As Kendrick Lamar commanded one of the most prominent stages of his career at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, many in the music world and beyond were asking: where was Drake? The spotlight was firmly on Lamar, but the absence of his long-time rap rival Drake was palpable, especially given their recent and highly publicized feud.
While the 37-year-old Lamar delivered a powerful and talked-about halftime performance in New Orleans, Drake, aged 38, was on the opposite side of the globe. The “God’s Plan” artist was in Melbourne, Australia, continuing his “Anita Max Win” tour, a stark contrast to the Super Bowl spectacle unfolding in the United States.
Drake’s tour in Australia commenced on February 4th, shortly after Lamar’s significant triumph at the Grammy Awards. Lamar had clinched five Grammys, largely fueled by the success and impact of his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” This track, which openly accuses Drake of pedophilia, became a central point of their escalating conflict.
Following Lamar’s Grammy sweep, Drake’s father offered a dismissive reaction to Lamar’s achievements, downplaying their significance in the ongoing rivalry. Drake himself, while not directly addressing Lamar’s Grammy wins, made a point of asserting his presence and relevance during his Australian tour opener.
“My name is Drake. I started doing music in 2008,” he declared to the Australian audience. “I come all the way from Toronto, Canada. The year is now 2025, and no matter what, Drizzy Drake is very much alive and that’s all thanks to you. I love you.” This statement, delivered in the context of Lamar’s rising success and their publicized feud, served as a clear message of resilience and continued relevance in the rap landscape.
Kendrick Lamar is performing at the Super Bowl halftime show while Drake is touring Australia.
Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance occurred during the game where the Philadelphia Eagles faced off against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs were aiming to prolong their winning streak, having previously defeated the Eagles in 2023 and subsequently the San Francisco 49ers in 2024.
Adding to the star power, Lamar was joined on stage by SZA, the Grammy-winning R&B artist and frequent collaborator. Notably, Lamar performed “Not Like Us,” the Grammy-winning track that contains explicit references to Drake’s alleged inappropriate interactions with younger women. The inclusion of this song at such a high-profile event underscored the deeply personal and public nature of the Drake-Lamar feud.
The history of discord between Lamar and Drake stretches back to 2014, but the rivalry intensified dramatically last summer. The two artists exchanged a series of diss tracks, launching accusations and personal attacks concerning physical appearance, artistic talent, the use of AI in music, and the aforementioned serious allegations of pedophilia leveled against Drake.
The legal ramifications of their feud have also surfaced. Recently, reports emerged that Drake is pursuing legal action against Universal Music Group (UMG), his own label, which also represents Kendrick Lamar. This lawsuit is reportedly linked to the release and distribution of “Not Like Us,” highlighting the far-reaching impact of their ongoing conflict.
“Not Like Us,” released amidst the flurry of diss tracks in May, quickly ascended to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was a direct response to Drake’s “Family Matters,” a multi-part diss track where Drake accused Lamar of domestic violence. These exchanges demonstrate the intensely personal and often controversial nature of their rap battle.
Drake’s current “Anita Max Win” tour is his seventh concert tour and his first in the Oceania region in eight years, since his “Boy Meets World” tour in 2017. The tour’s title, “Anita Max Win,” is derived from a viral persona Drake introduced in December 2023 on his Kick live streams, referencing the popular gambling phrase expressing a desire for maximum winnings.
In conclusion, while Kendrick Lamar was captivating a global audience at the Super Bowl halftime show, Drake was actively engaged with his fans in Australia, underscoring their divergent paths and the ongoing narrative of their complex and compelling rivalry within the hip-hop world.
