LeBron James, one of the most beloved athletes in the world, has found himself at the center of a brewing feud between rap superstars Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Fans believe that James’ longstanding friendship with Drake may have been strained after he was spotted attending Kendrick Lamar’s Juneteenth concert, “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends,” in Inglewood, California.
The tension stems from Lamar’s recent song “meet the grahams,” where he directly calls out LeBron and Stephen Curry, rapping “Ayy, LeBron, keep the family away, hey, Curry, keep the family away. To anybody that embody the love for their kids, keep the family away.”
After the song’s release, Drake was notably absent from his usual well-wishes to NBA players on the USA basketball team, including LeBron’s teammates Devin Booker, Jayson Tatum, and Kevin Durant. This snub came shortly after LeBron and his wife Savannah were seen at an Olympic event with Savannah wearing a PgLang shirt, Kendrick Lamar’s company.
Fans have been quick to speculate on the situation, with one stating “They act like HS girls. His n**ga Drake has Lebron TATTOOED on him.” Another fan argued “You can’t tell a grown-up family man what music or concept he should attend. “Not Like Us” got Drake in his feelings.”
The perceived tension escalated when LeBron randomly posted a picture of Drake’s NOCTA Brand sneakers on Instagram, which some saw as a passive-aggressive move. However, James may have made his stance clear by playing Drake’s “Lord Knows” featuring Rick Ross while celebrating the U.S. men’s basketball team’s gold medal win at the 2024 Olympics.
As the feud between Lamar and Drake continues to unfold, fans eagerly await to see if LeBron James will be forced to choose sides or if he can maintain his friendships with both rap icons. The situation serves as a reminder that even the most beloved athletes can get caught in the crosshairs of hip-hop’s biggest rivalries.