Kevin Durant is making headlines once again—not for his dominance on the basketball court, but for stepping into the ongoing debate in hip-hop. The NBA star has openly sided with Drake in his ongoing feud with Kendrick Lamar, and his latest comments have only added more fuel to the fire.
Durant recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his thoughts on J. Cole’s newly released track “Clouds,” which has been widely praised across the rap community. However, his words carried a tone that many perceived as a subtle shot at Kendrick Lamar. Durant tweeted, “I don’t care bout none of that fake tough guy sh*t. This is mastery.”
Did Durant Just Call Kendrick a “Fake Tough Guy”?
The comment immediately sent social media into a frenzy, with many fans speculating that Durant was taking a veiled jab at Kendrick Lamar, who has been embroiled in a tense lyrical battle with Drake. Given Durant’s well-known friendship with Drake—and the fact that he has publicly downplayed Kendrick’s impact in the past—the assumption wasn’t far-fetched.
As the backlash mounted, Durant found himself engaged in heated exchanges with fans. When one user called him a “fake tough guy” for seemingly shading Kendrick, the former NBA MVP didn’t hold back, responding, “U took that as a personal shot towards your favorite?” He went on to clarify that his comment wasn’t just about Kendrick but aimed at those who constantly label J. Cole as “soft.”
“I’m dissing all y’all fans who can’t listen to J. Cole without saying he’s ‘soft,’” Durant added. Another fan sarcastically suggested that Durant needed Drake’s approval before expressing support for J. Cole, to which he clapped back, “I’m throwing shade at fans like you, been hatin on Cole this whole time. Just listen to the music and stfu.”
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Durant Downplays Kendrick’s Super Bowl Performance
This isn’t the first time Durant has stirred the pot regarding Kendrick Lamar. Earlier this year, after the Compton rapper’s electrifying Super Bowl halftime performance, Durant made it clear he wasn’t impressed.
“It meant nothing to me. No thoughts—I didn’t really pay attention to it, to be honest,” Durant said dismissively. “It was a little boring day for a Super Bowl. The game got out of hand. The Super Bowl Halftime Show—I didn’t pay attention to it. I kinda skimmed through the whole thing, to be honest.”
Durant’s casual dismissal of what many considered a historic moment in hip-hop culture further cemented his stance in the Kendrick vs. Drake saga. While LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan have remained neutral in the ongoing rap beef, Durant has unapologetically aligned himself with Drake.
Durant’s Role in Drake’s Music Career
Durant’s loyalty to Drake extends beyond social media debates. The Brooklyn Nets star was even credited as an A&R on Drake’s For All The Dogs album, a title he later explained in an interview.
“I’m just there for him whenever Drake wants to talk about life, and he just gave me that title,” Durant revealed.
Drake has also acknowledged their friendship multiple times in his music. On the track “Weston Road Flows,” he rapped, “Shout out to KD, we relate, we get the same attention / It’s rainin’ money, Oklahoma City Thunder.”
Fans React: Is Durant’s Loyalty Blinding Him?
As expected, fans have been divided over Durant’s stance. While some admire his loyalty to Drake, others argue that he’s dismissing one of the most influential rappers of this generation in Kendrick Lamar. Many pointed out that his dismissive remarks about Kendrick’s Super Bowl performance came off as disingenuous, considering the cultural impact of the event.
Regardless, Durant seems unfazed by the criticism. With J. Cole’s “Clouds” continuing to gain traction and the hip-hop world watching closely, it remains to be seen whether Durant will further insert himself into the rap world’s latest feud.
One thing is for sure: Kevin Durant isn’t afraid to speak his mind—even if it means ruffling some feathers in both the sports and music communities.
