Halsey recently garnered attention after posting a video on Instagram of herself rapping along to Kendrick Lamar’s track “Swimming Pools.” The post caught the interest of fellow artist Drake, who liked the clip, prompting fans to speculate about the status of the long-standing rivalry between Drake and Lamar.
In her Instagram reel, Halsey compared the flow of rapper Dax to that of Kendrick Lamar. She began by playing a snippet from Dax’s song “Joker,” where he raps, “You’re insane, you’re in pain, I can tell by what you’re saying, but.” Following this, she transitioned to Kendrick Lamar’s “Swimming Pools,” singing along enthusiastically before breaking into laughter. “OK, now open your mind and listen to me, Kendrick. I am your conscience; if you don’t hear me, then you will be history, Kendrick,” she sang. Halsey captioned the video, “I can’t unhear this I’m sorry I’m deeply online.” As of the latest update, the post has received over 278,000 likes, with Drake’s like standing out among them.
The reaction from fans has been vibrant, with many interpreting Drake’s engagement with Halsey’s post as a possible thawing of relations between him and Kendrick Lamar. Comments ranged from amusement at the situation to inquiries about whether the pair had resolved their differences. One user remarked, “Drake liking the post is funny,” while another questioned if “Kendrick and Drake squash the beef?”
The relationship between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has been complex. Initially, the two artists collaborated on tracks such as “Buried Alive Interlude” from Drake’s 2011 album and “Poetic Justice” from Lamar’s acclaimed album Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City. They even shared the stage, with Lamar opening for Drake during the Club Paradise Tour. However, their camaraderie turned into rivalry in 2013 when Lamar included a verse in Big Sean’s “Control” that called out several rappers, including Drake.
In 2023, tensions escalated further when J. Cole referred to Drake, Lamar, and himself as modern hip-hop’s “big three” in his song “First Person Shooter.” Lamar responded in “Like That,” dismissing the notion of a trio and asserting his dominance in the industry by referring to himself as “big me.”
As the speculation unfolds, Halsey is currently taking a break from her Back to Badlands Tour. She is scheduled to perform next on December 13, 2025, at the MDLBEAST Soundstorm 25 festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The dynamic interactions among these artists continue to capture the public’s interest, reflecting the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry and artist relationships.
