Drake Drops Valentine's Album as Kendrick Feud Heats Up

Mia Reynolds, 2/17/2025Drake's latest album "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U" drops amid tensions with Kendrick Lamar, featuring tracks that blend party vibes with veiled responses to beef. However, controversies over concept theft and legal disputes may challenge Drake's reputation in a time demanding authenticity in hip-hop.

The 74-minute collaborative album with PartyNextDoor presents itself as a collection of club-ready tracks and love songs, but beneath its seductive surface lies a carefully crafted response to Lamar's "Not Like Us" — though perhaps not the response fans were expecting.

On "GIMME A HUG," the album's tenth track, Drake finally addresses the elephant in the room with characteristic deflection: "They be dropping s*** but we dropping harder s***/ F*** a rap beef, I'm tryna get the party lit." It's a dismissive stance that feels eerily familiar to longtime followers of Drake's career — reminiscent of his "Life is Good" response to Pusha T's explosive revelations about his secret fatherhood.

But 2025 isn't 2018, and the stakes feel considerably higher. Lamar's accusations on "Not Like Us" cut deeper than previous conflicts, with implications that have caused even devoted Drake supporters to step back. The Super Bowl Halftime Show — where Lamar performed the track with guest appearance from Drake's ex Serena Williams — felt like a victory lap that demanded more than a casual shrug in response.

The album itself has become entangled in additional controversy, with accusations from Freddie Gibbs about concept theft — from the dollar-sign styling of the title to rabbit-themed artwork similarities with Gibbs' "$ouls $old $eparately." These allegations only serve to complicate Drake's position as he attempts to maintain his characteristic cool in the face of mounting criticism.

Perhaps most damaging to Drake's reputation among hip-hop purists was his decision to pursue legal action against UMG for releasing "Not Like Us" — a move that seems to contradict the very essence of rap battle culture. While Drake appears to reference this on "GIMME A HUG" with lines about "using you for promotion," the explanation feels insufficient in the face of what many view as a fundamental betrayal of hip-hop's core values.

Critics haven't been kind to "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U," and without the buffer of critical acclaim that helped smooth over previous controversies, Drake's strategy of nonchalance might finally be wearing thin. The album's 21 tracks — featuring only two outside collaborators in Yebba and Chino Pacas — seem to suggest quantity over quality, a approach that feels particularly tone-deaf in the current climate.

What's becoming increasingly clear is that Drake's tried-and-true formula of deflecting controversy through chart-topping hits might have finally met its match. In an era where authenticity is currency and accountability is demanded, the question remains whether simply getting "the party lit for the b****es" is enough to maintain his crown in hip-hop's hierarchy.

The hip-hop world watches with raised eyebrows as Drake attempts to dance away from controversy with his latest release "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U" — a Valentine's Day drop that arrives suspiciously close to Kendrick Lamar's triumphant Super Bowl performance. The timing alone speaks volumes about Drake's strategic positioning in what has become one of hip-hop's most contentious feuds.The 74-minute collaborative album with PartyNextDoor presents itself as a collection of club-ready tracks and love songs, but beneath its seductive surface lies a carefully crafted response to Lamar's "Not Like Us" — though perhaps not the response fans were expecting.On "GIMME A HUG," the album's tenth track, Drake finally addresses the elephant in the room with characteristic deflection: "They be dropping s*** but we dropping harder s***/ F*** a rap beef, I'm tryna get the party lit." It's a dismissive stance that feels eerily familiar to longtime followers of Drake's career — reminiscent of his "Life is Good" response to Pusha T's explosive revelations about his secret fatherhood.But 2025 isn't 2018, and the stakes feel considerably higher. Lamar's accusations on "Not Like Us" cut deeper than previous conflicts, with implications that have caused even devoted Drake supporters to step back. The Super Bowl Halftime Show — where Lamar performed the track with guest appearance from Drake's ex Serena Williams — felt like a victory lap that demanded more than a casual shrug in response.The album itself has become entangled in additional controversy, with accusations from Freddie Gibbs about concept theft — from the dollar-sign styling of the title to rabbit-themed artwork similarities with Gibbs' "$ouls $old $eparately." These allegations only serve to complicate Drake's position as he attempts to maintain his characteristic cool in the face of mounting criticism.Perhaps most damaging to Drake's reputation among hip-hop purists was his decision to pursue legal action against UMG for releasing "Not Like Us" — a move that seems to contradict the very essence of rap battle culture. While Drake appears to reference this on "GIMME A HUG" with lines about "using you for promotion," the explanation feels insufficient in the face of what many view as a fundamental betrayal of hip-hop's core values.Critics haven't been kind to "$ome $exy $ongs 4 U," and without the buffer of critical acclaim that helped smooth over previous controversies, Drake's strategy of nonchalance might finally be wearing thin. The album's 21 tracks — featuring only two outside collaborators in Yebba and Chino Pacas — seem to suggest quantity over quality, a approach that feels particularly tone-deaf in the current climate.What's becoming increasingly clear is that Drake's tried-and-true formula of deflecting controversy through chart-topping hits might have finally met its match. In an era where authenticity is currency and accountability is demanded, the question remains whether simply getting "the party lit for the b****es" is enough to maintain his crown in hip-hop's hierarchy.