BTS‘s RM reacted to the latest rap battle.
In the fall of 2023, Canadian rapper Drake released “First Person Shooter” featuring American rapper J. Cole. With this release, the two placed themselves alongside Dot as this generation’s Big Three of rap.
Love when they argue the hardest MC
Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?
We the big three like we started a league, but right now, I feel like Muhammad Ali
Huh, yeah, yeah, huh-huh, yeah, Muhammad Ali
— J. Cole, “First Person Shooter”
Kendrick Lamar wasn’t a fan of this. So, he responded with the release of the Future and Metro Boomin collab “Like That.” In it, he unexpectedly dissed J. Cole and directly references his and Drake’s previous lyrics.
Ah, yeah, huh, yeah, get up with me
F*ck sneak dissin’, first-person shooter, I hope they came with three switches
I crash out like, “F*ck rap,” diss Melle Mel if I had to
Got 2TEEZ with me, I’m snatchin’ chains and burnin’ tattoos, it’s up
Lost too many soldiers not to play it safe
If he walk around with that stick, it ain’t André 3K
Think I won’t drop the location? I still got PTSD
Motherf*ck the big three, n*gga, it’s just big me
N*gga, bum
What? I’m really like that
And your best work is a light pack
N*gga, Prince outlived Mike Jack’
N*gga, bum
‘Fore all your dogs gettin’ buried
That’s a K with all these nines, he gon’ see Pet Sematary (Yeah)
N*gga, bum
— “Like That”
It seemed like Drake finally responded to the beef on April 13 when DJ Akademiks shared “Push Ups,” which was initially leaked and speculated to be AI. In it, Drake takes a shot at Kendrick’s height, references his wife, and claims other music artists are currently more influential in the industry.
On ‘Push-Ups,’ the Canuck basically says Lamar was an indentured servant under Top Dog for not only taking an alleged 50-50 earnings split while he was at the label, but hitting military-style push-ups anytime the label head demanded with ‘drop and give me 50.’ It’s an admittedly clever turn of phrase on top of a dig at Big Steppers: ‘Your last one bricked, you really not on sh*t, they make excuses for you ’cause they hate to see me lit.’ He also made a bunch of short-king jokes: ‘Pipsqueak pipe down you ain’t no big three / SZA got you wiped down / Travis got you wiped down / Savage got you wiped down’ and ‘I’m at the top of the mountain so you tight now / Just to have a talk with yo a*s I had to hike down.’ But he also cast a few strays in the direction of the Weeknd, who has historically denied being a part of Drake’s factory of artists who only make songs for Drake; A$AP Rocky, who emptied the clip on Drake’s obsession with his partner, Rihanna, on We Still Don’t Trust Youtrack ‘Show of Hands’; and … Rick Ross. The Rozay stray seemed outta nowhere but it also could shine some light on the more understated issue at hand: women. ‘I might take your latest girl and cuff her like I’m Ricky,’ Drake adds. ‘Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this n*gga turning 50.’
— Vulture
Some of Kendrick’s friends in the industry have jumped to his defense, too. The beef is very much ongoing…
Now, BTS rapper RM has reacted to the rap battle.
RM frequently shares music recommendations via his personal Instagram Stories. One of the latest songs he recommended was the 2012 song “Poetic Justice” by Kendrick Lamar, featuring Drake.
[rkive] instagram story
[ poetic justice by kendrick lamar and drake https://t.co/hW79smu2mj] pic.twitter.com/axCl0vFFnW
— 윤서⁷ (@btsinthemoment) April 17, 2024
ARMYs joked that RM was attempting to insert himself into the rappers’ feud and be a peacemaker. He just wants his favorite rappers to get along!
Whose side are you on during this rap battle?
Why can’t we be friends?
