A new documentary exploring one of the most talked-about rivalries in hip-hop has just been green-lit by Channel 4. Titled Public Enemies: Kendrick vs Drake, the film will delve into the fiery feud that erupted between Kendrick Lamar and Drake earlier this year. Produced by Acme Films – the same team behind Public Enemies: Jay-Z vs Kanye – the doc promises a deep dive into the battle that captivated the rap world and beyond.
While the release date for the documentary remains under wraps, it's already generating buzz for its blend of archival footage and fresh interviews with insiders who have worked with both rappers. The film will unpack how the feud came to dominate the cultural conversation, contextualizing Kendrick and Drake’s careers within the larger framework of the music and social climates that shaped them.
One of the central themes in the documentary will be the accusations made by Kendrick against Drake, including allegations of paedophilia, which he heavily referenced in his tracks ‘Meet The Grahams’ and ‘Not Like Us’. These claims were sharply denied by Drake, notably in his scathing diss track ‘The Heart Part 6’, where he suggested that Lamar was misled by false information from Drake's own team.
Channel 4's Shaminder Nahal teased what’s to come: "Public Enemies: Kendrick vs Drake is not just a biography. It’s a cultural exploration of two of the most influential voices in modern music. This documentary will delve into the unique journeys of Kendrick and Drake, examining how their backgrounds, talents, and visions have made them global icons.”
The beef kicked off earlier this year when Kendrick dropped a fiery verse in Future and Metro Boomin’s track ‘Like That’. The verse was a direct response to J. Cole’s lyrical musings on First Person Shooter, where he asked, “Is it K-Dot? Is it Aubrey? Or me?” Drake didn’t take long to clap back, releasing diss tracks ‘Push Ups’ and ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’. Lamar answered with Euphoria and later dropped 6:16 in LA to escalate the war of words.
With both rappers firing back at each other in quick succession, the drama kept building until Drake’s The Heart Part 6, where he not only dismissed the accusations but also called out Kendrick’s sources for spreading misinformation.
While the feud has since cooled, it looks like the battle will be reignited in Public Enemies: Kendrick vs Drake. This doc is sure to fuel the debate over who holds the crown as the king of modern rap.
In other Kendrick news, the Compton rapper is set to headline the 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. Meanwhile, Drake continues to make waves, recently sharing a treasure trove of unreleased music – 100 gigabytes worth of tracks that included collaborations with Young Thug and Latto.
Photo: Carmen Mandato/Getty Images; Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
