When did Kanye West and Drake perform together? Ye reveals new details to DJ Akademiks

On April 3, 2025, DJ Akademiks shared a screenshot of his conversation with Kanye West about rapper Aubrey Drake Graham. As seen in the screenshot, Akademiks asked if the idea for the Free Larry Hoover concert with Drake came from him.

He also pointed out that the photo from the event made it seem like their issues weren’t fully resolved, even though the Canadian rapper appeared emotional during the performance. Kanye West replied:

“It was the old man's call Larry Hoover made the call from Jail. Larry is in Jail and he was able to have the 2 biggest artist lay they differences aside. That's black power. That's what they tried to take from him.”

According to Billboard, West and the Canadian rapper performed together in December 2021 at the Larry Hoover Benefit concert. During the concert, Drake expressed gratitude to Kanye West for including him in the event.

He emphasized the importance of the moment and described walking through the arches as a surreal experience, something he had always dreamed of. He said that sharing the stage with someone he looked up to while witnessing an incredible music catalog felt unreal to him.

Last month, DJ Akademiks interviewed West, and the latter reflected on his relationship with the Canadian rapper. He compared the dynamic to having a family member he doesn’t always get along with.

He expressed admiration for Graham, saying he was more talented and influential than Kendrick Lamar. He also acknowledged Future and Young Thug’s impact on culture but admitted that he found last year’s events difficult to sit through.

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Kanye West told DJ Akademiks that Drake was interested in working on an album with him

Besides conversing via text, Kanye West also collaborated with DJ Akademiks during a streaming session, where he revealed that he sent the intro of his 2025 album Bully to Drake. However, the Canadian rapper rejected it, saying he did not mean to spoil his dreams. West told DJ Akademiks:

“You know something? I just thought about something. You know I sent 'Preacher Man' off Bully, the intro, to Drake first?”

DJ Akademiks then asked what Graham’s reaction was, to which West replied:

“He just like, he said something like, 'Aw man, I don't mean to like spoil your dreams' or some s**t. I don't know, he just did his thing and s**t. I think before it's all said and done, like you know, I'll do an album on him.”

DJ Akademiks shared another screenshot of his conversation in which Kanye West told him the reason he took his song off Spotify. He said he removed his song from Spotify because he disagreed with the platform publicly displaying streaming numbers.

He questioned why artists have to rely on touring for income when digital distribution often doesn’t pay enough, pointing out that the same companies controlling streaming also own major touring businesses. He described this system as trapping artists but claimed he was an exception.

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According to Billboard, Kanye West released a remix of Future and Metro Boomin’s diss track featuring Kendrick Lamar in 2024. He appeared on Justin LaBoy’s podcast, saying he was motivated by taking down Drake. He described the creative process and claimed Drake relies on industry backing from Lucian Grainge and Universal, comparing it to having a "rich baby daddy."