Drake’s latest song, “The Heart Part 6,” has officially garnered more dislikes than likes on YouTube. This track, a response to allegations made by Kendrick Lamar, has been met with a largely negative reception.
The Heart Part 6 by Drake officially has more dislikes than likes on YouTube.
Meanwhile, Kendrick is cruising with a 1% dislike rate on Not Like Us #NAHDRAKE PIC.TWITTER.COM/18QZQNGJ12
— jvck (@itsjvck) MAY 6, 2024
Drake and Kendrick Lamar, two titans in the rap industry, have had a complex relationship over the years. They started their careers around the same time in the early 2010s and initially collaborated on several projects. However, their relationship took a turn around 2013 when Lamar called out Drake and several other rappers in Big Sean’s song “Control.”
Their feud simmered for years, with both artists occasionally taking jabs at each other in their songs. The tension escalated recently, with both rappers releasing a series of diss tracks that included personal attacks and allegations. This feud has invoked other hip-hop greats, including Metro Boomin and DJ Mustard.
On Sunday night, Drake released “The Heart Part 6,” named after Lamar’s Grammy-winning single “The Heart Part 5.” Drake uses the song to address Lamar’s accusations of pedophilia, explicitly denying any inappropriate behavior. He even name-drops “Stranger Things” actor Millie Bobby Brown, whom Drake befriended when she was 14 years old, though Lamar has never mentioned her.
“Just for clarity, I feel disgusted, I’m too respected / If I was fucking young girls, I promise I’d have been arrested,” Drake raps. “I’m way too famous for this shit you just suggested.”
The Toronto native also claims that his own team leaked false rumors of a secret daughter to bait Lamar: “We plotted for a week and then we fed you the information,” he raps. “You gotta learn to fact-check things and be less impatient.”
However, spectators online don’t seem impressed with Drake’s defensive maneuver. Many have compared “The Heart Part 6” to a scene from “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” in which a character says, “There is no quicker way for people to think that you are ‘diddling kids’ than by writing a song about it.” Many also noted that Drake’s core argument — that he’s “too famous” to get away with criminal behavior — contradicts well-documented evidence that fame and wealth can help people evade consequences.
Critics broadly agreed that “The Heart Part 6” did not improve Drake’s image. Pitchfork contributor Evan Rytlewski wrote, “This is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard, extremely ugly shit.” Krishnamurthy opined that Drake’s “credibility and integrity need work,” whether or not Lamar’s accusations are true. Vulture music critic Craig Jenkins added: “you should never have to get on a record and express that you do not want to have sex with eleven from stranger things, I feel.”
Drake’s argument against the pedophilia allegations is “if i was really fucking young girls I promise I’d have been arrested” UHHH WHAT??? Rich famous men don’t get away with such crimes everyday???
— Olayemi Olurin (@msolurin) MAY 6, 2024
Kendrick has completely won over public opinion at this point i feel like. idek how Drake can sway it in his favor anymore if he dont got receipts
— SK⚡️ (@raptalksk) MAY 5, 2024
But even as critics declare Lamar as the victor, several also say the heated exchange should end here — especially given the dark accusations of misogyny and depravity that have been thrown in both directions.
“Drake and Kendrick don’t have the politics to be doing all this,” Holmes wrote. “As with most hip-hop beefs, we’ve ended up where we were always destined to — men using women, wives, baby mothers, parents, and children in increasingly gross and depraved ways to satisfy their rabid egos.”
It’s clear that the creative process and the decision to cater to fan bases by delivering strong lyrics can sometimes lead to unexpected outcomes. As the dust settles on this latest chapter in the Drake-Lamar saga, fans and critics alike will be watching to see what comes next. Will there be a reconciliation, or will the feud continue to escalate? Only time will tell.
