Meet the Grahams

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"Meet the Grahams"
A solid black square
Single by Kendrick Lamar
ReleasedMay 3, 2024 (2024-05-03)
RecordedMay 2024
Genre
Length6:32
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)Kendrick Duckworth
Producer(s)The Alchemist
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Euphoria"
(2024) 		"Meet the Grahams"
(2024) 		"Not Like Us"
(2024)
Alternate cover
see "Cover art" section
Original cover art from YouTube video
Audio video
"Meet the Grahams" on YouTube

"Meet the Grahams" is a diss track by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on May 3, 2024, during his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake.[1] It is Lamar's response to and premiered approximately 52 minutes after the release of Drake's "Family Matters", a diss track mainly aimed at Lamar.[2]

Background[edit]

Main article: Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud

Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, has an immediate family including his parents, Sandra and Dennis Graham, and Adonis, Drake's son with Sophie Brussaux. Adonis was initially kept from the public eye but was confirmed by Drake after rapper Pusha T alleged his existence on the diss track "The Story of Adidon".[3] The feud between Drake and Lamar began in March 2024, with Lamar attacking Drake's persona and skill with the songs "Like That" and "Euphoria", before Drake responded with the track "Family Matters" in which he accused Lamar of domestic violence against longtime partner Whitney Alford.[4]

Composition[edit]

Produced by the Alchemist, "Meet the Grahams", unlike Lamar's previous responses, takes on an unsettling, haunting atmosphere, with an eerie piano-driven beat accompanying critical lyrics accusing Drake of a number of wrongdoings including parental negligence, sexual exploitation, and another incident of child abandonment.[5][6]

The track's lyrics take the form of a letter with multiple verses addressed at members of Drake's family. The first verse is addressed to Drake's son Adonis, the second is addressed to Dennis and Sandra "Sandi" Graham, both of Drake's parents, the third is addressed to Drake's alleged daughter, and the last verse is addressed to Drake himself. In the song, Lamar alleges that Drake has a secret child, a daughter, and calls him a sexual predator. Lamar also mentions that Drake is allegedly running a sex trafficking ring out of his Toronto mansion, known as The Embassy,[7] and compares his actions to those of former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein.[4]

Cover art[edit]

The cover art used in the original YouTube release shows an uncropped version of the photo that accompanied Lamar's previous song, "6:16 in LA". In addition to the glove, it shows a shirt, jewelry receipts, a visit card and three prescription medicines with the name "Aubrey Graham" (Drake's real name) on them, later revealed to be one for Ozempic, one for Adderall, and one for Zolpidem.[8] According to DJ Akademiks, these items were stolen from a suitcase belonging to Drake's father, Dennis Graham.[9] A week later, an unknown X user posted a video playing the song on an old laptop and showing the original photo items hanging at a balcony, requiring Drake and Akademiks to retract their theft accusation.[8]

The song was released to streaming platforms the next day with the original artwork being replaced with a black square, possibly due to Apple Music and Spotify guidelines prohibiting the sharing of personal information, as with the pill bottles in the original artwork, as well as the display of brands or advertisements on cover art.[10]

Credits and personnel[edit]

Charts[edit]

Chart performance for "Meet the Grahams"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 42
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[12] 10
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[13] 16
Global 200 (Billboard)[14] 17
Ireland (IRMA)[15] 26
Lithuania (AGATA)[16] 26
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 22
South Africa (Billboard)[18] 19
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 92
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[20] 68
UK Singles (OCC)[21] 28
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[22] 5
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 12
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 6

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (May 4, 2024). "Drake and Kendrick Lamar Get Personal on Simultaneously Released Diss Tracks 'Family Matters' and 'Meet the Grahams'". Variety. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  2. ^ Savage, Mark (May 4, 2024). "Drake and Kendrick Lamar get personal on simultaneously released diss tracks". BBC News. Archived from the original on May 5, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  3. ^ Baxter-Wright, Dusty (June 29, 2018). "Drake confirms he has a son on new album, Scorpion". Cosmopolitan.
  4. ^ a b "Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: the juiciest moments in their beef". CBC Music. May 4, 2024. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 5, 2024.
  5. ^ Cline, Georgette ClineGeorgette (May 4, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Annihilates Drake With 'Meet the Grahams' Diss Letter to Adonis, Drake's Mom, Dad and Alleged Secret Daughter". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  6. ^ Saponara, Michael (May 4, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Quickly Replies to Drake With Blistering 'Meet the Grahams' Diss Track: Listen". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  7. ^ Kreps, Daniel (May 4, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar and Drake Trade Diss Tracks as Rap War Rages On". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Fitzgerald, Trent FitzgeraldTrent (May 11, 2024). "Mysterious Video of Kendrick Lamar's 'Meet the Grahams' Cover Art Surfaces, Perplexes Fans". XXL Mag. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  9. ^ Rose, Jordan. "Breaking Down Everything Kendrick Said About Drake on "Meet the Grahams"". Complex. Archived from the original on May 4, 2024. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  10. ^ Blake, Cole (May 6, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Changes "Meet The Grahams" Cover Art For Streaming Release, Fans Debate Why". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  11. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  12. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  13. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  14. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  15. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  16. ^ "2024 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. May 10, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  17. ^ "NZ Top 40 Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  18. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (South Africa Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Veckolista Singlar, vecka 19". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  20. ^ "Kendrick Lamar – Meet the Grahams". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  21. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  22. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 11, 2024.
  23. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
  24. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2024.
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