Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug on Baby Keem’s Ca$ino in a subtle rap response

Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug, and hip-hop fans immediately took notice. The moment appears on Baby Keem’s long-awaited album Ca$ino, where a single verse stirred up old tension in the rap world. It is not loud or overly aggressive, but it is sharp enough to reopen a conversation many thought had cooled off.

The track in question, “Good Flirts,” is not built as a diss record. It centers on attraction, chemistry, and playful energy between two people. Still, when Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug in the middle of that smooth setting, it lands differently. Listeners quickly connected the dots to last year’s leaked jail calls that caused waves across hip hop culture.

For fans who follow rap closely, the history here matters. The leaked recordings included private conversations involving Young Thug speaking on peers in the industry. When Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug now, many see it less as random shade and more as a quiet response. In today’s rap climate, even a single line can speak volumes.

Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug on Ca$ino track “Good Flirts”

On “Good Flirts,” Kendrick Lamar keeps his delivery relaxed and confident. The song itself explores flirtation and desire, yet one lyric immediately stood out in the hip-hop community. He raps, “To be honest, n*as love love too / S**t, I gossip with my b**h like I’m Young Thug too,” a line that sparked instant debate online.

That bar appears to reference the leaked jail call controversy tied to Young Thug. During that period, audio and video clips surfaced of him speaking with his romantic partner, side chicks, and rap peers such as 21 Savage. The situation became one of the biggest rap headlines of last year.

So when Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug in this subtle way, it feels calculated rather than emotional. It is not a full attack. It is not a drawn-out diss. Instead, it works as a slick reminder that nothing in hip hop is forgotten.

The leaked jail calls and the original diss

The tension did not come out of nowhere. In one of those leaked calls, Young Thug reportedly criticized both Kendrick Lamar and Baby Keem. He allegedly referred to Keem as “bulls*t-a Keem” and questioned Kendrick’s refusal to collaborate.

“These nas too big, like ‘I ain’t doing no features,’ why?” Thugger reportedly complained while he was still behind bars due to the YSL RICO case. “Why wouldn’t you want to do a feature for a superstar? […] Put somebody on! It’s okay to run your few hundred M’s up, but who’d you help, though? […] You supposed to be a na blessing nas. That’s why these nas will never be bigger than Drake, ever in life.”

Those comments circulated widely across rap blogs and social media. For many, that moment marked a shift. The competitive nature of hip hop has always existed, but hearing it in that context made it personal.

Now, with Kendrick Lamar dissing Young Thug in a measured way, some fans view it as a response that took time. Others see it as hip hop’s natural back-and-forth energy.

A subtle flex instead of a full rap battle

It is important to note that “Good Flirts” is not framed as a diss track. There is no aggressive tone, no heavy beat designed for confrontation. That is what makes the moment more interesting. Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug almost casually, as if brushing off the situation without giving it too much weight.

In rap, that kind of move can be powerful. Sometimes saying less carries more impact. Instead of escalating the tension, Kendrick keeps his focus on artistry and lyricism. The mention feels like a flex rather than an invitation to war.

Rumors previously suggested that Young Thug attempted to smooth things over last year. Whether that is true or not, Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug here in a way that suggests he has not completely ignored what was said.

Will Young Thug respond?

The big question now is whether this moment leads anywhere. Hip hop thrives on competition, and fans often anticipate replies. Still, not every bar turns into a full rap feud.

Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug without sounding bitter. That balance may keep the situation from spiraling. At the same time, rap culture has shown time and time again that small sparks can turn into major moments.

For now, the focus remains on Ca$ino and the conversation it sparked. Kendrick Lamar disses Young Thug in a way that feels intentional but controlled, reminding listeners that rap memory is long. Whether Young Thug chooses to answer or let it pass, the hip hop world will be watching closely.