Drake has caused quite the stir with Her Loss, his newly released joint album with 21 Savage.
Immediately after the project’s release, fans took to Twitter to point out the multiple jabs and subliminals in Drizzy’s lyrics. Though the OVO boss is no stranger to diss records— as demonstrated in his highly publicized beefs with Kanye West, Pusha-T, and Meek Mill—his latest jabs came as a shock to many listeners who described the disses as both random and distasteful.
Drake took a not-so-subtle shot at Serena Williams’ husband, and appeared to slight everyone from Kanye West and DRAM to Ice Spice and—perhaps his most unexpected and controversial target—Megan Thee Stallion. Many believe Drake had accused the latter of lying about a 2020 shooting incident involving Tory Lanez. The lyrics was met with backlash online, so much so that Megan’s attorney responded with a condemning statement.
Here’s a list of everyone Drake seemingly disrespected on Her Loss, as well as some of their responses. The 16-track project is available now on all major platforms. You can also head here to read Complex’s first impressions of the album.
What Drake said: “This bitch lie ‘bout getting shots but she still a stallion.”
Context: The line was featured in the Boi-1da- and Tay Keith-produced track “Circo Loco.” While some listeners are convinced Drake was rapping about a woman who was being dishonest about body-enhancing injections, most believe he was referencing Megan’s shooting incident. The Houston rapper claims she was shot by Canadian artist Tory Lanez in 2020, during a dispute in Southern California. Lanez has denied the allegations as he awaits trial on assault charges.
Did they respond? Yes. Megan appeared to address the “Circo Loco” controversy via Twitter on Friday, telling artists to stop using her shooting for “clout.”
Megan’s attorney, Alex Spiro, responded to the lyrics in the following statement to Complex: “Despite the irrefutable evidence that Megan was a victim of gun violence, the ignorant continue to support her attacker.”
Lil Yachty, who contributed to several tracks on Her Loss and is credited as a writer on “Circo Loco,” addressed the controversy surrounding the lyrics and said that it was not a Megan reference.
“I know he’s not going to address it, because I know Drake,” he said while on Instagram Live. “It’s not about Megan it’s about women lying about their butt shots saying it’s real when it’s fake.”
What Drake said: “Sidebar, Serena, your husband a groupie/He claim we don’t got a problem but/No, boo, it is like you comin’ for sushi.”
Context: In the “Middle of the Ocean,” Drake appeared to take aim at Alexis Ohanian—the Reddit co-founder who married Serena Williams’ in 2017. Drake and the tennis star reportedly became friends more than a decade ago and sparked dating rumors back in 2015, around the time Ohanian reportedly met his now-wife. Drake and Williams never confirmed a romantic relationship.
Did they respond? Yes. Though he didn’t directly name Drake, Ohanian shared a series of tweets Friday in which he expressed his love and support for his wife, and proudly referred to himself as a “groupie.”
“The reason I stay winning is because I’m relentless about being the absolute best at whatever I do,” wrote Ohanian, who shares a 5-year-old child with Williams, “including being the best groupie for my wife & daughter.”
What Drake said: “Linking with the opps, bitch, I did that for J. Prince/Bitch, I did it for the mob ties.”
Context: In “Circo Loco,” Drake appears to reference the 2021 benefit concert in which he and Ye finally ended their years-long feud. During the show, Drake performed alongside Kanye for the first time since 2016, and referred to the Donda rapper as his “idol.” However, the “Circo Loco” lines suggest the moment wasn’t genuine, as he only agreed to the reunion to appease J. Prince—the Rap-A-Lot founder who urged him to participate in the event and squash his beef with Kanye.
Did they respond? Yes, however, Ye refused to fire back. The polarizing rapper reacted to the lyrics via Twitter on Friday, insisting he had nothing but love for Drake.
“Enough already I done gave this man his flowers multiple times,” he wrote. “Let’s really see who are real ops are in this music game. Imagine all the rappers on the same side and everyone cleaning up each others contracts. It’s kingdom time. Love Drake.”
What Drake said: “Tried to bring the drama to me, he ain’t know how we cha-cha slide...”
Context: The beef between Drake and DRAM goes all the way back to 2015, when the former dropped his hit track “Hotline Bling.” DRAM repeatedly claimed the song was a ripoff of his debut single “Cha Cha”—a title that was seemingly referenced in Drake’s “BackOutsideBoyz” track with Lil Yachty.
“I feel like my record got jacked,” D.R.A.M. told Billboard at the time. “And it’s not just me. People been comparing ‘Cha Cha’ and ‘Hotline Bling’ since it came out.”
Did they respond? Yes. DRAM shared a video in which he called Drake a “bitch” and alluded to a physical altercation he had with Drake’s bodyguards.
“Somebody tell Drake to shut the fuck up about that shit, man,” DRAM said. “Fucking five years ago. This n***a never even touched me n***a. I pressed his ass. His fucking bodyguards ... I ain’t gonna hold you, his bodyguards went to town on the kid, but his bodyguards did it, not his bitch ass. He ain’t touch me. He’s a bitch, you know that ...
“When I see him, I’ma see him. I’m saying what’s good with the one-on-one, though, my baby? What’s up my n***a? But he don’t wanna do that. You want to have your guards. That’s cool though. He ain’t touch me, though. And that shit from five years ago, come on, n***a. Why are you bringing that up? Why don’t you talk about how you got smacked by Diddy or some shit?”
What Drake said: “She a 10 tryna rap, it’s good on mute, yeah (It’s good on mute, shh).”
Context: Some fans believe “BackOutsideBoyz” includes a dig at Ice Spice, an up-and-coming rapper who met Drake earlier this year. The Bronx born rapper said Drake had co-signed her breakout track “Munch (Feelin’ U)” and invited her to OVO Fest 2022, where they were spotted hanging out together. However, some wondered if the meetup ended on bad terms, as Drake appeared to unfollow Ice Spice shortly after she had visited Toronto.
Ice Spice addressed the issue on BET’s Rap City 22, claiming she had no idea why Drake was no longer following her.
“I don’t know why though,” she said. “It’s OK. It’s all love.”
Did they respond? Yes. But, just like Kanye, Ice Spice refused to take the bait, and simply laughed it off.
“At least ima 10 🤷♀️😂,” she tweeted.
