While J. Cole bowed out of the heated beef long ago, it was Drake and Kendrick Lamar who dominated much of the cultural estate. With their rivalry escalating from a cold war to a full-blown nuclear showdown, the rappers have revitalized the competitive spirit of hip-hop. This escalating rivalry between the two artists has taken over the online world, with commentators dissecting lyrics, digging into the beef's origins, and arguing over who is coming out on top. 

Though the lyrical exchanges were intense from both sides of the beef, there is a prevailing public sentiment crowning Kendrick Lamar as the victor in the beef, for a variety of reasons. 

In their feud, both Drake and Kendrick Lamar have taken shots at each other's artistic integrity, and each diss track was packed with scathing personal insults. Unlike typical hip-hop beef, this one has gone way beyond performative play-fighting. Reportedly, it has taken a toll on Universal Music Group and brands like Nike. As a result, there is now a push for Lamar to retract his allegations against Drake. In UMG's eyes, Drake is losing, and it is high time to end the beef before the brands endure any more losses, as per an insider. 

The girl who appeared on stage with Drake in his 2010 show has also stepped up to defend the 'God's Plan' rapper. Moreover, Drake himself has via Akademiks in response to Lamar's claims in his diss track, 'Euphoria,' declaring that if anyone can provide evidence for the accusations against him, he will "quit rapping". These efforts by the Canadian artist to defend himself have created a perception that he lacks the strength to face off against the 'Like That' rapper, thus potentially losing in the biggest hip-hop feud. 

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Now the question is, where does the beef go from here? Following a weekend of back-and-forth between hip-hop giants, fans are claiming that Kendrick Lamar has come out on top. But he is not without bruises either. 

Drake's 'Family Matters' and 'The Heart Part 6,' alongside Kendrick Lamar's 'Meet the Grahams' and 'Not Like Us,' were all carefully orchestrated moves aimed at either damaging or salvaging their reputations. While Drake may have taken a hit in this beef, Lamar has also suffered a blow equally significant. The Pulitzer winner can not be seen as the epitome of respectability anymore. His actions over the weekend were simply too extreme for fans to keep holding onto the message of unity in his tracks like 'Alright' once carried.

He kept his distance from the intricacies of social awareness while exposing Drake to outside scrutiny and sparking debates about colorism. It might not be realistic to expect this artist, whose focus throughout the turbulent year of 2024 has been on getting a rise out of one person, to suddenly pivot to rapping about spirituality and harmony. It really leaves one wondering: who is the real winner in this beef?

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Who do you believe triumphed in this hip-hop beef? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!