Meet the Grahams

{{Infobox song

| name = Meet the Grahams

| cover = Kendrick Lamar - Meet the Grahams.jpg

| alt = A photo of belongings on top of a shirt depicting a bulldog urinating on a fire hydrant. The belongings are a glove, receipts, a visit card, and two pill bottles and a prescription box, the latter three labelled with the name Aubrey Graham.

| caption = Original cover from the YouTube video. The cover art on streaming services is a plain black square.

| type = single

| artist = Kendrick Lamar

| released = {{start date|2024|5|3}}

| recorded = May 2024

| genre = {{hlist|West Coast hip-hop|hardcore hip-hop|horrorcore}}

| length = 6:32

| label = * PgLang

| writer = Kendrick Lamar

| producer = The Alchemist

| prev_title = 6:16 in LA

| prev_year = 2024

| next_title = Not Like Us

| next_year = 2024

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|2QiFl9Dc7D0|"Meet the Grahams"}}|header=Audio video|type=single}}

}}

"Meet the Grahams" is a diss track by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on May 3, 2024, through Interscope Records, during his ongoing feud with Canadian rapper Drake.{{Cite web |last=Horowitz |first=Steven J. |date=2024-05-04 |title=Drake and Kendrick Lamar Get Personal on Simultaneously Released Diss Tracks 'Family Matters' and 'Meet the Grahams' |url=https://variety.com/2024/music/news/drake-kendrick-lamar-diss-family-matters-meet-the-grahams-1235992021/ |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Variety |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504052638/https://variety.com/2024/music/news/drake-kendrick-lamar-diss-family-matters-meet-the-grahams-1235992021/ |url-status=live }} It is Lamar's response to the release of Drake's "Family Matters," a diss track mainly aimed at Lamar.{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Drake and Kendrick Lamar get personal on simultaneously released diss tracks |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68957553 |website=BBC News |access-date=5 May 2024 |date=4 May 2024 |archive-date=5 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240505005627/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-68957553 |url-status=live }} "Meet the Grahams" premiered twenty four minutes {{citation needed|date=February 2025}} after the release of "Family Matters".

"Meet the Grahams" is written in the form of a letter, with each verse addressed to members of Drake's family, including his son Adonis, his parents Sandra and Dennis Graham, his alleged daughter, and Drake himself. In the song, Lamar accuses Drake of being an absent father, signing sex offenders to his OVO Sound record label, and being a sexual predator himself. He also alleges that Drake is running a sex trafficking ring out of his Toronto mansion, saying it will soon be raided by law enforcement. Lamar further accuses Drake of lying about his family, his OVO Sound labelmates, and Drake himself.

"Meet the Grahams" received widespread critical acclaim for its lyrical content, storytelling, dark tone, the simple production and Lamar's vocal performance, earning praise from both critics and audiences alike. The show was particularly noted for its brutally great response to Family Matters, offering a raw and unfiltered take on family life, with some even comparing its cultural impact to 'The Story of Adidon' by Pusha T; a diss track also targeted towards Drake.{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}

Background

Drake, born Aubrey Drake Graham, has an immediate family including his parents, Sandra and Dennis Graham, and Adonis, Drake's son with model Sophie Brussaux. Adonis was initially kept from the public eye but was confirmed by Drake after rapper Pusha T alleged his existence on the 2018 diss track "The Story of Adidon".{{Cite web|url=https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/entertainment/a21997319/drake-confirms-son-adult-movie-star-new-album-scorpion/|title=Drake confirms he has a son on new album, Scorpion|work=Cosmopolitan|last=Baxter-Wright|first=Dusty|date=June 29, 2018|accessdate=}} The feud between Drake and Lamar, although long ongoing since the early 2010s, rose to new heights in mid-2024, with Lamar attacking Drake's persona and skill with his verse on the song "Like That". Drake followed up to Lamar's verse and other diss tracks by other artists such as Rick Ross, Future, and The Weeknd with his own diss track, "Push Ups". In response, Lamar released "Euphoria”. The same week, he released another diss track, "6:16 in LA", claiming to have moles in Drake's label OVO Sound. Drake responded the same day with the track "Family Matters" in which he accused Lamar of domestic violence against longtime partner Whitney Alford.{{cite web |title=Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar: the juiciest moments in their beef |url=https://www.cbc.ca/music/drake-kendrick-lamar-2024-feud-highlights-1.7193194 |website=CBC Music |access-date=5 May 2024 |date=4 May 2024 |archive-date=3 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240503230728/https://www.cbc.ca/music/drake-kendrick-lamar-2024-feud-highlights-1.7193194 |url-status=live }} Less than an hour later, Lamar released "Meet the Grahams".

