Kanye West, now known as Ye, has made a bold claim about his rapping skills. In a new interview with Justin Laboy on The Download, Ye stated that no rapper can defeat Kendrick Lamar in a rap battle—except for him.
Ye Says Battling Kendrick Lamar Is a Losing Game
During the conversation, Ye praised Lamar’s skills and warned other rappers not to challenge him. He compared the situation to the video game Street Fighter, saying Lamar has a special move that makes him nearly unbeatable.
“If you rap against Kendrick, you will lose,” Ye said. “This man does this. You know in Street Fighter, you get Chun-Li, you get a certain kick, and no matter what, you can’t beat that thing?”
Ye went on to say that while Lamar is incredibly difficult to defeat, he believes he has the talent to do it. Calling himself a “psycho genius,” he suggested that if anyone could take on Lamar, it would be him.
Drake vs. Kendrick: Ye Weighs In
The conversation also turned to the recent rap feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Laboy claimed that Kendrick had “killed” Drake in their battle, and Ye agreed—for now. However, he compared Drake to NBA superstar Steph Curry, suggesting that he could still make a major comeback.
“You can’t ever count out Steph Curry,” Ye said. “That man might get 200 points in one song.”
Despite saying that Drake lost, Ye still showed him respect. He credited Drake, along with Future and Kendrick, for pushing the culture forward and evolving hip-hop.
Ye and Kendrick’s Past Collaboration
Ye and Kendrick have worked together before. Back in 2016, they traded verses on No More Parties in L.A., a track from Ye’s album The Life of Pablo. The song is known for its impressive lyricism, with both rappers delivering some of their best bars.
While Ye briefly joined the Drake vs. Kendrick battle last year by taking shots at Drake on a remix of Like That, he has mostly stayed out of the feud. However, his latest comments make it clear that he still sees himself as one of the best in the game.
Will Ye and Kendrick Ever Battle?
Ye’s claim has already sparked debate among hip-hop fans. While many agree that Kendrick is one of the best rappers alive, some wonder if Ye could actually take him in a one-on-one battle.
For now, Kendrick’s dominance in rap battles remains strong. But if Ye ever steps up to the challenge, it would be one of the most talked-about rap battles in history.
