Kendrick Lamar Vs. Drake: Who Is Winning The Battle For Chart Supremacy?

Kendrick Lamar and Drake‘s fierce rivalry has been reignited in recent weeks — at least it feels that way based on the fervent fan debates that are raging on social media.

In the space of one week in February, Kendrick extended his victory lap over the 6 God by winning five Grammys for “Not Like Us” and becoming the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl halftime show, where he, of course, performed his hit diss song — a defamation lawsuit be damned.

Drizzy, meanwhile, has attempted to rain (or at least cast a wintery Canadian chill) on Lamar’s parade by releasing $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, a collaborative album with PARTYNEXTDOOR. It’s a seemingly calculated move that has allowed him to get back on the horse without the pressure of outselling or reengaging his archrival. (Mind you, Drake isn’t the first rapper to drop an album with an R&B singer after being deemed to have lost a beef.)

As the high-profile feud has turned Hip Hop into an increasingly partisan and hostile place, these recent developments have only provided more fuel for fans on both sides.

Kendrick fans will tell you that Drake is a “sickness” in Hip Hop and is desperately clinging on for dear life, despite currently having the number one album in the country; Drake fans, like Akademiks and Adin Ross, will tell you that Drake actually won the battle because “Not Like Us” was “all lies,” Kendrick’s success is merely a result of UMG’s (alleged) conspiracy to destroy Drake, and his Super Bowl halftime show was “garbage” and has “fucked it up” for every other rapper looking to follow in his footsteps.

Perhaps it’s no surprise that propaganda is flooding the rap game when you consider who’s back in office.

One thing that’s hard to argue with, however, is the numbers. Since lighting the fuse with his blistering verse on Future and Metro Boomin‘s “Like That” in March 2024, Kendrick Lamar is the hottest he’s ever been. Drake, for years Hip Hop’s biggest commercial behemoth, is suddenly cooling off.

So, who’s really winning the battle? Below, HipHopDX explores how the two rap titans have performed commercially before and after their feud erupted last year — and how Kendrick is beating Drake at his own game.

Before the Beef: Billboard Hot 100

Prior to squabbling up with Kendrick Lamar, Drake was the most commercially successful rapper of his generation — and it wasn’t even close.

He had the most number one singles, most top 10 hits and most career entries on the Billboard Hot 100 of any Hip Hop artist. Four of his 14 chart-topping tracks (more than a quarter) came in 2018 alone thanks to his Scorpion cuts “God’s Plan,” “Nice For What” and “In My Feelings,” as well as his “Sicko Mode” collaboration with Travis Scott.

The 6 God also reigned supreme (and still does) on streaming, ranking as Spotify’s most popular artist of all time with a staggering 100 billion-plus spins to his name.

Kendrick paled in comparison, but so did pretty much every other rapper. Prior to his banner year in 2024, he had just two number one singles (“HUMBLE.” and the “Bad Blood” remix with Taylor Swift) along with a dozen top 10 tracks. Even early hits like “Swimming Pools (Drank),” “Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe” and “Alright” failed to crack the top 10.

Not that this diminished Kendrick’s standing, of course. He still had ample commercial success, critical acclaim and one-of-a-kind accolades, as well as almost unanimous respect among his peers (not just those in Hip Hop). Any perceived struggles on the Hot 100 was more down to Kendrick’s smaller, album-focused output, disinterest in being a celebrity and his music generally being less digestible than Drake’s. (While Drake was bragging about being “Way 2 Sexy” for his shirt on Certified Lover Boy, Kendrick was figuratively baring his naked soul on Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.)

When it came to hit singles, few artists — let alone rappers — could compete with Drake.

WINNER: Drake 🏆

Before the Beef: Billboard 200

Much like the Hot 100, Drake had dominated the Billboard 200 since his breakthrough in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Each of his eight solo albums debuted at number one, as well as his various mixtapes, compilations and collaborative projects. In fact, only one Drake release had failed to top the Billboard 200: So Far Gone, which peaked at number five back in 2009. Its 10th anniversary commercial reissue debuted just one spot below at number six a decade later.

With 13 number one albums to his name, the Toronto native had surpassed fellow heavyweights like Eminem, Kanye West and Lil Wayne, and was snapping at the heels of JAY-Z, who held the record in Hip Hop with 14. Drake was also one of the few rappers who could compete with these greats on the sales front, with Views earning a staggering 852,000 units in its first week — still his highest tally to date.

Kendrick, meanwhile, had a respectable five chart-toppers under his belt — putting him above the likes of Nicki Minaj, Future and Nas, and level with Lil Wayne and Travis Scott. Despite its status as a certified classic, good kid, m.A.A.d city failed to top the Billboard 200, but only because it was unlucky enough to drop the same week as Taylor Swift’s Red, which crushed all competition with over 1.2 million first-week sales.

