Drake has reportedly unfollowed several high-profile celebrities on Instagram amid his ongoing feud with fellow rapper Kendrick Lamar. Among the notable names Drake has removed from his social media are NBA stars LeBron James and DeMar DeRozan, rapper Playboi Carti, and former rapper-turned-podcaster Joe Budden.
According to various reports, the 37-year-old “God’s Plan” artist began October by unfollowing these figures, leading to speculation about the reasons behind his social media purge.
While Drake has not publicly addressed the specific reasons for the unfollowing spree, fans have speculated that LeBron James, 39, and DeMar DeRozan, 35, may have been targeted because of their attendance at Kendrick Lamar’s star-studded Juneteenth concert this past summer.
James was seen enjoying Lamar’s performance, while DeRozan went even further, taking the stage with Lamar and other artists during the event.
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DeRozan’s participation in Lamar’s set raised eyebrows, especially since the rapper performed his hit diss track “Not Like Us,” aimed directly at Drake, five times in a row. The track, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May, has been a central piece in the ongoing feud between Drake and Lamar.
Despite the wave of unfollowings, one name remained conspicuously present on Drake’s follow list for a time: Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is currently in legal trouble, awaiting trial on sex trafficking and other serious charges. However, shortly after reports of Drake’s social media activity surfaced, he unfollowed Diddy as well.
The tension between Drake and Lamar has been building for months. Their feud dates back to March when Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin’s hit track “Like That,” where he took thinly veiled shots at Drake. Since then, both rappers have traded jabs through their music. Lamar criticized Drake, accusing him of using the N-word despite being mixed-race, and even alleged Drake had inappropriate interactions with underage girls—allegations Drake has firmly denied.
Drake has not held back either. In retaliation, he claimed that Lamar had been unfaithful to his longtime fiancée, Whitney Alford, and even questioned the paternity of Lamar’s son. These personal attacks have only deepened the divide between the two artists, with their rivalry reaching new heights.
The release of Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” in May marked a pivotal moment in the feud. The song immediately climbed to the top of the charts, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying in the Top 10 for months. Its success further cemented Lamar’s status as one of the most prominent voices in hip-hop and intensified the tension between the two rappers.
In September, Lamar was announced as the headliner for the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, set to take place in February 2025. The news of Lamar’s performance stirred more drama when reports surfaced that Drake had sent a cease-and-desist letter to prevent Lamar from performing “Not Like Us” during the Super Bowl.
While rumors swirled about this legal maneuver, a representative for Drake denied the allegations, telling sources the cease-and-desist claim was “not true.”
As the feud continues to escalate, fans are left wondering how far the rivalry between Drake and Lamar will go. Both artists remain at the top of their game, but the personal nature of their exchanges has added a layer of intensity rarely seen in modern rap battles.
With Lamar’s Super Bowl performance on the horizon, many are curious to see if their conflict will take center stage on one of the world’s biggest platforms.
