It seems like The Game has really burned his bridges on the West Coast by backing Drake in his feud with Kendrick Lamar. He was noticeably missing from Kendrick’s big pop-up concert in Englewood on June 19th, and when he later addressed it on Instagram, he tried to play it cool. But honestly, it looked like he was holding back tears.
The Game insists he’s stayed neutral and hasn’t turned his back on the West Coast, but Kendrick seems to think otherwise. DJ Head, a close friend of Kendrick’s, recently revealed that Kendrick feels betrayed by The Game. He even hinted that Kendrick’s concert had a hidden diss aimed at The Game. It seems Kendrick might have thrown shade at The Game by referencing something from The Game’s “One Blood” intro, where he mentions Dr. Dre. It’s rumored that this could be a jab at Dre and indirectly at The Game, who’s said he’s planning an album without Dre’s production.
On top of that, some fans have pointed out that The Game was rumored to be involved in Diddy’s alleged industry parties, which could add to the tension. So, did The Game really choose the wrong side in the Kendrick-Drake feud and turn his back on the West Coast? And how exactly did Kendrick throw shade at The Game during his LA concert? Let’s dig into it.
I’ve been watching Kendrick’s journey closely, from “good kid, m.A.A.d city” to his fight to stay true to himself and avoid affiliations. His album that should’ve won the Grammy still blows me away every time I listen to it. Recently, it seems The Game really messed up in the Kendrick vs. Drake situation. Not only did he appear to choose Drake over Kendrick, which felt like a betrayal of his city, but he also kept flip-flopping between the two.
Here’s a refresher: back in April, shortly after Drake dropped “Push It” in response to Kendrick’s diss on Future and Metro Boomin, The Game posted a video on Instagram of himself listening to Drake’s 2015 track “Energy,” with the caption, “I got rap ninjas that I got to act like I like.” Fans quickly called him out, accusing him of betraying the West Coast by siding with Kendrick’s rival. The Game didn’t stop there; he showed love for Drake in several posts, including one where he called Drake his brother. But then he deleted that post, which only stirred up more backlash.
If you’re going to back someone, you’ve got to fully commit—none of this wishy-washy stuff. Deleting the post only made things worse. As Kendrick’s dominance in the beef became clear, The Game tried to play neutral, claiming respect for both Kendrick and Drake. On May 1st, just days before Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” dropped, The Game criticized J. Cole for apologizing to Kendrick and shared a post suggesting he’d welcome a proper diss aimed at him. He even boasted about his own level of disrespect and criticized Cole for apologizing.
So, The Game went from supporting Drake and calling him his brother to bragging about being better than both Drake and Kendrick. Now he’s back to claiming that both Kendrick and Drake are his brothers and that he never picked a side.
As you probably heard, Kendrick Lamar threw down a legendary pop-up show in Englewood on June 19th, solidifying his reign over Drake and his status as a West Coast icon. He hit the stage in a red hoodie over a white tee, an iced-out crucifix, blue jeans, Nike Shocks, and a red baseball hat. This look was a clear nod to Tupac, who wore almost the same outfit back in ’94 at the Source Awards when he stormed the stage while A Tribe Called Quest was accepting their award. Pac’s crew pressured the sound guy to play their track, and Pac and Thug Life took the mic from Q-Tip, sparking a brief feud with Tribe.
Whether Kendrick’s outfit was a deliberate tribute or not, the message was clear. He kicked off his set with “Euphoria,” a track that disses Drake, and the crowd rapped along with every word for the full six minutes. Kendrick even threw in a new line: “Give me Tupac’s ring back and I might give you a little respect,” referencing Drake’s controversial $1 million purchase of Tupac’s iconic crown ring. He also dropped some new lines during “616 in LA” and “Like That.” The night’s highlight was when Dr. Dre joined Kendrick for “California Love” and whispered, “I see dead people.” Kendrick then performed “Not Like Us” six times in a row. By the third or fourth time, NBA stars DeMar DeRozan and Russell Westbrook stormed the stage, showing off their dance moves. YG, Dre, DJ Mustard, and even members of rival gangs—Bloods, Crips, and Pirus—joined in, vibing together and posing for a group photo. Kendrick made it clear he’s in a league of his own and the culture had chosen its side.
As for the Game, his absence fueled speculation that he might be siding with Drake. But he took to Instagram to set the record straight, saying he never took sides and isn’t betraying the West Coast. He explained, “My DMs and blogs have been buzzing with accusations that I’m siding with this or that group. I’ve never publicly stated my stance. I’ve been focused on my own lane, taking care of my kids, and staying out of the drama. It’s easy for fans to speculate from afar, but this industry isn’t what it seems. I got into this game in 2003, and it’s been a tough journey navigating it ever since.”
The Game recently went on about his unwavering authenticity in the industry, even saying that Dr. Dre would back up his claims of being a genuine figure. He insisted, “If you ask anyone who really knows me—Dr. Dre included—they’d tell you the same. Ask Dre about my character, my role as a man and artist. Even Nipsey Hussle would confirm my contributions from the start. From representing my block on the West Coast to staying true to my roots, I’ve always supported the West Coast scene. People like Kendrick, Mustard, Ty Dolla $ign, and others are aware of what I’ve done. I hope everyone on the West Coast recognizes my impact.”
But it seems like The Game might be trying to convince not just others, but himself as well. DJ Head recently revealed that Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar took subtle digs at The Game during a recent LA pop-up show. For example, when Dr. Dre whispered “I see dead people” before Kendrick’s performance of “Not Like Us,” it was seen as a nod to The Game’s track “One Blood,” which starts with “Dre, I see dead people.” DJ Head confirmed that this moment was a deliberate jab at The Game, especially since he had previously announced an album without Dre’s production.
Adding to the complexity, 50 Cent once called The Game bipolar because of his fluctuating behavior and shifting loyalties. The Game’s career has shown such dramatic changes—from emotional highs to aggressive lows—that 50 Cent’s description might actually be quite fitting.
Fans have been saying that 50 Cent figured out the Game a long time ago, and the way he’s been handling the Kendrick versus Drake beef is just par for the course with him. One fan put it like this: “He’s just disloyal and strange, a blood who turned on 50. He’s always picking the wrong side and then gets upset when he’s left out.” Another person mentioned, “Game is one of LA’s top lyricists, but his weird moves are why he doesn’t get as much love on the West Coast.”
What do you think about the Game’s behavior in this Kendrick versus Drake situation? Why do you think he keeps changing sides? Drop your thoughts in the comments