"They keep milking it long after it ended"- DJ Akademiks claims he got the "biggest money of his career" during Drake vs Kendrick Lamar feud

Podcaster and hip hop commentator DJ Akademiks has said that the viral feud between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar delivered unprecedented engagement, and income, for hip-hop media, while also contributing to a creative stall in the genre. Speaking during a recent livestream, Akademiks reflected on how coverage of the battle dominated online discourse well beyond its conclusion.

He argued that the financial upside incentivized outlets to linger on the rivalry, crowding out fresh narratives. While acknowledging the moment’s cultural impact, Akademiks framed it as a cautionary tale about incentives in modern rap coverage, warning that an overreliance on a single storyline can freeze momentum, saying,

"During the Drake vs Kendrick beef, numbers went crazy, biggest money period of my career, I'm sure it was the same for other media outlets too. So media stayed stuck there that's why they keep milking it long after it ended."

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More on what DJ Akademiks said about the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef

During the livestream, Akademiks said the beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake marked “the biggest money period of my career,” adding that other outlets likely experienced similar spikes. According to his assessment, the surge in clicks, views, and revenue created a feedback loop, because numbers “went crazy,” coverage stayed locked on the same feud even after the exchange cooled. The result, he suggested, was an industry-wide pause on developing new arcs.

DJ Akademiks emphasized that hip-hop thrives on narrative momentum as much as music itself. “Hip-hop runs on storytelling, not just sound,” he said, arguing that when media repeatedly revisits one conflict, it limits space for emerging artists, fresh rivalries, and new cultural moments. His critique was not aimed at the artists’ work during the battle, but at how prolonged amplification reshaped editorial priorities.

These comments were echoed in coverage by HotNewHipHop, published December 30, 2025, which framed Akademiks’ remarks as a broader diagnosis of stagnation. The report noted that this was not the first time he had questioned the long-term effects of the feud.

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Why DJ Akademiks says Drake should move on

DJ Akademiks has also tied his media critique to strategic advice for Drake. In an October 2025 interview on VladTV, later reported by Complex on October 15, 2025 he said he personally told Drake to stop engaging Kendrick Lamar directly. According to Akademiks, the battle’s cultural impact is already cemented, leaving little upside in further diss records. He recommended a quieter, indirect approach, what he called the “Jay-Z approach”, rather than reopening a closed chapter.

He reiterated that view in subsequent commentary, arguing that Drake’s career no longer gains “legacy points” from lyrical wars. While acknowledging historic moments like 2015’s “Back to Back,” Akademiks maintained that the calculus has changed. Continuing to rehash the rivalry with Kendrick Lamar, he said, risks diminishing returns for both the artist and the ecosystem that covers him.

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According to Rolling Stone on December 27, 2025, the 2026 Grammy Awards Best Rap Album category is shaping up as a head-to-head between Kendrick Lamar and Clipse, even within what is described as an unusually strong field. The five nominees are Clipse’s Let God Sort Em Out, Kendrick Lamar’s GNX, GloRilla’s Glorious, J.I.D’s God Does Like Ugly, and Tyler, the Creator’s Chromakopia.

Kendrick Lamar, winner of Record Of The Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Best Music Video and Song Of The Year for “Not Like Us”,at the 67th GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Image by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Genius vice president of music and content Rob Markman characterized the past year as “the year of intention,” arguing that many of the nominated projects are driven by artists working through pain while also offering optimism. That framing applies most directly to Kendrick Lamar and Clipse, whose albums are cited as lyrically focused and purpose-driven, but Markman also highlighted J.I.D’s long-standing reputation as a meticulous lyricist.

He further pointed to Tyler, the Creator’s continued artistic growth, praising Chromakopia for showcasing his evolving, layered production style.

The 68th Annual Grammy Awards are set to happen on February 1, 2026

Edited by Devangee