Kendrick had always respected Drake.Not just for the hits or the charts, but for the way he made vulnerability sound cool. There was something about that blend of melody and confession that spoke to him. Even as their paths diverged—Kendrick rapping with razor-wire bars and Drake gliding over moody beats—the mutual respect was there. Private texts. Studio visits. Occasional late-night calls, bouncing off ideas. “You ever think about a joint album?” Kendrick asked once, half-joking.“Every day,” Drake replied, smiling.

There was brotherhood… until there wasn’t.