21 Savage spoke publicly about his role amid Drake’s high-profile feud with Kendrick Lamar, revealing that he advised Drake against responding to Lamar’s lyrical challenges during their 2024 rap beef. In a December 11 appearance on the Perspektives With Bank podcast, the Atlanta rapper said he warned Drake not to engage in the back-and-forth after Kendrick’s “Like That” impacted the landscape, telling Drake to leave the situation alone because he felt it was unwinnable for someone already at the top of the game. Savage argued that when an artist is “the No. 1” in the culture, there’s no higher position to reach and even a perceived victory doesn’t change that standing. He characterized the dynamics of the feud as rigged, suggesting that public perception would label Drake as the “bad guy” regardless of the outcome.

According to 21 Savage’s account, his advice was rooted in protecting Drake’s legacy and recognizing the inherent pitfalls of engaging in a battle where even a win wouldn’t elevate his status further. He explained that Drake felt compelled to respond because he felt lyrically challenged, but reiterated that he believed the contest was effectively a no-win situation.

The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar echoed widely across the hip-hop community, with the two artists exchanging multiple tracks and Lamar’s “Not Like Us” achieving significant success, including a No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100. Lamar was also named Billboard’s 2025 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Artist and Top Hot 100 Songwriter of the year, adding to the narrative around the rivalry’s impact.

21 Savage’s comments coincided with the release of his own album What Happened to the Streets? on December 12, 2025, which features a collaboration with Drake on the track “Mr. Recoup.” The ongoing discussion around the Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud remains a central talking point in hip-hop culture, with various figures reflecting on the implications of artists engaging in public lyrical battles.