LeBron James is no stranger to the spotlight, but recently, he has been everywhere since the Los Angeles Lakers were eliminated from the NBA playoffs. Another controversy has caught him, as hip-hop artist Drake reportedly dissed LBJ in one of the songs on his upcoming album, Iceman.
Even though the album is scheduled to be released on May 15, a song, 1AM in Albany, reportedly leaked online. Interestingly, the track was full of shots for his adversary, Kendrick Lamar, including one on LeBron James.
Drake disses LeBron James in his latest track
The five-time Grammy winner and LeBron James were understood to be in a good relationship, as both shared respect and love for each other’s journeys and careers. Meanwhile, Drake was engaged in a high-profile beef with Kendrick Lamar in 2024 that quickly captured the fans’ attention worldwide.
The hip-hop beef featured nine solo diss tracks from both sides. James’ opinion on the beef came to light when the 4-time NBA champion was seen enjoying Lamar’s concert. The matter got even worse when the 4-time NBA MVP was seen vibing on the track, Not Like Us, during a concert in California. The song dominated the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, winning five awards in five nominations.
Drake was seemingly upset with the legend’s association with the Compton native and addressed it in his leaked track, 1AM in Albany. The lyrics associated with James read:
“I shouldn’t even be shocked to see you in that arena, because you always made your career off of switching teams up… Please stop asking what’s going on with 23 & me, I’m a real n**** and he’s not, it’s in my DNA.”
LeBron James is an unrestricted free agent this offseason and is free to negotiate with any team. However, the Lakers’ president of basketball operations, Rob Pelinka, has clarified that the franchise still wanted him back for another season if he decides to suit up. The tussle with his long-time friend will only fuel his worries this offseason. Last year, he even admitted that the two friends were in “different places” in their lives.
LeBron James “wished him (Drake) the best” after Kendrick Lamar’s concert appearance
After LeBron James publicly announced his love for Kendrick Lamar, Drake even covered his tattoo of King James and instead got a tribute to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander inked on his arm. While earlier the hip-hop artist gave several shoutouts to James in his songs like Forever and Nonstop, he recently turned on the Lakers superstar by reportedly taking shots at him in his 2025 song, What Did I Miss?
In 2025, during an interview with Complex, James addressed his relationship with the Canadian artist and said:
“Always wish him the best. Obviously. Different places right now, currently. He’s doing his thing, I am doing mine. But as always, love for sure.
Even though James did not sabotage his bond with Drake in the interview, the hip-hop artist has clarified his intentions over his relationship with the 41-year-old. There is still no official statement from the Lakers forward, as he goes into the offseason to “spend time with the family.”
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