The artist formerly known as Kanye West, who said in a video on X Friday that he’s back in Japan amid numerous contentious social media posts, continues targeting former Yeezus tour partner Kendrick Lamar following K-Dot’s appearances on Playboi Carti’s MUSIC album. Notably, Ye isn’t featured on the project, which is heading for a huge #1 debut on the Billboard 200.
“Kendrick was never king,” wrote Ye, whose 2025 statements have included “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi” declarations on X. He added that Kendrick was “maybe king of the West Coast but never king of the world.”
Ye then listed his “12 rap kings,” including himself and Drake but excluding Kendrick. His roster featured Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, Biggie, 2Pac, 50 Cent, Eminem, LL Cool J, Run-D.M.C., Nas, and Rakim, concluding with “Am I missing any?”
Ye connected this back to his MUSIC complaints, saying Carti “made my favorite music until I heard Kendrick on it,” despite Ye being an executive producer on Carti’s 2020 album Whole Lotta Red. He also claimed Soulja Boy is “more important” than Kendrick and made several references to UMG CEO Lucian Grainge.
Ye and Kendrick have collaborated before, most notably on the Life of Pablo track “No More Parties in LA.” Last year, Ye briefly seemed to support Kendrick in his Drake feud, saying “Yo, Dot, I got you” in his “Like That” remix intro.
Ye once claimed he and Kendrick had 40 unreleased songs together. These sessions, first mentioned during the Pablo era in 2016, have an uncertain status. Given Ye’s current attitude toward Kendrick, it’s highly unlikely these tracks will ever officially be released.