Composition

Produced by the Alchemist, "Meet the Grahams", unlike Lamar's previous responses, takes on an unsettling, haunting atmosphere, with an eerie piano-driven beat, sampled from Timothy Carpenter & Triunity's "I Want To Make It", accompanying critical lyrics accusing Drake of a number of wrongdoings including parental negligence, sexual exploitation, sexual grooming, sex trafficking, and another incident of child abandonment.{{Cite web |last=Cline |first=Georgette|date=2024-05-04 |title=Kendrick Lamar Annihilates Drake With 'Meet the Grahams' Diss Letter to Adonis, Drake's Mom, Dad and Alleged Secret Daughter |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kendrick-lamar-meet-the-grahams-drake-diss/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504051752/https://www.xxlmag.com/kendrick-lamar-meet-the-grahams-drake-diss/ |archive-date=2024-05-04 |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}}{{Cite magazine |last=Saponara |first=Michael |date=2024-05-04 |title=Kendrick Lamar Quickly Replies to Drake With Blistering 'Meet the Grahams' Diss Track: Listen |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-track-meet-the-grahams-1235673928/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504182509/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-track-meet-the-grahams-1235673928/ |archive-date=2024-05-04 |access-date=2024-05-04 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}

The track's lyrics take the form of a letter with multiple verses addressed at members of Drake's family. The first verse is addressed to Drake's son Adonis, the second is addressed to Dennis and Sandra "Sandi" Graham, both of Drake's parents, the third is addressed to Drake's alleged daughter, and the last verse is addressed to Drake himself. In the song, Lamar alleges that Drake has a secret child, a daughter, accuses Drake of fathering further children aside from his alleged daughter, states that Drake has sex offenders on his record label OVO Sound, and calls him a sexual predator. Lamar also mentions that Drake is allegedly running a sex trafficking ring out of his Toronto mansion and states that his mansion known as "The Embassy" will be raided by law enforcement because of this, directly alluding to rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs' estate being raided amid his sexual abuse allegations.{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2024-05-04 |title=Kendrick Lamar and Drake Trade Diss Tracks as Rap War Rages On |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-tracks-family-matters-meet-the-grahams-1235015225/ |access-date=2024-05-04 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=2024-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504135400/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kendrick-lamar-drake-diss-tracks-family-matters-meet-the-grahams-1235015225/ |url-status=live }} Lamar also compares Drake's actions to those of former film producer and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein. Lamar, in the final section of the track addressing Drake, addresses the confusion that came out of the track releasing within an hour of Drake's "Family Matters" with the lines "Dear Aubrey / I know you're probably thinkin' I wanted to crash your party / But truthfully, I don't have a hatin' bone in my body / There's supposed to be a good exhibition within the game / But you fucked up the moment you called out my family's name".[https://genius.com/31634090 Lyrics for "Meet the Grahams" via Genius]

