Will the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar ever die?

Yesterday, fans got to see the highly anticipated music video for what might be the biggest hip-hop track of 2025: “NOKIA” by Drake. This release is significant because many believe Kendrick Lamar had the most dominant rap moment of 2024 with “Not Like Us.” Now, Drake is showing resilience, bouncing back from what many thought was a losing battle against Kendrick.

According to DJ Akademiks, Drake might be reigniting his feud with Kendrick Lamar through subtle references in the video. In a recent video, Akademiks pointed out several moments that could be subliminal messages. He mentioned dancers using moves similar to those in Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” video. He also pointed out a scene where an owl is shown flying free, which might be a response to Kendrick caging an owl in his own visuals.

Akademiks reacts to NOKIA MUSIC VIDEO and notices Drake was trolling Kendrick the entire video pic.twitter.com/fAa8BhL8QG

— CY Chels (@SeewhyChels) April 1, 2025

Some people think Akademiks is reaching, but others on social media have noticed the same things. This has sparked debate over whether Drake is subtly responding to Kendrick or if fans are just reading too much into it.

Drake is known for throwing subliminal shots, and some might say he has taken that crown from Jay-Z. As long as there’s tension, it’s likely he will keep sending messages through his music. What makes “NOKIA” different is that the jabs seem playful, suggesting Drake might not be looking for another serious rap war.

Do you think Drake was taking subliminal shots at Kendrick Lamar in the NOKIA music video, or is this all just speculation? Let us know in the comments!

Quincy

Quincy is the creator of Ratings Game Music. He loves writing about music, taking long walks on beaches, and spaghetti that fights him back.