Nigerian rapper M.I Abaga has shared his perspective on the ongoing rap rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Speaking in a recent interview on Afropolitan, M.I weighed in on the beef that dominated hip-hop in the past year.
The feud saw both artists release multiple diss tracks, culminating in Kendrick Lamar’s track Not Like Us winning five Grammy Awards at the 2025 ceremony. Kendrick’s dominance was further cemented with a historic Super Bowl halftime performance.
Despite Kendrick’s recent victories, M.I Abaga believes Drake has the talent to make a strong comeback. He praised the Canadian rapper’s ability to create hits consistently over the past 15 years and suggested that a comeback album could solidify Drake’s legacy even further.
“If Drake is able to make a comeback, it will elevate him above everyone else. Not just in music, but even tech guys—everybody danced on his ‘grave.’ But if there’s one person who can turn things around, it’s Drake,” M.I stated.
He also acknowledged Kendrick’s rise in the rap hierarchy, admitting that before this feud, he didn’t consider Kendrick a top-tier rapper. However, Lamar’s recent success has changed his stance.
“Kendrick wasn’t in my top 10 before this moment, but now I think he’s at least in the top three,” M.I admitted. “But I don’t see how you can place Kendrick above Drake simply because they were active at the same time. Drake has been consistently dropping hits for 15 years. You can’t deny what he has done.”
Reflecting on his own career, M.I drew parallels between his experience in Nigerian rap and Drake’s situation. He recounted how he faced criticism, with some labeling his music “boring,” despite his impact on the industry.
“The American hip-hop face-off was great and entertaining. Shoutout to Kendrick and Drake,” M.I concluded.
Kunmi ‘The Super Cat’ is a massage therapist, an entertainment and erotic content writer. She is a pop culture enthusiast!