Kendrick Lamar kicked off May 3, 2024 with the surprise release of “6:16 in LA,” a diss track that followed his April 30 track “euphoria” and preceded a third Drake response—14 hours later, Drake uploaded “Family Matters” to YouTube, which Kendrick then used as fuel to unleash the sinister six-minute track, “meet the grahams.” Let’s dig deeper to find out the meet the Grahams lyrics meaning.
True to the title Kendrick Lamar sends a very personal message to every member of graham family. He also reveals some of scathing allegations about Drake that was never reported. The major allegation was about Drake having an 11-year-old daughter and some other kids that were not specified. Drake took this to his IG story to make fun of the accusation.
Lyrics analysis:
The song “Meet the Grahams” by Kendrick Lamar is a diss track as part of his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake. The lyrics take the form of a letter to Drake, Drake’s son, Adonis, both of Drake’s parents, and Drake’s alleged daughter. Here’s we tried to break the meet the Grahams lyrics meaning:
Verse 1
“Dear Adonis, I’m sorry that that man is your father, let me be honest”: The song starts with an apology to Adonis, Drake’s son, expressing regret that Drake is his father.
“It takes a man to be a man, your dad is not responsive”: This line criticizes Drake for not being a responsible father.
“Never let a man piss on your leg, son…”: The lyrics here offer advice to Adonis on how to be a man, contrasting this with Drake’s perceived failures.
“Never code-switch, whether right or wrong, you a Black man”: This line encourages Adonis to stay true to his identity as a Black man.
“Can’t understand me right now, just play this when you eighteen”: The verse ends with a suggestion that Adonis listen to the song when he’s older to fully understand its message.
Verse 2
“Dear Sandra…”: The second verse addresses Drake’s mother, Sandra, and his father, Dennis. It criticizes them for their roles in Drake’s upbringing and behavior.
“Your son’s a sick man with sick thoughts, I think niggas like him should die”: This line expresses a strong condemnation of Drake’s actions and attitudes.
“He got sex offenders on ho-VO that he keep on a monthly allowance”: This line accuses Drake of associating with sex offenders.
“Ayy, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, keep the family away”: The verse ends with a warning to others, including LeBron James and Stephen Curry, to keep their families away from Drake.
Verse 3
“Dear baby girl, I’m sorry that your father not active inside your world”: The third verse addresses Drake’s alleged daughter, expressing sympathy for her situation.
“Should be teachin’ you time tables or watchin’ Frozen with you”: This line criticizes Drake for not being present in his daughter’s life.
“I’ll tell you who your father is, just play this song when it rains”: The verse ends with a suggestion that the song can reveal the truth about Drake to his daughter.
Verse 4
“Dear Aubrey…”: The final verse directly addresses Drake (whose real name is Aubrey), criticizing his character and behavior.
“You got gamblin’ problems, drinkin’ problems, pill-poppin’ and spendin’ problems”: This line lists a series of problems that Drake allegedly has.
“You lied about your son, you lied about your daughter, huh”: This line accuses Drake of lying about his children.
“Fuck a rap battle, this a long life battle with yourself”: The song ends with the assertion that Drake’s real battle is not with other rappers, but with himself.
Fatherhood comes to the fore; Kendrick seems irritated at Drake’s alleged indifference to his son, Adonis. Moreover, he provides some pointers on masculinity; it is also implied that Kendrick himself is projecting his principles on his opponent.
However, the song goes on to suggest that Drake may also have addiction issues; this is in the form of addictions to prescription pills and gambling. The song shows the harsh reality of the price of money and fame in this fast-paced hip-hop world.
By far the most surprising that occurs in ”Meet the Grahams” is the steady stream of insults. He states that Drake is already lying about how many children he has sired, he practices twisted behavior, and he has questionable associations. He needed to have a few cheap shots at his parents, even though his childhood and upbringing might have contributed to his becoming that man.
The album cover art for the “meet the grahams” seems to picture several items that have been mentioned as stolen from Drake’s father’s briefcase. These are thought to be Ozempic and Zolpidem pills and receipts for expensive jewelry allegedly bought by Drake.
The song’s impact extends beyond the lyrical content. The zoomed-in album art, featuring items like prescription drugs, might symbolize Drake’s inner turmoil. References to a long-standing rumor about T.I. add another layer of explosiveness, blurring the lines between truth and calculated manipulation.
The potential consequences of “Meet the Grahams” are staggering. Drake’s public image could be severely tarnished, jeopardizing future endorsements and collaborations. But from a social perspective, including one’s family members in a celebrity feud, as in the case in hand of Kendrick Lamar and Drake in “Meet the Grahams,” is a distasteful tactic.
While such a move increases the intensity of drama and brings more public attention, it defies the basic principles of decency and respect. Any public figure has a moral obligation not to disregard the potential aftermath damage actions would have, particularly by minors or third parties not involved in the dispute.
In that respect, these personal attacks leave lasting traumas and cause irreparable damage to their reputations and social standing. Providing a backdrop to set negative precedents, this phenomenon reveals a savage side of entertainment that makes such future conflict patterns acceptable to those wishing to take part in it.
Whether “Meet the Grahams” becomes a historic moment in hip-hop history depends on how these accusations unfold and how Drake responds, if at all. However, one thing is undeniable: Kendrick Lamar has dropped a lyrical bomb that has forever altered the landscape of their rivalry and sparked critical conversations within the industry.
