There’s been a lot of chatter about The Game and his recent moves on the West Coast. It seems like he’s found himself in the middle of the feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. He missed Kendrick’s big pop-up concert in Englewood on June 19th, and although he tried to downplay it on Instagram, it seemed like he was trying a bit too hard to make it seem like it didn’t bother him. Despite claiming he hasn’t taken sides and hasn’t betrayed the West Coast, Kendrick apparently sees things differently.
Kendrick’s friend DJ Head recently spilled the beans, saying Kendrick feels seriously let down by The Game. DJ Head also pointed out a subtle dig Kendrick took at The Game during his LA concert. There was a line that seemed like a nod to The Game’s “One Blood” intro: “Where have I heard Dre? I see dead people.” The Game’s line about Dre might have been a dig at the producer, and DJ Head hinted that The Game’s upcoming album might not even feature Dre’s production, which only adds more fuel to the fire.
On top of that, there are rumors about The Game’s ties to Diddy’s circles and his appearances at some notorious parties. It looks like Kendrick might be suggesting that The Game no longer fits in with the West Coast scene.
So what’s really going on with The Game? Did he pick the wrong side in the Kendrick-Drake feud and betray the West Coast? And how did Kendrick manage to sneak in that jab at The Game during his concert? It’s definitely a drama worth digging into.
Watching Kendrick’s journey from a “good kid” to a major player in the industry has been incredible. His album should have won a Grammy, though “DAMN.” is also amazing. It seems like The Game got caught up in the rivalry, initially siding with Drake and then trying to play both sides, which led to accusations of betrayal.
Let’s rewind to April. After Drake fired back with “Te” and “Give Me 50” in response to Kendrick’s diss on Future and Metro Boomin, The Game made his position clear on Instagram. He posted a video of himself chilling at home, vibing to Drake’s 2015 hit “Energy,” and even quoted lines from the track in the caption. The Game wrote, “I got rap ninjas that I got to act like I like.” But his followers weren’t having it—they quickly accused him of betraying the West Coast by siding with Kendrick’s rival. Despite the backlash, The Game kept showing love for Drake on IG, posting things like, “I’ll call you my brother ‘cause there’s never been a moment where you made me feel otherwise.” Drake responded in the comments, acknowledging their long history with “too much history.”
Here’s the twist: The Game later deleted that post, sparking a wave of backlash from fans. If you’re going to take a stand, you need to stick with it. Deleting posts only invites trouble. So where does The Game really stand now?
As the beef heated up and it became clear Kendrick was coming out on top, The Game suddenly played the neutral card, saying he had love and respect for both Kendrick and Drake. Then, on May 1st, just days before Kendrick dropped “Not Like Us,” The Game took to Instagram to brush off the entire beef as watered down. He also threw shade at J. Cole for apologizing to Kendrick and backing out, sharing a screenshot from Joe Budden’s podcast co-host Officially Ice. The Game posted, “I want one of these rap ninjas to diss Game just so y’all can see what a proper diss record looks like.” When his name came up, The Game couldn’t resist a little self-promotion, bragging in the caption, “’Cause my level of disrespect has no limit, and I can actually rap. Real rap fans know who’s authentic and who’s not, regardless of who’s popular at the moment.” By then, hip-hop—or whatever it’s called these days—was already losing its edge. Cole’s apology only made it cooler but without the bite.
The Game went from cozying up to Drake and calling him his brother to suddenly claiming he’s better than both Drake and Kendrick. And now, he’s flip-flopping again, saying both Kendrick and Drake are his brothers and denying he ever picked sides.
On June 19th, Kendrick delivered an epic pop-up show in Englewood, sealing his victory over Drake and cementing his legendary status on the West Coast. Kendrick hit the stage in a red hoodie, white T-shirt, blue jeans, fresh Nikes, and a red baseball hat—an outfit that paid homage to Tupac, who wore something similar at the 1994 Source Awards when he famously hijacked the stage during A Tribe Called Quest’s acceptance speech. Whether intentional or not, Kendrick’s look sent a clear message. He kicked off with his Drake diss track “Euphoria,” and the crowd rapped every bar of the six-minute track. In the final verse, Kendrick jabbed, “Give me Tupac’s ring back and I might show a little respect,” taking a dig at Drake’s controversial $1 million purchase of Tupac’s iconic crown ring. Kendrick also slipped in new lines from “66” and his verse in “Like That.”
The night’s highlight came when Dr. Dre joined Kendrick for “California Love,” whispering, “I see dead people.” Kendrick then performed “Not Like Us” a whopping six times in a row. Just when it seemed Drake couldn’t take another hit, he did. By the third or fourth rendition of “Not Like Us,” NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook stormed the stage, showing off their dance moves. DJ Mustard joined in alongside members of rival gangs—Bloods, Crips, and Piru—all coming together for a group photo as the concert wrapped up. Kendrick made it clear once again that he stands apart from Drake and that the culture has chosen its side.
Meanwhile, Kendrick Lamar’s associate, The Game, was noticeably missing, sparking rumors that he might be siding with the opposition. But The Game took to Instagram to clear things up, firmly denying any betrayal of the West Coast and insisting he’s not playing favorites.
“I’m getting bombarded with messages and comments saying stuff like, ‘The West Coast isn’t backing you’ or ‘You’re siding with someone else.’ When have I ever said I’m picking sides? I stay in my lane, focus on my kids, and avoid the drama. That’s how I’ve stayed in this game since 2003. It’s easy for fans to judge from the sidelines, but this industry is complicated. Look at what happens to some celebrities. I didn’t expect the game to be this way, so I’ve had to find my own path. I’ve been in this since 2003, when I signed with Aftermath.”
The Game also talked about his integrity and mentioned that even Dr. Dre could vouch for him. “If you ask anyone who really knows me, including Dr. Dre, they’ll tell you about my character. RIP Nipsey Hussle—he’d tell you what I did for his career from the start. I’ve always repped my hood and the West Coast. Top Dog, Kendrick, Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign, Dr. Dre, Snoop, Hit-Boy, and all the big names on the West Coast know what I’ve done.”
But who is The Game really trying to convince—us or himself? Kendrick’s friend, DJ Head, recently dropped a bombshell, revealing that Dr. Dre and Kendrick subtly dissed The Game during their LA pop-up show. Remember when Dr. Dre whispered, “I see dead people” before Kendrick performed “Not Like Us”? That was a dig at The Game’s “One Blood,” where he says, “Dre, I see dead people.” DJ Head confirmed this on The Bigger Picture Show, saying that Kendrick and his team carefully planned their moves for the show. “Dre’s reference was a clever jab at The Game, especially since The Game had mentioned doing an album without Dre’s production. Whether it was intentional or not, it was a smart move.”
50 Cent once called The Game “bipolar,” and that’s a pretty apt description if you’ve been following his antics. His behavior during the Kendrick vs. Drake feud really fits this label. Fans have been vocal about this, with some calling him “unloyal and weird,” saying he seems to favor Drake over his own culture and city, and always picks the wrong side while feeling left out. Even though The Game is recognized for his lyrical talent, his erratic behavior seems to hurt his popularity, especially on the West Coast.
What’s your take on The Game’s constantly changing stance during the Kendrick vs. Drake drama? Why do you think he keeps shifting his position? Drop your thoughts in the comments below
