Now We Know Why Serena Williams Hates Drake

A long-standing feud between rap artists Drake and Kendrick Lamar has once again heated up following a series of back-to-back diss tracks. While the rivalry between the two has been brewing for years, no one expected tennis legend Serena Williams to be drawn into the fray. However, her appearance at the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show made her stance crystal clear, adding an unexpected layer to this ongoing hip-hop battle.

The Origins of the Drake and Kendrick Lamar Feud

To understand why Serena Williams holds resentment toward Drake, we must first examine one of the biggest conflicts in rap history: the clash between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. This feud began as a professional relationship built on mutual respect and collaboration but later transformed into a bitter rivalry fueled by diss tracks, industry politics, and subtle jabs.\

Drake was already a star in 2011, having successfully transitioned from actor to rapper with his debut album Thank Me Later. His sophomore project, Take Care, solidified his status as a top-tier artist. Among the album’s notable features was Kendrick Lamar, a rising lyricist from Compton, who contributed to the Buried Alive Interlude—a track reflecting on fame and its consequences. At the time, Kendrick saw Drake as a mentor and joined him on the Club Paradise tour in 2012. Their relationship appeared solid, leading to further collaborations, including the hit songs F**in’ Problems* and Poetic Justice.

However, tensions arose in 2013 when Kendrick released his now-infamous verse on Big Sean’s track Control, where he called out nearly every major rapper in the game, including Drake. He declared war on the industry, making it clear that he intended to dominate rather than play nice. While Drake initially dismissed Kendrick’s verse as mere competitive spirit, the tension only escalated from there.

By 2016, the rivalry had evolved into a “cold war”—with each artist throwing subliminal shots in interviews and songs without directly addressing one another. Kendrick subtly criticized Drake’s alleged use of ghostwriters, while Drake took veiled swipes at Kendrick’s commercial success. Fans picked sides, but the feud remained relatively controlled—until 2024.

The Rap War of 2024

The simmering tension between Drake and Kendrick Lamar finally exploded in 2024, transforming into one of the most intense rap battles in recent history. The conflict escalated when Kendrick took aim at Drake in his verse on Like That, a track from Future and Metro Boomin’s album. Unlike previous diss tracks, Kendrick made it explicitly clear that he did not see Drake as an equal, dismissing the so-called “Big Three” (Drake, J. Cole, and himself) and asserting his dominance.

Drake initially brushed off the diss with a nonchalant response at a concert, but the pressure mounted. By April, he fired back with Push Ups, a diss track mocking Kendrick’s stature and affiliations with Top Dawg Entertainment. He then released Taylor Made Freestyle, featuring AI-generated voices of Tupac and Snoop Dogg—an ill-advised move that led to backlash from Tupac’s estate, forcing Drake to take down the track.

Kendrick seized the moment, striking back with Euphoria, a six-minute lyrical takedown of Drake’s authenticity and credibility in hip-hop. He quickly followed up with 6:16 in LA, alleging that Drake’s own team was turning against him. The internet erupted, with fans dissecting every line and analyzing every move.

Not one to back down, Drake retaliated with Family Matters on May 3rd, taking the battle to a deeply personal level. This diss track not only targeted Kendrick but also took aim at his personal life, making it clear that the feud had reached a boiling point.

Serena Williams Enters the Picture

While the rap feud dominated headlines, Serena Williams made waves with her unintentional involvement. During the Super Bowl 2025 halftime show, she appeared in a moment that many perceived as a public denouncement of Drake. Her stance became the subject of widespread speculation, forcing her to clarify that her cameo was not meant to take sides. However, given her history with Drake, many believe otherwise.

Drake and Serena Williams were once romantically linked, but their rumored relationship ended on a sour note. Reports suggest that Drake’s behavior and his public flirtations with other women caused tension, leading to their split. Furthermore, Drake’s infamous 2015 diss track Back to Back, aimed at Meek Mill, included a line referencing Serena, which some interpreted as disrespectful. Her Super Bowl moment may have been an opportunity to subtly express her lingering discontent toward the rapper.

The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud continues to shape the hip-hop landscape, with fans and industry insiders closely following every development. Meanwhile, Serena Williams’ unexpected involvement has added an intriguing twist to an already heated battle. Whether intentional or not, her Super Bowl moment has fueled speculation about her feelings toward Drake, giving fans yet another reason to stay engaged in this high-stakes rap war.