Hip Hop/ Rap
21 Savage Says He Warned Drake Not to Battle Kendrick Lamar: ‘When You’re No. 1, You Can’t Win’
21 Savage, who remained one of Drake’s few unwavering supporters throughout the controversy, explained that the battle was “rigged” from the start. According to him, public sentiment had already decided the outcome long before any verses were recorded.
In a candid new interview, 21 Savage has revealed what really happened behind the scenes of the biggest rap feud of the decade. Speaking on Perspektives With Bank, the Atlanta/UK rapper opened up about the 2024 Drake–Kendrick Lamar war of diss tracks — and why he personally advised Drake to stay far away from it.
21 Savage, who remained one of Drake’s few unwavering supporters throughout the controversy, explained that the battle was “rigged” from the start in Kendrick Lamar’s favour. According to him, public sentiment had already decided the outcome long before any verses were recorded.
“Even If You Win, You Lose”: Why 21 Said Drake Had Nothing to Gain
21 Savage didn’t mince words when reflecting on Drake’s decision to respond to Kendrick Lamar’s “Like That.” He argued that the rap landscape had set Drake up to fail no matter what he did.
“How can you win a battle if n—as want you to lose it?” he said. “Even if you win, you lose. No matter what… If Drake dropped songs and Kendrick never responded or nothing, he still don’t win because his position didn’t change.”
21 Savage added that being rap’s reigning superstar made the fight fundamentally unwinnable: “When you the No. 1 n—a, where does winning put you? You can’t go 1.1.”
Inside the Phone Call That Could’ve Changed Rap History
According to 21 Savage, he and Drake spoke early in the feud, right after the first round of shots involving Metro Boomin’s camp.
“I said, ‘You finna go into a battle that you can’t win… There’s no way you can win,’” he revealed. Drake, however, felt he was being pushed lyrically and had no choice but to respond.
What followed was one of rap’s most intense back-and-forths, culminating in nine diss tracks, including Drake’s “Push Ups” and Kendrick Lamar’s so-called culture-shifting No. 1 hit “Not Like Us.” The public overwhelmingly crowned Kendrick Lamar as the victor, further cementing his 2025 Billboard accolades, including Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist and Top Hot 100 Songwriter.
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21 Savage & Drake Reunite on “MR Recoup”
Amid the resurfaced debate, 21 Savage has returned with his new album What Happened to the Streets?, featuring a star-studded guest lineup — including Drake. Their latest collaboration, “MR Recoup,” showcases the effortless chemistry that has defined their partnership across multiple hits.
Meanwhile, Drake continues to tease the highly anticipated Iceman, keeping fans on edge as the rollout stretches into late 2025.
A Feud That Redefined Hip-Hop
21 Savage’s revelations underscore the high-stakes pressure of rap’s hierarchy — and how public perception can shape a battle long before the artists ever touch a mic. His comments offer one of the most honest assessments yet of a feud that reshaped hip-hop narratives, fan loyalties, and the genre’s cultural conversations.
