Pharrell Williams may have just reignited his feud with Drake in the most unexpected way. The “Happy” singer dropped a new track titled “Double Life” on June 14, which will be featured on the Despicable Me 4 soundtrack, set to release on July 3. Fans are buzzing with speculation that Pharrell took some lyrical shots at Drake in this new song.
In the first verse of “Double Life,” Pharrell raps, “Hey, what are you hiding? (Watch)/What you do when you’re gone? (Hey)/Nothin’ wrong bein’ private (Watch)/Make sure it ain’t wrong (Yeah)/Your life double-sided (Watch)/Two-faced like coins/What side do I get? (Watch)/What side are you on?” These lines have led many to believe that Pharrell is calling out Drake for his alleged duplicity and underhanded tactics in the rap game.
However, some fans argue that Pharrell might be referring to the character Gru from the Despicable Me franchise. Gru, initially portrayed as a villain, evolves into a kinder and more gentle character throughout the series. The cover art for the single suggests that Gru will be showcasing both his good and evil sides in the upcoming movie.
The speculation about a possible diss stems from the long-standing tension between Pharrell and Drake, which dates back to Drake’s feud with Pusha T in 2018. Pharrell, being a close friend and mentor to Pusha T, has been indirectly involved in the beef. In 2022, Drake acquired several pieces of jewelry originally owned by Pharrell and flaunted them in his music video for “Jumbotron S**t Poppin.” Later, Drake claimed to have melted down Pharrell’s iconic diamond bling in Travis Scott’s song “Meltdown.”
Kendrick Lamar also entered the fray, defending Pharrell in his song “Euphoria,” where he raps, “I don’t like you poppin’ s**t at Pharrell, for him, I inherit the beef.” In response, Drake took a jab at Kendrick in his “Family Matters” video, showcasing Pharrell’s jewelry collection and challenging Kendrick to retrieve it.
Pharrell’s “Double Life” has added fuel to the fire, with fans dissecting the lyrics and debating whether they are aimed at Drake. Some believe that Pharrell is finally addressing the ongoing tension, while others think the song is simply about Gru’s character arc in Despicable Me 4.
On social media, fans have been divided. Some argue that the lyrics fit perfectly with a diss aimed at Drake, while others think it’s a stretch. One Reddit user suggested renaming the song “Despicable Drake,” while another pointed out that Kendrick Lamar dissed Drake on the Black Panther soundtrack, making it plausible that Pharrell is doing the same here.
Despite the speculation, it’s worth noting that Despicable Me 4 is a family-friendly movie with a PG rating. Some fans argue that a diss track wouldn’t be appropriate for the soundtrack. However, others point to the Black Panther soundtrack, which featured Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All the Stars,” believed by some to be a diss at Drake.
Pharrell has been the head composer for the Despicable Me franchise since its inception in 2010, and his involvement in the latest installment has fans eagerly anticipating the movie’s release. Whether “Double Life” is a diss at Drake or simply a song about Gru’s dual nature, it has certainly sparked a lot of conversation.
Drake has yet to respond to the alleged diss, and it’s unclear if he will. Given his history of not backing down from rap beefs, a response might be on the horizon. For now, fans will have to wait and see how this latest chapter in the Pharrell-Drake saga unfolds.