Cover art

The cover art used in the original YouTube release shows an uncropped version of the photo that accompanied Lamar's previous song, "6:16 in LA". In addition to the glove, it shows a shirt, jewelry receipts, a visit card and three prescription medicines with the name "Aubrey Graham" (Drake's real name) on them, later revealed to be one for Ozempic, one for Adderall, and one for Zolpidem.{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Trent|date=2024-05-11 |title=Mysterious Video of Kendrick Lamar's 'Meet the Grahams' Cover Art Surfaces, Perplexes Fans |url=https://www.xxlmag.com/kendrick-lamar-mysterious-video-meet-the-grahams-cover-art-perplexing-fans/ |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=XXL Mag |language=en}} According to DJ Akademiks, these items were stolen from a suitcase belonging to Drake's father, Dennis Graham.{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Jordan |title=Breaking Down Everything Kendrick Said About Drake on "Meet the Grahams" |url=https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-rose/breaking-down-everything-kendrick-said-about-drake-on-meet |access-date=2024-05-04 |website=Complex |language=en-us |archive-date=2024-05-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240504205930/https://www.complex.com/music/a/j-rose/breaking-down-everything-kendrick-said-about-drake-on-meet |url-status=live }} A week later, an unknown X (formerly Twitter) user posted a video playing the song on a Panasonic Toughbook and showing the original photo items hanging at a balcony, requiring Drake and Akademiks to retract their theft accusation.

The song was released to streaming platforms the next day with the artwork being replaced with a black square, possibly due to Apple Music and Spotify HIPAA privacy rules that protect individuals' medical records.{{Cite web |last=Blake |first=Cole |date=2024-05-06 |title=Kendrick Lamar Changes "Meet The Grahams" Cover Art For Streaming Release, Fans Debate Why |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/797589-kendrick-lamar-changes-meet-the-grahams-cover-art-streaming-fans-debate-hip-hop-news |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}

Credits and personnel

Kendrick Lamar – vocals, songwriting
The Alchemist – production
Nicolas De Porcel – mastering
Johnathan Turner – mixing
Ray Charles Brown Jr. – engineering

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="row"\| Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA){{cite web\|url=https://www.aria.com.au/charts/hip-hop-r-and-b-singles-chart/2024-05-13\|title=ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart\|publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association\|date=May 13, 2024\|access-date=May 10, 2024}} \| 10
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ Weekly chart performance for "Meet the Grahams" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
{{single chart\|Australia\|42\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Meet the Grahams\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 20, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Canada\|16\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 14, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Billboardglobal200\|17\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 14, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Ireland4\|26\|date=20240510\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 10, 2024}}
scope="row"\| Lithuania (AGATA){{cite web\|url=https://www.agata.lt/lt/naujienos/s19-3/\|title=2024 19-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)\|language=lt\|publisher=AGATA\|date=May 10, 2024\|access-date=May 10, 2024}} \| 26
scope="row"\| MENA (IFPI){{cite web\|url=https://www.theofficialmenachart.com/weeklychart\|title=The Official Mena Chart - This Week's Official MENA Chart Top 20 from 03/05/2024 to 09/05/2024\|website=theofficialmenachart.com\|publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry\|access-date=May 17, 2024\|archive-date=May 17, 2024\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20240517192004/https://www.theofficialmenachart.com/weeklychart\|url-status=live}} \| 17
{{single chart\|New Zealand\|22\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Meet the Grahams\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 20, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Portugal\|54\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Meet the Grahams\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 20, 2024}}
scope="row"\| South Africa (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/kendrick-lamar/chart-history/i38/\|title=Kendrick Lamar Chart History (South Africa Songs)\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=May 14, 2024}} \| 19
{{single chart\|Sweden\|93\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Meet the Grahams\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 20, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Switzerland\|68\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|song=Meet the Grahams\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 12, 2024}}
{{single chart\|UK\|28\|date=20240510\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 10, 2024}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|5\|date=20240510\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 11, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|12\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 14, 2024}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|6\|artist=Kendrick Lamar\|rowheader=true\|access-date=May 14, 2024}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" \|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "Meet the Grahams" ! scope="col"\| Chart (2024) ! scope="col"\| Position
scope="row"\| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine\|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/\|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2024\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=December 15, 2024}} \| 83

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

|+ 2024 year-end chart performance for "Meet the Grahams"

! scope="col"| Chart (2024)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2024/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs/|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2024|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 15, 2024}}

| 83