Top 5 Best Quotes of 2024, No. 2: Naomi Osaka weighs in on Kendrick-Drake feud in Rome

“…I’m a pacifist. I’m a neutral party. However, Kendrick dropped some heat that last song.”

Naomi Osaka is rarely seen without her Beats by Dre headphones, and during the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in May, they were pumping sounds from the premier rap beat of 2024.

In the battle between Drake and Kendrick Lamar, Osaka was reluctant to pick a winner but her own playlist gave her away.

“You know, I'm a pacifist,” she smiled after a decisive win over Clara Burel. “I'm a neutral party. However, Kendrick dropped some heat that last song.”

The song in question, “Not Like Us,” was released on May 4 and debuted at No. 1 with well over 70 million streams—some of which came courtesy of the four-time Grand Slam champion herself.

“That last song is amazing, and I played it walking onto the court. Currently I think Kendrick's doing a good job.

“Me being a Kendrick fan, it haven't gotten this many Kendrick songs in a very long time,” joked Osaka, who declared Lamar the winner over Drake. “If he wants to keep dropping [new songs]...”

Osaka was joined by Coco Gauff later in the week, who was also eager to weigh in on the beef on both a music front and in solidarity with 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams—Drake’s reported ex-girlfriend.

That last song is amazing, and I played it walking onto the court. Currently I think Kendrick's doing a good job. Naomi Osaka

“To be honest, yeah, I like Kendrick's songs more,” said Gauff. “Yeah, I think pretty much everybody I know is leaning towards him.

“I do like Drake as an artist, as well. But, yeah, as far as like the rap battle that's going on, the rap beef, I think definitely Kendrick is winning. Also Drake, like, dissed Serena so I have to go with Kendrick. Kendrick defended her. So, yeah, I have to go with him.”

For her part, Osaka channeled the music into one of the best clay-court performances of her career, scoring back-to-back wins over seeds Marta Kostyuk and Daria Kasatkina to reach the fourth round in Rome, while Gauff made it all the way to the semis where she lost to eventual champ (and noted Swiftie) Iga Swiatek.