Blue Jays Dodgers World Series reignites Drake and Kendrick Lamar rivalry

The 2025 World Series between Blue Jays and Dodgers sparks renewed attention on Drake and Kendrick Lamar’s rivalry

As the Toronto Blue Jays prepare to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2025 World Series, fans are noting an intriguing cultural subplot — the potential rekindling of the public feud between hometown icons Drake and Kendrick Lamar.

The best-of-seven series, beginning Friday in Toronto, marks the Blue Jays’ first World Series appearance since 1993. The team will seek to prevent the Dodgers from becoming the first repeat champions since the New York Yankees’ late-1990s dynasty. The matchup not only highlights two powerhouse baseball franchises but also reignites the friendly rivalry between the cities’ most famous musical ambassadors.

Toronto native Drake, a five-time Grammy Award winner, has long been a visible supporter of his city’s sports teams, most notably as the Toronto Raptors’ global ambassador. Meanwhile, Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar, who has earned 22 Grammys and a Pulitzer Prize, remains a steadfast fan of his hometown Dodgers, Lakers, and Rams.

The rappers’ ongoing feud dates back to 2024 when Lamar appeared on Future’s hit track Like That, challenging Drake’s claim of rap’s “Big Three” — a reference made in Drake’s 2023 song First Person Shooter featuring J. Cole. What followed was a string of diss tracks and public exchanges that dominated music headlines through 2024.

The World Series now provides an unexpected cultural stage where the rivalry between the two cities — and their celebrity representatives — could subtly resurface. While it remains to be seen whether Drake or Lamar will publicly comment, the matchup already reflects their cities’ contrasting styles: Toronto’s underdog unity versus Los Angeles’s star-studded dominance.

Beyond baseball, the Blue Jays-Dodgers showdown represents a broader clash of pride, identity, and artistry — much like the spirited rivalry between the two rappers who helped define each city’s sound.