After GKMC, Kendrick comfortably cruised to number one with each new release, whether it was an eagerly anticipated studio album, a blockbuster soundtrack for a Marvel movie or a collection of cutting room floor leftovers. He also scooped up multiple Grammys and became the first non-classical artist to win the prestigious Pulitzer Prize.

Kendrick’s commercial peak came in 2017 with DAMN., which posted an impressive 603,000 first-week units, but he was still several hundred thousand shy of catching up with Drake.

WINNER: Drake 🏆

After the Beef: Billboard Hot 100

Nowhere is it more evident of how the tables have turned between Drake and Kendrick Lamar than on the Billboard Hot 100. Since “Like That” surged to the top of the chart in April 2024, Kendrick has embarked on a historic run of number one singles, with “Not Like Us,” “Squabble Up” and “Luther” also reaching the summit — tripling his tally of chart-toppers from two to six in less than 12 months.

Despite postitioning himself as the Prince to Drake’s Michael Jackson on “Like That,” the feat puts Kendrick in rare company with the King of Pop. According to Chart Data, it’s the fastest accumulation of four number one hits among male solo artists since MJ’s Bad era in the late 1980s.

The Compton superstar has also almost doubled his number of top 10 hits on the Hot 100. His initial Drake diss song “Euphoria” debuted at number three, while GNX cuts “TV Off” (no. 2), “Wacced Out Murals (no. 4), “Hey Now” (no. 5) and “Reincarnated” (no. 8) all reached the upper echelons of the chart.

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Drake, meanwhile, has ignored calls to lay low, go back to the drawing board and build anticipation for a comeback following his bruising defeat to Kendrick Lamar. Instead, he’s remained as prolific as ever, releasing the aforementioned $ome $exy $ongs 4 U, as well as a handful of 100 GIGS loosies and collaborations with Sexyy Red, Camila Cabello and others. With an additional 29 Hot 100 entries, his career total now stands at a record 359.

However, not much has stuck for the 6 God. He has topped the Hot 100 precisely zero times and has even struggled to hold down his previously guaranteed spots in the top 10, with just three songs cracking the frame. While “Not Like Us” has enjoyed multiple spells at number one (and currently sits in second place almost a year later), Drake’s own standout diss song “Family Matters” peaked at number seven and disappeared from the chart after six weeks.

His other two top 10 tracks come courtesy of his joint album with PARTYNEXTDOOR, with the defiant “Gimme a Hug” reaching number six and “Nokia,” which sounds like the kind of song that would’ve otherwise handed Drake his 15th number one, debuting at number 10. In another worrying sign for Drizzy, “Gimme a Hug” and “Nokia” are both expected to fall out of the top 10 on next week’s chart.

With “Luther” currently sitting atop the Hot 100, it’s safe to say that Kendrick is winning the battle of the sexy songs.

WINNER: Kendrick Lamar 🏆

After the Beef: $ome $exy $ongs 4 U vs. GNX

The pendulum is swinging the same way on the Billboard 200. Kendrick Lamar’s GNX and Drake’s $ome $exy $ongs 4 U both debuted at number one, but for the first time in their careers, the good kid from Compton outsold The Boy from Toronto.

Following its surprise release last November, GNX cruised to the top of the chart with 319,000 units in its first week, placing it third in Kendrick’s catalog behind DAMN. (603,000) and To Pimp a Butterfly (324,000). $$$4U opened with a relatively modest 246,000, making it Drake’s fifth lowest-selling project — although it did dethrone GNX atop the chart.

Drake’s supporters may argue that $$$4U is a collaborative project and therefore shouldn’t be judged by the same standards as his solo work. But his previous joint releases, What a Time To Be Alive with Future and Her Loss with 21 Savage, both registered significantly higher first-week numbers (375,000 and 404,000, respectively).

Kendrick’s success on the Billboard 200 has only grown since sweeping the Grammys and performing at the Super Bowl. Following his historic halftime show, GNX returned to number one with an additional 236,000 units, helped by well-timed physical copies being made available. DAMN. and good kid, m.A.A.d city also benefitted, rising to numbers 9 and 10, respectively.

The stage is set for another interesting showdown between Drake and Kendrick in the coming weeks. On next week’s Billboard 200 chart, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U and GNX are expected to battle it out for the number two spot with projected sales of 109,000 and 108,000, respectively. After that, it will be interesting to see which of the two albums has staying power and which will slide down the chart. The smart money is on GNX to win the race.

WINNER: Kendrick Lamar 🏆

As some attempt to rewrite the outcome of arguably Hip Hop’s greatest battle with construed narratives and conspiracy theories, the facts clearly show that the crown firmly rests on King Kendrick’s head, while Aubrey Graham appears to be finally losing his Midas touch.

Don’t take it from us, though — it’s what the culture feelin.’