RAP BEEF TIMELINE · 2017–2018
XXXTentacion vs. Drake
“Look At Me!” and the “KMT” flow fight
An underground breakthrough becomes a headline clash after fans connect Drake’s “KMT” cadence to XXXTentacion’s “Look At Me!” X calls it theft; Drake denies knowing of X or copying his flow. The beef never finds a public resolution.
THE RECORD
The moments
Music industry
“Look At Me!” builds its underground blueprint
XXXTentacion and Rojas release “Look At Me!” on SoundCloud. Its distorted bass and staccato triplet cadence become the sound that fans later point to when the Drake dispute ignites.
▶ Watch “Look At Me!”Diss track · disputed account
“KMT” preview starts the comparison
While X is incarcerated, Drake previews “KMT” in Amsterdam. Fans rapidly compare its cadence and delivery to “Look At Me!,” turning an internet observation into a full creative-credit argument.
▶ Listen to “KMT”Interview · disputed account
X calls Drake a “parasite” from jail
In an interview with producer Rojas, X says Drake took his flow without credit. After his release, he repeats the accusation in a Miami radio interview and turns the disagreement into a direct public feud.
“He is a genius... but he is a parasite.”XXXTentacion, 2017 interview
▶ Read X’s jail-era interviewInterview · disputed account
Drake denies copying X
After X’s posts and mother-focused trolling intensify, Drake tells DJ Semtex he did not know of X before the controversy and says he did not steal his flow. The artists never publicly reconcile.
“I didn't steal his flow.”Drake, DJ Semtex interview
▶ Listen to Drake’s DJ Semtex interviewRead the receipt ↗
THE RECEIPTS
Sources and listening
XXXTentacion — “Look At Me!” ↗Drake — “KMT” ↗Genius — Interview with XXXTentacion on the Drake dispute ↗Audiomack — Drake’s DJ Semtex interview ↗The FADER — Drake discusses the XXXTentacion controversy with DJ Semtex ↗ARTIST LENSES