Drake Considers Kanye West His Only Competition

Common hip-hop consensus puts Drake and Kendrick Lamar as the top two young rappers from a commercial and critical standpoint, and because this is hip-hop, they're considered competitors. The Toronto MC doesn't feel that way, however.

In an interview featured in VIBE's 2013 'Race Issue,' Drake says he considers Kanye West his only competition. The two have had what many considered a silent war over the past few years. West apparently cut Drake's contribution on 2010's 'All of the Lights' and the OVO leader rapped this line on 2011's 'I'm On One': "I’m just feeling like the throne is for the taking, watch me take it."

"He’s, like, the best. What an era to be a part of," Drake says. "I wouldn’t want my competition to be anybody else. My competition is nobody else, by the way. It’s just me and ‘Ye. I still have work to do but that’s what it is right now."

The 27-year-old rapper was also asked his opinion of Lamar and his infamous 'Control' verse. Drake was frank in his response, saying that he was linked to Lamar's verse because his name was mentioned and 'Nothing Was the Same' was being promoted when it was still bubbling. He used a Michael Jordan reference to explain why he didn't have to directly respond to the West Coast MC's lines.

"Jordan doesn’t have to play pickup to prove that he could play ball, no offense. But I’m not gonna give you the chance to shake me necessarily, ’cause I feel great," Drake states. "There’s no real issue. It’s tough because the people wanna see us tear each other down; I don’t wanna give them that. There’s no point. I have no ill feelings toward that guy. It’s just like, it’s there for me if I wanna fall for it. I’m just too smart for that.

"Hopefully it’s the last time I gotta talk about this, ’cause every time I open my mouth up about it, they take this piece and take this piece. And he’s hungry, so he’s going to do what he has to do like the BET [cypher]. But again, it’s not enough for me to go. We haven’t seen each other [since the BET cypher,] but I’m sure we’ll see each other and it’ll be cool. And if it’s not, then I guess that’s how our story unfolds."

This c'est la vie attitude has also been expressed by Lamar in an interview with GQ. He described his relationship with Drake as “pretty cool. I mean, I would be OK if we weren’t.”