The Simmering Tensions

While Kendrick Lamar’s scathing verse on Metro Boomin’ and Future’s Like That overtly reignited the feud, tensions between Drake and his peers have been percolating for years, fuelled by sneak disses, subliminal shots, and apparent behind-the-scenes fallings out.

The origins trace back even further than J. Cole’s line on the 2023 track First Person Shooter, where he referred to himself, Drake, and Lamar as “the big three” of rap, which Lamar dismissed on “Like That” by rapping “Motherf*ck the big three, n—a, it’s just big me.”

Drake’s deep ties to the artists he’s now beefing with provide layers of subtext. He gave Future his first #1 hit as a lead artist in 2021 with “Wait For U.”

Drake has frequently collaborated with Rick Ross over the years on tracks like “Aston Martin Music” and “Diced Pineapples.”

The unravelling of these professional and seeming personal relationships sets the stage for Drake’s vehement clapback.

Fueling the Flames

In the days after leaking on April 13th, Drake stoked fan speculation by posting a still of Uma Thurman’s character from Kill Bill surrounded by armed assailants, likening himself to the story’s vengeful heroine.

When Thurman caught wind and cheekily offered Drake her costume, he responded, “Yes, pls. The pen is Hattori Hanzo,”signalling his lyrical mastery was the legendary sword’s equal. 

In the official version’s opening, Drake makes an impactful statement by including the iconic “Whoo Kid” drop.

As Drake is well aware, Whoo Kid was along for the ride with hip-hop’s “pettiest rapper to ever live” (50 Cent), hosting classic mixtapes full of legendary Diss records.

With this inclusion, Drake is setting an unmistakable tone for total lyrical warfare.

The title “Push Ups” itself is a reference to a viral 2023 video of Kendrick Lamar doing prison push-ups, with Drake seeing a bunch of music industry subordinates attempting to “push up” to his level. 

Released on April 19th, Drake’s diss track revealed his ruthless, precisely-wielded bars are indeed forged from the finest wordsmith craftsmanship.

The highly anticipated record sees the Canadian juggernaut take withering aim at Kendrick Lamar, Future, Metro Boomin’, Rick Ross, and more across its hard-hitting verses.

Word for Word: Unpacking the Lyrics

Drake wastes little time taking aim at Kendrick Lamar’s perceived elevated status in the rap world. He mocks Lamar’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers album title with the dismissive line, “How the f*ck you big steppin’ with a size seven men’s on?”

He then derides Lamar’s pop-oriented features, spitting, “Maroon 5 need a verse, you better make it witty/Then we need a verse for the Swifties.”

Checking Future and Metro

The opening salvo is directed at Future, with Drake asserting, “I could never be nobody’s number one fan”—an apparent response to Future’s line claiming Drake was his biggest fan on “We Don’t Trust You.”

Drake then curtly instructs Metro Boomin’ to “shut your ho ass up and make some drums, n*gga.” 

Some of Drake’s most potent disses are delivered with straightforward brevity, like his curt instruction to Metro Boomin’.

The simplicity and succinctness of these lines pack an undeniable punch.

Asserting Global Dominance

On “Push Ups,” Drake makes a point to spotlight his global stardom and widespread appeal compared to his adversaries.

He raps, “Puss can’t get outside America for nan’/I’m out in Tokyo because I’m big in Japan.”

While acknowledging Kendrick as a worldwide artist, Drake suggests Future’s reach is limited—merely playing festivals abroad rather than selling out arenas on solo tours like Drake.

A Menacing Warning for Ross

For Rick Ross, who recently leaked his own Drake diss “Champagne Memories,” Drake issues a stern warning cloaked in mockery of Ross’ age and career: “I might take your latest girl and cuff her like I’m Ricky/Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this n*gga turnin’ fifty/Every song that made it on the chart, he got from Drizzy.”

The Weeknd Called Out

Drake also takes aim at his former Toronto comrade The Weeknd, accusing him of superficial spending habits: “Cash blowin’ Abel bread, out here trickin’/Shit we do for bitches, he doin’ for niggas/Jets, whips, chains, wicked, wicked, wicked/Spend it like you tryna f*ck, boy, you trippin’.”

Infidelity Insinuations and Financial Implications

Amidst the lyrical assaults, Drake’s line “Pull your contract ’cause we gotta see the split/The way you doin’ splits, bitch, your pants might rip” appears to hint at troubling rumours of infidelity while also insinuating Kendrick may be facing unsavoury contract situations and financial splits.

Lines like “Extortion baby, whole career you been shook up/’Cause Top told you drop and give me fifty like some push-ups” and “Top say drop, you better drop and give ’em fifty.”

He insinuates that if Kendrick’s partner “starts to kiss and tell” about alleged indiscretions, it could drastically impact his earnings further.

Drake seems to be baiting Kendrick to defend himself, suggesting he’s holding potentially damaging information about Kendrick’s personal life and business arrangements.

Claiming Instrumental and Commercial Supremacy

Throughout the scalding verses, Drake repeatedly reasserts his unparalleled commercial dominance, hitmaking prowess, and sonic influence over his rivals.

He reminds them, “Every song that made it on the chart, he got from Drizzy,” and says he’s “the hitmaker y’all depend on.”

A Producer’s Refined Opus

While initial leak versions surfaced, the official “Push Ups” exhibits the handiwork of a master craftsman.

Featuring sleek production helmed by Boi-1da, the pristine, hard-hitting beat allows Drake’s searing cadences and intricately sculpted rhyme schemes to cut through with utmost clarity and urgency—every bar is sharpened to a razor-precise edge worthy of Hattori Hanzo himself.

