From Bape to Babies: A Timeline of Pusha-T and Drake's Stormy Relationship

The roots of rap’s hottest beef date to when Drizzy was a teenager and Pusha hadn’t yet released an album.

Right now, everyone in the rap world is captivated by Pusha-T and Drake’s back-and-forth. The feud, which has found its way even to outlets that wouldn’t know a rap beef from Kobe beef, has captivated fans and media, has somehow roped in Kanye West’s charity, Kim Kardashian, Whitney Houston’s family, adult film stars, and even secret children.

This whole situation was kicked off by Pusha slipping in a diss of Drake for collaborating with other songwriters on “Infrared.” It continued through Drizzy’s lightning-fast clapback, which drew Kanye West into the mix by pointing out that Drake had written songs for Yeezy. Then Pusha fired back with “The Story of Adidon,” which brought things to an entirely new level. The whole thing shows no signs of letting up anytime soon.

But the antagonism between Push-a-ton and the Cash Money camp dates back over a decade, and the conflict’s roots lie even further in the past. Below, a timeline of important moments in the Pusha-T/Drake battle.

Early 2000s: Enter Bape

Nigo Pharrell

November, 2002: What Happened to That Check?

Birdman Cash Money

Winter/Spring, 2006: The Story Begins

wayne bape

May, 2006: Mr. You Too

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Just a few months after the Vibe cover, Clipse release a single called “Mr. Me Too” that accuses unnamed people of copying their style. It doesn’t take a mind reader to figure out who the track is probably aimed at. “Wanna know the time? Better clock us,” Malice raps. “Niggas bite the style from the shoes to the watches.”

December, 2006: 'I Don’t See No Fuckin’ Clipse'

Wayne W hotel

July, 2007: 'If You Wobble Dee Wobble Dee, You Can’t Be a Legend'

Clipse red carpet

February, 2008: '...But His Metaphors Boring'

Clipse live

May, 2010: 'Tell Hova, Don’t Pass the Crown Too Soon'

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March, 2011: An Olive Branch

Pusha brunch

May, 2011: Drake Lets It Fly

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Drake’s first direct entry into the fray of any note comes just a few months later, on “Dreams Money Can Buy.” On it, he says, “My favorite rappers either lost it or ain’t alive.” As a teen, Drizzy was a self-described “really, really big Clipse fan,” so it seemed pretty clear who he thought had “lost it.”

September, 2011: The Return Volley

Pusha DC

December, 2011: An Un-Common Response

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At the exact same time Drake and Common were exchanging words, Pusha borrows the beat from Common’s “Sweet”—a song thought to take shots at Drizzy—for a freestyle. Some thought that Pusha’s lines dissing people who sing like a hummingbird were aimed at a certain popular rapper with an ear for melody.

May 24, 2012: The Exodus Begins

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After several months without a major move, Pusha decides to go for the jugular. He releases “Exodus 23:1,” which contains his most direct dig at Drake thus far, poking fun at the younger rapper’s complicated business arrangements. The song opens:

Contract all fucked up

I guess that means you all fucked up

You signed to one nigga that signed to another nigga

That's signed to three niggas, now that's bad luck

Lil Wayne responds almost instantaneously on Twitter, saying, “Fuk pusha t and anybody that love em.”

May 25, 2012: YMCMBack At Ya

Drake and Wayne

July, 2012: 'This Song Is a Direct Response'

Kanye Pusha live

September, 2013: Tuscan Leather

Drake real show

December, 2015: Puff Daddy Interlude

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October 12, 2016: H.G.T.V. Gets a Whole New Meaning

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Pusha’s track “H.G.T.V.” seemed to many to contain subliminals towards Drake about his pen game and over-reliance on singing. The evidence? Well, he used Drizzy’s album title. “It’s too far gone when the realest ain’t real/...With a questionable pen so the feeling ain’t real.” Push also refers to antagonists “beefing over melodies.”

October 23, 2016: Two Birds, One Diss Track

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During an episode of OVO Sound Radio, Drake debuts several songs from his upcoming project More Life. Among them was “Two Birds, One Stone.” In the track, he goes in on an unnamed-but-easy-to-figure-out rapper with “drug dealer stories” who he says was, in reality, only a “middle man.”

December, 2016: 'It Ain’t Real If It’s About Me'

Pusha ATL

May 24, 2018: First Reports of a Revival

Daytona party sign

May 25, 2018: Drake Claps Back

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With lightning speed, Drake responds to the slight with “Duppy Freestyle.” The track takes aim at Pusha, as well as Kanye West.  Drizzy says that the attention will help Pusha’s album sell: “Tell ’Ye we gotta invoice coming to you/ Considering that we just sold another 20 for you.”

Pusha jokingly responds on Twitter, asking Drake to go ahead and “send the invoice.”

 

May 26, 2018: The Invoice

Drake money

May 29, 2018: 'Adonis Is Your Son'

Push Adidas

October 12, 2018: Drake Finally Discusses "The Story of Adidon"

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October 17, 2018: Pusha-T Points a Finger at 40

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