Shaquille O’Neal, the former LA Lakers star and NBA legend, has taken a humorous jab at rapper Drake amidst the ongoing rap beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Shaq posted a comical image on his Instagram story, featuring a bikini-clad Drake in a light-hearted, albeit provocative, pose. The image showed Shaq holding Drake by the buttocks, with Drake donning a bikini and Shaq himself dressed in blue floral swim trunks with his upper body exposed. Adding to the playful mockery, Shaq set the background music to “BBL Drizzy,” a diss track by record producer Metro Boomin aimed at Drake.
The image and the accompanying track clearly indicate Shaq’s support for Kendrick Lamar in this rap beef. “BBL Drizzy,” released in May, refers to a Brazilian butt lift, playing off allegations made by rapper Rick Ross about Drake. The track was Metro Boomin’s retort to Drake’s plea for the producer to refrain from getting involved in the feud. In his track “Push Ups,” Drake rapped, “Metro, shut your hoe ass up and make some drums,” further stoking the fiery exchanges between the artists.
Shaquille O’Neal’s Instagram antics are not the first instance of him showing his allegiance in the Drake-Kendrick feud. On June 30, Shaq, along with a host of other celebrities, attended “The Pop Out: Ken and Friends,” a one-night show in Los Angeles headlined by Kendrick Lamar. Among the attendees were LA Lakers superstar LeBron James, LA Clippers stars James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan, and former NBA player Kendrick Perkins. Perkins notably remarked that the concert was more entertaining than the NBA Finals.
In a surprising twist, Westbrook and DeRozan were not mere spectators at the event. As Lamar concluded his performance with his diss tracks directed at Drake, both NBA stars joined him on stage, further blending the worlds of sports and music.
Shaq’s involvement in the feud extends beyond social media trolling. On his podcast “The Big Podcast” with Adam Lefkoe, Shaq shared an unconventional idea for resolving the beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. Joined by guests Gillie and Wallo, Shaq proposed that the rappers “work it out.” He suggested that instead of engaging in a physical fight, the rappers could stage a show where they exchange tracks, culminating in a major pay-per-view event. “Like, ‘Hey, I’m going to say something, you say something, then we’re going to come out and do a show, boom boom, and major pay-per-view,’” Shaq elaborated.
While Shaq’s suggestion was made in jest, it reflects his unique perspective as a platinum-certified rapper and an entertainer. He understands the entertainment value of such rivalries and sees potential in leveraging them for greater fan engagement. Shaq acknowledged that the beef might be personal for Drake and Lamar, but he also highlighted its entertainment aspect, expressing his anticipation for the rappers’ next moves.
The ongoing feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has captured the attention of fans and celebrities alike. Shaquille O’Neal’s playful trolling and innovative suggestions add a new dimension to the narrative, demonstrating how personalities from different industries intersect and influence popular culture. As the rap battle unfolds, fans, including Shaq, eagerly await the next chapter in this high-profile rivalry.
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