Drake drops Brent Smith as reserving agent

The Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud of final yr didn’t simply dominate social media, charts, and assume items—it could have quietly altered the inside workings of the music {industry} in methods much more consequential than many anticipated. Whereas followers initially seen the lyrical struggle as a cultural second outlined by viral diss tracks and aggressive bravado, rising reviews now counsel that the fallout has spilled into company relationships, touring methods, and high-stakes enterprise choices behind the scenes.

Beneath is a deep dive into how the stress between two of hip-hop’s largest superstars is influencing excess of simply music.

A Low-Profile Cut up Raises Large Questions

In accordance with Billboard, Drake has formally parted methods along with his longtime reserving agent Brent Smith at Wasserman Music—a transfer that occurred quietly and with out the massive public rollout typical of main artist-agency shifts. Smith wasn’t simply any consultant: he spent over a decade guiding Drake’s stay enterprise, beginning at WME and persevering with after becoming a member of Wasserman in 2020. In the present day, Smith sits in a prime government position on the firm, making this break up all of the extra eyebrow-raising.

The subtlety of the separation suggests a want to keep away from extreme media consideration, hypothesis, or narrative spinning—although mockingly, that low-key exit has generated much more curiosity.

Why such a quiet transfer? And extra importantly: why now?

The Kendrick Issue: A Shared Agent Caught within the Crossfire

What complicates this story additional is the truth that Brent Smith additionally represents Drake’s rap rival, Kendrick Lamar. Their feud—now thought of one of the culturally dominant rap battles of the last decade—put the 2 artists and their groups into months of direct competitors, strategic releases, and {industry} posturing.

A Billboard supply reportedly claimed:

• Drake and Smith hadn’t been actively working collectively for a lot of 2025—if in any respect.
• The breakdown of their relationship was partly influenced by the feud with Kendrick.
• The enterprise dynamic grew to become strained because the cultural struggle escalated.

Whereas nobody has gone on document to verify the meat because the official trigger, the timing aligns too neatly for followers and insiders to not join the dots. It’s uncommon sufficient for 2 superstars of this magnitude to share an agent, however after they grow to be sworn musical enemies—sparking chart battles, {industry} alliances, and fan-driven narratives—the battle can bleed into company territory.

In different phrases, the battle bars could also be over, however the enterprise penalties are nonetheless touchdown.

Drake Joins CAA: A Main Energy Shift in Touring Technique

With the Wasserman chapter now behind him, Drake has reportedly made a major transfer: he has partnered with Inventive Artists Company (CAA) for his stay illustration. In accordance with HITS Every day Double, {industry} powerhouses Alex Mebed and Daryl Eaton at the moment are dealing with his bookings.

CAA represents among the largest touring acts on this planet and is understood for constructing huge, world touring infrastructures. Insiders trace that this transfer could also be tied to Drake’s rumored partnership with Stay Nation for a monumental 2026 world tour—presumably one among his largest to this point.

CAA’s involvement might result in:

• New touring markets
• Bigger worldwide rollouts
• Revolutionary stay ideas
• A refreshed strategy to Drake’s branding post-feud

Apparently, HDD additionally reported that Kendrick Lamar was fantastic sharing a reserving agent with Drake, suggesting that the stress wasn’t coming from Okay.Dot’s facet. If true, this makes Drake’s break up much more intriguing, hinting that his camp might have most popular a cleaner separation from any overlapping illustration.

What ICEMAN Means for the Feud’s Future

One other main issue shaping the hypothesis round Drake’s company shift is his upcoming album ICEMAN, which followers count on to drop quickly. Each Drake period comes with a rigorously structured rollout, however this one carries distinctive stakes:

• This will probably be his first full-length undertaking following the feud.
• Followers wish to see how a lot of the feud’s emotional residue makes its method into the lyrics.
• A brand new touring company may very well be a part of a broader reset, each sonically and strategically.

If Drake plans to handle the aftermath of the battle—or reignite it—ICEMAN might grow to be a defining second in how this rivalry is remembered.

Kendrick Lamar Continues to Break Data

Whereas Drake reshapes his crew, Kendrick Lamar is breaking new floor on the touring entrance. His “Grand Nationwide” tour, boosted by viral momentum and renewed mainstream curiosity following the feud, has formally grow to be the highest-grossing hip-hop tour of all time, bringing in over $332 million up to now. And with reveals nonetheless left on the schedule, that quantity is predicted to climb.

This milestone isn’t only a win for Kendrick—it’s a major second for hip-hop touring globally. Rap excursions not often surpass main pop juggernauts, but Kendrick and SZA have pushed the boundaries of what hip-hop stay reveals can obtain financially and artistically.

For a lot of followers, this milestone symbolically underscores who “gained” the feud. However financially, it’s an announcement whatever the battle’s final result: Kendrick is working on the highest degree of business affect in his profession.

Will the Feud Spill Into Extra Enterprise Drama?

Given all the things that has occurred within the final yr, followers are understandably bracing for extra developments. And the reality is, when two artists of this stature conflict—even when the musical diss struggle ends—the enterprise facet not often snaps again to regular.

Potential areas the place the feud might proceed influencing the {industry} embrace:

1. Touring and Pageant Bookings

Promoters might hesitate to e book each artists for a similar occasions or overlapping schedules resulting from fan tensions or potential media controversies.

2. Award Reveals and TV Appearances

Producers should weigh seating preparations, efficiency orders, and backstage logistics extra rigorously.

3. Model Offers and Partnerships

Company collaborators might select sides, both subtly or overtly, relying on whose narrative aligns with their branding.

4. Cross-industry alliances

Managers, producers, and executives might proceed to really feel the ripple results of the artists’ strained relationship.

The feud has grow to be greater than a second—it’s a fault line within the ecosystem of contemporary hip-hop.

Will It Come Again within the Music?

Even when each artists keep away from rekindling the meat instantly, followers predict:

• Delicate jabs
• Veiled references
• Narrative framing concerning the fallout
• Victory laps via lyrics
• Reflections on the cultural magnitude of what occurred

And if Kendrick decides to answer something on ICEMAN—or drop new materials of his personal—the story might evolve once more.

For now, the chess recreation is shifting quietly, however each transfer has that means.

A Feud That Grew to become Larger Than Music

In the end, what started as a lyrical battle has reworked into one thing far greater. It has touched:

• enterprise partnerships
• touring infrastructures
• company relationships
• public narratives
• the aggressive spirit of hip-hop at massive

Whether or not followers are exhausted or enthralled by the feud’s endurance, one actuality is simple: this wasn’t only a flash within the pan. It reshaped careers. It influenced historical past. And its ripple results are nonetheless rising in locations most listeners by no means see.

As for what occurs subsequent? All eyes are on Drake’s ICEMAN, Kendrick’s persevering with world run, and no matter quiet {industry} shakeups unfold behind closed doorways.

One factor is definite: the feud could also be over musically, however its affect remains to be unfolding—one transfer at a time.