay-Z and Nas, when fans could appreciate both sides of a rivalry without dividing themselves into hostile camps. “It’s like the internet just makes it a little too wild now,” he explained. “Back in the day, Jay-Z and Nas went at it, but I was a fan of both of them. It wasn’t like, ‘I hate this side, I hate that side.’ Now, it feels more divisive.”
Metro Boomin’s role in the Drake-Kendrick feud was significant. He produced the track Like That, featuring Kendrick Lamar, which was released in March 2024 and set off the initial sparks of the beef. On the song, Kendrick Lamar took shots at both Drake and J. Cole, which ignited a back-and-forth battle. After that, Metro and Drake exchanged subtle disses, including a notorious track Metro produced called “BBL Drizzy” — a reference to Rick Ross’s nickname for Drake during a separate feud. The song fueled the beef even further, leading to a frenzy of bars, memes, and online drama.
Despite being a central figure in this explosive moment for hip-hop, Metro Boomin sees his involvement as purely entertainment. “As far as me being diplomatic, I mean, it’s just entertainment at the end of the day,” he said. “I have love and respect for all my collaborators. I just want to see everyone do the best and continue to help push this forward.”
For Metro, the feud wasn’t about taking sides but rather contributing to the growth of the genre. “We’re all here to deposit in and uplift this genre and push it forward,” he emphasized. “This is our era, so it’s really our responsibility to keep pushing it forward for the next one and so forth.”
While the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar captivated the rap world for months, Metro Boomin’s position as a neutral force shows his dedication to hip-hop as a whole. He sees competition as essential to the culture, but also recognizes the dangers of how the internet and fanbase divisions can escalate tensions unnecessarily.
Metro’s final thoughts reflect his vision for the genre’s future. Even though he’s played a key role in one of the year’s biggest beefs, he remains focused on helping hip-hop thrive and evolve, keeping the music at the center of everything.
Metro Boomin blaming “the internet” for making people pick sides during the Drake & Kendrick beef pic.twitter.com/FsyrYqJQem
— ALMIGHTEE. (@realalmightee) September 24, 2024
Bro this is back peddling. You gotta stand on what u was doing
— 3FILMZ (@3_filmz) September 24, 2024
“I have love & respect for all my collaborators” pic.twitter.com/j6ESZRPUiD
— Joey (@gothamhiphop) September 24, 2024
Shivam Kumar
Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....
