Drake’s Ghostwriting War: How One Leak Exposed Hip-Hop’s Biggest Secret

A single late-night leak of a reference track reignited the biggest and most controversial debate in modern hip-hop: Drake’s use of ghostwriters. This video is a deep dive into the war for authenticity that has defined a generation of rap.

We break down how a leaked demo from the artist BEAM for an unreleased Drake song called “Trump Tower” became the spark that fueled the fire in the epic 2024 beef between Drake and Kendrick Lamar. We’ll explore the history of doubt that has followed Drake for a decade, starting with the infamous Meek Mill and Quentin Miller accusations in 2015.  

Join us as we analyze the lyrical shots fired in diss tracks like “Euphoria,” “Family Matters,” and “Not Like Us,” where the pen became the primary weapon in a battle for the throne. We also uncover hip-hop’s open secret—a long history of ghostwriting featuring legends like Dr. Dre, N.W.A., and Diddy, and explore how the rules seem to change depending on the artist.  

Finally, we look at how the culture’s view is changing, with artists like Cardi B defiantly defending collaboration, and ask the ultimate question: in an era of pop-infused mega-hits, what does it truly mean to be authentic in hip-hop?  

What do you think? Does using a writer disqualify an artist from being the GOAT? Let us know in the comments!

Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro: The Ghost in the Machine 00:45 – The Leak That Started It All (BEAM & “Trump Tower”) 01:27 – Who is BEAM? Collaborator or Ghostwriter? 01:51 – Hip-Hop’s Divided Reaction: Purists vs. Pragmatists 02:31 – The “GOAT Clause”: Why The Rules Are Different For Drake 03:05 – A Decade of Doubt: The Meek Mill & Quentin Miller Story 03:37 – A Pattern of Leaks (Vory, Lil Yachty, Future) 04:26 – The Kendrick Lamar War: A Trial of Authenticity 04:52 – Kendrick’s Lyrical Onslaught (“Euphoria,” “Meet The Grahams”) 05:31 – Drake’s Counter-Attack (“Family Matters”) 05:52 – Hip-Hop’s Open Secret: A History of Ghostwriting (N.W.A., Dr. Dre, Diddy) 06:46 – The Culture’s Verdict: From Taboo to Tool 07:19 – Cardi B’s Defiant Defense of Collaboration 07:45 – Different Worlds, Different Rules: Hip-Hop vs. Pop 08:44 – Final Thoughts & Your Verdict 09:22 – What Do You Think?