Hip-Hop’s Ruthless Competitive Spirit

At its core, “Push Ups” is a consummate example of hip-hop’s ruthlessly competitive spirit.

Drake’s unbridled willingness to furiously trade verbal blows showcases the genre’s deeply-rooted culture of lyrical battles and artistic rivalry, as he proclaims, “Nigg*s really got me out here rappin’ what I’m livin’.”

Like a battle-hardened warrior, his words are forged from the flames of real-life conflicts.  

The Diss Track Floodgates Open

Whether Drake’s fiery “Push Ups” succeeds in quelling the flames or pours further gasoline on the inferno remains to be seen.

But one thing is indisputable: the OVO rapper has firmly reasserted himself as a lyrical force to be reckoned with.

His unflinching, razor-sharp bars wield the precision of a Hattori Hanzo blade, ensuring this will be a rivalry for the ages that rap fans won’t soon forget.

One can only imagine the responses from Kendrick, Metro, Future, The Weeknd, and others—the floodgates have opened for an onslaught of 2024 diss tracks from rap’s heavyweights.

Stream Drake Push Ups on Spotify:

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Drake Push Ups Lyrics

Intro
(Whoo Kid)
Ayy

Verse 1
I could never be nobody number-one fan
Your first number one, I had to put it in your hand
You pussies can’t get booked outside America for nan’
I’m out in Tokyo because I’m big in Japan
I’m the hitmaker y’all depend on
Backstage in my city, it was friendzone
You won’t ever take no chain off of us
How the fuck you big steppin’ with a size-seven men’s on?
This the bark with the bite, nigga, what’s up?
I know my picture on the wall when y’all cook up
Extortion baby, whole career, you been shook up
‘Cause Top told you, “Drop and give me fifty,” like some push-ups, huh
Your last one bricked, you really not on shit
They make excuses for you ’cause they hate to see me lit
Pull your contract ’cause we gotta see the split
The way you doin’ splits, bitch, your pants might rip
You better do that motherfuckin’ show inside the bity
Maroon 5 need a verse, you better make it witty
Then we need a verse for the Swifties
Top say drop, you better drop and give ’em fifty
Pipsqueak, pipe down
You ain’t in no big three, SZA got you wiped down
Travis got you wiped down, Savage got you wiped down
Like your label, boy, you in a scope right now
And you gon’ feel the aftermath of what I write down
I’m at the top of the mountain, so you tight now
Just to have this talk with your ass, I had to hike down
Big difference ‘tween Mike then and Mike now
What the fuck is this, a twenty-v-one, nigga?
What’s a prince to a king? He a son, nigga
Get more love in the city that you from, nigga
Metro, shut your ho ass up and make some drums, nigga
Yeah, I’m the 6ix God, I’m the frontrunner
Y’all nigga manager was Chubbs lil’ blunt runner
Claim the 6ix and you boys ain’t even come from it
And when you boys got rich, you had to run from it
Cash blowin’ Abel bread, out here trickin’ (Out here trickin’)
Shit we do for bitches, he doin’ for niggas (What the fuck?)
Jets, whips, chains, wicked, wicked, wicked (Wicked, wicked)
Spend it like you tryna fuck, boy, you trippin’, boy, you trippin’
Drizzy Chip ‘n Dale, probably got your bitch Chanel
I just got ’em done, boy, don’t make me have to chip a nail
Rolling Loud stage, y’all were turnt, that was slick as hell
Shit’ll probably change if your BM start to kiss and tell
Hugs and kisses, man, don’t tell me ’bout no switches
I’ll be rockin’ every fuckin’ chain I own next visit, ayy
I be with some bodyguards like Whitney
Top say drop, your little midget ass better fuckin’

Chorus
Ayy, better drop and give me fifty, ayy
Drop and give me fifty, drop and give me fifty, ayy
Niggas really got me out here talkin’ like I’m 50, ayy
Niggas really got me out here rappin’ what I’m livin’

Verse 2
I might take your latest girl and cuff her like I’m Ricky
Can’t believe he jumpin’ in, this nigga turnin’ fifty
Every song that made it on the chart, he got from Drizzy
Spend that lil’ check you got and stay up out my business
Nigga, shout out to the hooper that be bustin’ out the griddy
We know why you mad, nigga, I ain’t even trippin’
All that lil’ heartbroken Twitter shit for bitches
This for all the top dogs, drop and give me fifty, drop, drop
And that fuckin’ song y’all got did not start the beef with us
This shit been brewin’ in a pot, now I’m heatin’ up
I don’t care what Cole think, that Dot shit was weak as fuck
Champagne trippin’, he is not fuckin’ easin’ up
Nigga callin’ Top to see if Top wanna peace it up
“Top, wanna peace it up? Top, wanna peace it up?”
Nah, pussy, now you on your own when you speakin’ up
You done rolled deep to this, it’s not fuckin’ deep enough
Beggin’ Kai Cenat, boy, you not fuckin’ beatin’ us
Numbers-wise, I’m out of here, you not fuckin’ creepin’ up
Money-wise, I’m out of here, you not fuckin’ sneakin’ up
Cornball, your show money merch-money fee to us
I’ma let you niggas work it out because I seen enough
This ain’t even everything I know, don’t wake the demon up
This ain’t even everything I know, don’t wake the demon up
Drop and give me fifty, all you fuck niggas teamin’ up

Outro
Mmm, mmm, yeah
Drop, drop, drop, drop
Drop a fifty bag for the mob in the spot
Drop a fifty bag, twenty-nine for the thot
Uh, I was really, really tryna keep it PG