Drake may have taken an L in his rap battle with Kendrick Lamar last year, but his global fanbase remains unwavering. On Monday (Jan. 6), dancehall icon Vybz Kartel weighed in on the high-profile feud during a conversation with Billboard.
Kartel, who admitted he isn’t exactly a fan of Kendrick Lamar, shared his thoughts candidly:
“I don’t even listen to Kendrick, so I wouldn’t know. What does he rap? I saw it on the internet, but no disrespect to the dude.”
He elaborated further, saying:
“I hear him, but I don’t listen to him. Drake is more in tune with Jamaica and the culture. Drake is a better and bigger artist.”
Kartel’s perspective might carry a hint of bias, given Drake has openly acknowledged the Jamaican star as one of his “biggest influences” in a 2016 interview with Nardwuar. Additionally, Drake’s fourth studio album, Views, leaned heavily on dancehall elements, with tracks like “9,” the chart-topping “Controlla,” and “Too Good” featuring Rihanna.
As for the feud with Lamar, Drake’s fortunes have been rocky since Kendrick’s Grammy-nominated diss track Not Like Us dropped. The Canadian rapper has since taken legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), accusing the label of colluding with Spotify to inflate the song’s streams and popularity.
Kartel, meanwhile, has been celebrating his return to freedom after serving 13 years in prison. Following the overturning of a murder conviction in August 2024, he headlined a New Year’s Eve concert at Freedom Street in Kingston, Jamaica. The event featured special appearances from Popcaan, Spice, and others, while stars like Nicki Minaj, Busta Rhymes, DJ Khaled, and Cardi B shared their support online.
Looking ahead, Kartel revealed exciting plans with one of his celebrity admirers.
“I love Cardi! We got a song coming out next year. We are actually in the process of writing it,” he shared. “Even if I have to walk, I’m performing that song in New York!”
Despite the drama between Drake and Kendrick, Kartel’s loyalty to the God’s Plan artist underscores the deep cultural connections shaping today’s music industry.
