Drake and XXXTENTACION shared a complicated and widely speculated-about history—one that continued to spark debate even after XXX’s passing. While the two artists were both at the height of their influence, their relationship was marked by tension rather than collaboration, leaving fans to wonder what might have been.
A new wrinkle in that story recently emerged during an interview conducted by DJ Akademiks with Rolling Loud co-founder Tariq Cherif. In a clip circulating online, Cherif claimed that XXXTENTACION’s mother, Cleopatra Bernard, told him Drake reached out to her privately after her son’s death.
According to Cherif, the message was all “love,” though he speculated that Bernard may have been skeptical given the public friction between the two artists. He emphasized that this was his own interpretation, not a confirmed reaction from Bernard. The revelation appeared to catch Akademiks off guard, as this alleged outreach had never been discussed publicly before.
If confirmed, the claim could reignite scrutiny of Drake, given the long-standing narrative around his relationship with XXXTENTACION. As of now, Bernard has not publicly confirmed or denied Cherif’s account.
The tension between Drake and XXX dates back to 2017, when the Florida rapper accused Drake of copying his flow on the song “KMT” from More Life, alleging it closely resembled XXX’s breakout track “Look At Me!” The accusation sparked intense online debate, with XXX publicly criticizing Drake’s actions while still acknowledging his overall talent.
Despite that respect, the animosity appeared largely one-sided and unresolved at the time of XXXTENTACION’s death. Some of XXX’s close affiliates, including DJ Scheme, have also remained openly critical of Drake over the years.
With this new claim now in circulation, fans and critics alike are watching closely to see whether Cleopatra Bernard addresses it—and whether it adds a final layer of nuance to one of hip-hop’s most uncomfortable and unfinished rivalries.
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