Before we get into this, let’s make one thing clear: Drake’s Nokia is a slapper. Beef aside, a good record is a good record, and the same goes for a great visual. Nokia is one of them. When it comes to streamer DJ Akademiks, he suggested that Drake may have included some subtle references or jabs towards Kendrick Lamar in that very “NOKIA” music video.
During a recent stream, Akademiks pointed out several moments in the visual that he believes could be interpreted as indirect responses to Lamar’s “Not Like Us” or maybe the other one, “Squabble Up.”
One notable moment features Drake performing a dance move resembling one seen in Lamar’s video. Additionally, an owl appears toward the end of “NOKIA”—this time uncaged, contrasting the caged owl imagery in Lamar’s project. Akademiks scrolled through social media reactions, highlighting how fans have been dissecting potential connections between the two artists’ work.
Akademiks emphasized that both rappers seem unable to move past their rivalry, playfully comparing their ongoing exchanges to being “tied together like Siamese twins.” He clarified that neither artist is solely responsible, stating: “Both of them. Like Dot can’t get over it, Drake can’t get over it neither. They can’t get over each other. It’s not one sided.”
Some viewers have taken the speculation further, theorizing that Drake’s inclusion of NBA player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander could counter Lamar’s feature of DeMar DeRozan in “Not Like Us.” Whether intentional or coincidental, the comparisons continue to fuel discussions among fans analyzing the latest chapter in hip-hop’s most talked-about creative rivalry.