SZA Addresses Her Position Amidst Kendrick Lamar and Drake's Rap Beef "I Didn't Have Any Stake"

SZA clarifies her neutral stance on the Kendrick Lamar and Drake rap beef, emphasizing it as a conflict between two men where she had no personal involvement. Despite her close ties to both artists, she chose to remain detached, focusing instead on celebrating music she enjoys and maintaining her artistic integrity.

Superstar singer SZA, the acclaimed R&B artist, has firmly stated her position on the highly publicized rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake, asserting that she had "no stake" in the conflict. In a recent cover story interview with GQ, SZA elaborated on her decision to remain neutral, emphasizing that the dispute was a matter between "two grown-ass men" and therefore not something she felt compelled to involve herself in.

Despite her close ties to both artists being signed to Kendrick Lamar's label, Top Dawg Entertainment, and having a long-standing rapport with Drake, SZA maintained a deliberate distance from the escalating tensions. She expressed love for Kendrick as family and acknowledged her history with Drake, but ultimately felt it was not her place to intervene. This stance has garnered attention, particularly as her career has seen her linked to both artists in prominent ways.

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SZA's professional life inadvertently placed her in the middle of the feud's narrative. She performed on Kendrick Lamar's "Grand National Tour" and was featured on Drake's track "Rich Baby Daddy." 

When questioned about performing the Drake collaboration on tour with Kendrick, SZA explained that she celebrates music she enjoys and pointed out that Kendrick's own collaboration with Drake, "Poetic Justice," was also part of the setlist. Her reasoning was straightforward: "I don't know why I wouldn't be celebrating some shit that I ate up."

The artist also touched upon her brief public spat with Nicki Minaj, characterizing their interactions as "strange" and emphasizing a lack of personal connection. SZA stated, "I don't know her," indicating no prior history or ongoing relationship that would warrant her engagement in the online discourse. She suggested that the situation arose unexpectedly and was not something she felt the need to correct or elaborate on.

SZA's approach to these public conflicts underscores a desire to protect her peace and maintain focus on her creative endeavors. By choosing not to engage in disputes that did not directly involve her, she prioritized her artistic integrity and personal boundaries. This deliberate neutrality highlights a mature navigation of the pressures artists can face within the music industry, especially when caught between prominent figures.

 

SZA and Kendrick Lamar, both prominent artists from TDE have a history of successful collabs that extends beyond their recent joint tour. More recently, SZA featured on two tracks, "Luther" and "Gloria," from Kendrick Lamar's surprise album GNX, released in late 2024. These collabs preceded their highly anticipated "Grand National Tour," which kicked off in April 2025. The co-headlining tour, spanning North America, has been lauded as a significant event, with reports suggesting it has become the highest-grossing joint tour in history. 

SZA's candid remarks to GQ underscore her commitment to maintaining personal and professional boundaries amidst the intense scrutiny of the music industry. By asserting her lack of involvement in the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef, she not only clarified her position but also reinforced her dedication to her own artistic journey, proving that sometimes the most powerful statement is choosing not to engage.