Drake and PARTYNEXTDOOR surprised fans with their joint album, Some Sexy Songs 4 U, on Valentine’s Day.
Drake responds to rap beef on ‘Gimme A Hug’
While the 21-track album delivers signature moody R&B sounds, one track, Gimme A Hug, stands out as Drake’s response to the rap battle that dominated hip-hop in 2024.
Many expected Drake to directly address Kendrick Lamar after their highly publicised feud, which saw Lamar decisively winning the battle in the eyes of fans.
However, instead of taking shots at the Compton rapper, Drake spends most of Gimme A Hug targeting everyone except Lamar.
On the track, Drake calls out his critics, labels, and unnamed rivals. He references the backlash following his failed response to Lamar’s Not Like Us, rapping:
“Drake elimination, fake intimidation / Take a minute, take a deep breath, have a little bit of patience.”
He also takes a jab at hip-hop’s obsession with his downfall, hinting that some in the industry were hoping to see him finished:
“N****s want to see RIP me on a T-shirt like I’m Hulk Hogan.”
While he doesn’t name Lamar, he does reference the fallout from their battle, implying that his legacy in the industry remains intact despite the loss.
Instead of firing back directly, he shifts his focus toward his wealth, his influence, and the industry’s hypocrisy.
The song’s outro also adds an unexpected twist, with Drake addressing women in the strip club, repeating the phrase, “Give me a hug,” multiple times.
How we got here: The backstory of Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s beef
Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s rap war escalated in early 2024, with Lamar dropping Not Like Us, a scathing diss track that took the culture by storm.
Fans crowned Lamar the winner after Drake’s counterattacks, The Heart Part 6 and Family Matters, failed to match Lamar’s impact.
The battle took a toll on Drake’s reputation, with many believing he had suffered his biggest career loss.
The feud even affected his industry relationships, with reports of tension between Drake and DJ Khaled surfacing after the latter appeared to side with Lamar.
Many anticipated that Drake would use Some Sexy Songs 4 U to finally deliver a proper response to Lamar. Instead, Gimme A Hug deflects, choosing to attack industry politics and his critics rather than reigniting the beef.
While some fans see the song as a strategic move to move past the feud, others believe it confirms that Drake is officially backing down.
Either way, Gimme A Hug adds another layer to one of hip-hop’s biggest rap battles in years.
