Kanye West has declared himself the one rapper able to defeating Kendrick Lamar in a rap battle. In a latest interview with Justin Laboy, Ye praised Lamar’s lyrical prowess however insisted his personal “psycho genius” mindset units him aside. His daring declare has reignited discussions about rap supremacy and whether or not anybody can actually problem Lamar.
As hip-hop followers debate Ye’s assertion, many replicate on Lamar’s dominance, particularly after his latest victory over Drake. Right here’s what we find out about West’s feedback and their impression on the rap world.
Kanye West talks about beating Kendrick Lamar in a rap battle
Throughout an interview on The Obtain podcast, Ye acknowledged Lamar’s unmatched lyrical skill, stating, “For those who rap towards Kendrick, you’ll lose.” He in contrast Lamar to Chun-Li from Road Fighter, emphasizing his unbeatable type. Nonetheless, West urged he might be the exception, referring to himself as a “psycho genius.”
West’s feedback observe Kendrick Lamar’s extremely publicized feud with Drake, wherein Lamar’s diss monitor Not Like Us grew to become a defining second. The track dominated a number of classes on the 2025 Grammy Awards, cementing Lamar’s popularity as an elite battle rapper. Many within the hip-hop neighborhood, together with Joe Budden, have suggested towards difficult Lamar—an opinion Ye echoed. Nonetheless, West maintained that his distinctive artistry provides him a preventing likelihood.
Ye’s declare is especially notable given his personal historical past with rap feuds, together with clashes with Drake, Jay-Z, and Pusha T. Nonetheless, he isn’t identified for direct battle-style diss tracks. His confidence in taking up Lamar has sparked debate—some see it as his signature bravado, whereas others view it as a authentic problem.
Past his battle claims, West additionally weighed in on the Kendrick-Drake feud, stating, “Kendrick killed Drake—he’s lifeless.” Nonetheless, he urged that Drake might make a comeback, evaluating him to NBA famous person Steph Curry, identified for his unimaginable recreation recoveries. Ye acknowledged Drake’s affect on hip-hop, crediting him with “advancing the frequency” of the style.
West briefly inserted himself into the Lamar-Drake rivalry final yr by taking pictures at Drizzy on a remix of Like That. He and Lamar beforehand went bar-for-bar on The Lifetime of Pablo’s No Extra Events in L.A. in 2016.
