'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUH/8QAHxAAAgEEAgMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDAAQFESFhIlKh/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/xAAXEQEBAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAgAh/9oADAMBAAIRAxEAPwDFcXjrS8kWVYEVlSV12NgqG15ezbPXyok0toZnK25UFjpVPA6FKVa5DKV67//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has involved several artists close to them. One of those artists is Baka Not Nice, a Canadian rapper signed to Drake’s OVO Sound. In a recent interview, Baka spoke about Kendrick Lamar’s diss track Not Like Us, which was released in May 2024. The track included a direct mention of Baka, referencing his legal history from 2014.
Lamar’s lyrics brought up Baka’s past arrest and guilty plea for assault. This led to public discussions online and sparked strong reactions. The line, “Baka got a weird case, why is he around?” suggested that Baka’s presence in the industry was questionable. Baka said he was ready to respond at first.
However, he changed his mind after hearing from Drake. During an April 7 interview on Hot Freestyle, Baka explained that Drake personally messaged and advised him not to respond. Drake told Baka that the criticism was just “noise” from bots and not worth the energy.
"I was building up a lot of anger and stuff like that but then I get this call, I don't know why I got this call, it's like God said something to him or something but The Boy, it might not have even been a call, it might have been a text message, but he messages me," he said.
He added:
"He was like, 'Yo, I know what you're feeling, I know you as an individual. I know how you get down, but I'm just letting you know like, don't listen to the noise, cos it's noise. If you go back and look at all people that are saying things or having anything to say, they're not even actual real people, they're like bots. Don't let that s**t bother you, bro.'"
What did Kendrick Lamar say about Baka Not Nice in Not Like Us?
In the song Not Like Us, Kendrick Lamar took aim at some of Drake's entourage. This included Baka Not Nice. The lyrics referenced Baka's arrest and court case in 2014. Lamar rapped, "Baka got a strange case, why is he around? Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles."
The line was the most discussed aspect of the song. It invoked Baka's history, which had been low-key in recent years. People online and fans quickly responded, some defending Lamar and others saying the line was unjust.
Baka added that the lyric was mischievous and damaging. He noted that his case was public, and Lamar had no basis for his heft accusation. He stated that the rap community should refrain from using real-life issues for lyric attacks without basis.
Read More: Metallica set to host blood donation drives at select U.S. concerts with Red Cross
How does this show Drake’s strategy in the Kendrick Lamar feud?
Drake's counsel to Baka demonstrates a policy of not responding unnecessarily. Although Drake and Kendrick Lamar have traded diss tracks since they began recording, Drake appears to be attempting not to pull others into it. His warning to Baka was to keep out of the fight and avoid further publicity from online criticism.
This is not the first occasion where Drake has approached things slowly. Throughout his career, he has answered Kendrick Lamar with music but not public arguments or interviews. Drake tends to allow the music to do the talking for him.
By telling Baka not to respond, Drake might be seeking to have control over the situation. He doesn't want people to shift attention from the core issue between him and Lamar. He might be seeking to save people in his camp from being even larger targets in the beef.
Read More: "The best revenge is time": Bow Wow addresses his beef with Omarion
Trending
The war of words between Kendrick Lamar and Drake continues to pick up steam. Baka Not Nice found himself in the mix after he was name-checked on a diss record, but he declined to fire back after he was counseled by Drake. This decision is evidence of a larger plan from Drake, who appears to be looking to keep the beef contained.
Baka was upset at being ambushed with the so-called untrue accusations. Yet he heeded Drake's word and remained mum. This act might diffuse some tension in the meantime, but the war between the two artists is hardly in the rearview mirror.
Reply
