In a surprising turn of events, Kanye West is opening up about his longtime frenemy Drake — and instead of throwing shade, he’s showing love.
During a candid livestream with Toronto rapper Top5, a close associate of Drake, the Chicago-born hip-hop icon made a bold admission that has fans and industry insiders buzzing. Kanye confessed to not only being inspired by Drake’s music but actually copying his style and flows on multiple occasions.
“The thing about Drake’s music is, he ain’t got sht where he copies what I do,” Kanye said during the live session. “I’ll have copied a Drake flow a lot of times. I got sht that, once Drake took over the algorithm, was copies of Drake.”
A Rare Moment of Humility From a Hip-Hop Giant
Kanye West has built an entire legacy on being a trendsetter — an innovator known for pushing boundaries in both fashion and music. So to hear him admit that he’s taken direct inspiration from Drake, someone often positioned as a rival, is not just rare — it’s historic in the world of rap.
The moment quickly went viral, with fans applauding the honesty. Many viewed it as a long-overdue show of respect from one GOAT to another, signaling a possible truce in one of hip-hop’s most infamous feuds.
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“This is the most humble I’ve seen Ye in a minute,” one fan posted on X. “Admitting Drake influenced you? That’s growth.”
Years of Beef, Bars, and Back-and-Forth
The Kanye-Drake dynamic has been anything but simple. Their feud stretches back nearly a decade, filled with cryptic lyrics, social media spats, and occasional reconciliations — only for tensions to flare up again.
From the Pusha T drama to leaked information and diss tracks like “Duppy Freestyle” and “Life of the Party,” the two have walked a fine line between rivals and reluctant collaborators. They even shared the stage at the “Free Larry Hoover” benefit concert in 2021, though the tension was palpable.
Now, Kanye’s recent remarks could mark the end of that rocky chapter.
Kanye Joins Team Drake — and Kendrick
In another unexpected move, Kanye recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a video weighing in on the growing tensions between Drake, Kendrick Lamar, and Universal Music Group (UMG). With both rappers caught in legal battles and industry drama, Ye made it clear where he stands.
“Yo, I’m so happy right now, you don’t understand,” Kanye said in the clip. “With this UMG, Drake, Kendrick situation, Super Bowl, Grammys… this sh*t was driving me — and you know where it should be driving me — but this is the biggest victory in music history right here.”
Kanye ended the video by throwing his full support behind both artists:
“I’m never finna call Drake out of his name. I’m Team Drake 100 percent. And Team Kendrick. And Team all of us. Kendrick needs to be going at UMG at this point.”
A New Era of Unity in Hip-Hop?
For years, fans have been divided between Team Ye and Team Drake, with their feud often symbolizing larger generational and stylistic divides within the culture. But Kanye’s recent comments suggest he’s ready to move beyond ego and competition.
“There’s power in us working together, not against each other,” said one fan. “This is a message hip-hop needs right now.”
It remains to be seen how Drake will respond publicly to Kanye’s compliments, but with the Toronto superstar currently focused on legal matters and rumored new music, it’s possible we could see another unlikely collaboration on the horizon.
Key Takeaways:
- Kanye West admits he’s copied Drake’s flows on multiple tracks.
- Calls Drake a trendsetter and credits him for dominating the algorithm.
- Voices full support for Drake and Kendrick Lamar amid UMG drama.
- Suggests hip-hop’s biggest names should unite against industry control.
- Hints at the possible end of his years-long feud with Drake.
