Drake and Meek Mill
Drake hit back at Meek Mill with two well-received diss tracks Charged Up and Back To Back Getty

He is one of the best-selling rappers of recent years, so it comes as no surprise that Drake was not pleased about being dragged into a petty social media feud. The Young Money rapper has opened up about his war of words with Meek Mill and says he does not want it to form part of his legacy.

In a candid interview with W Magazine, the Hotline Bling rapper said he's moved on from the highly publicised feud, which started when Mill, 28, accused Drake of using a ghostwriter. Drake told the publication: "Realising that I had a larger purpose was one of the most comforting, peaceful feelings. With music, especially, I've come to the conclusion that I'm a vessel to deliver emotion to people.

"I want to provide the background music to your life as you live it. I'm there for you in heartbreak and tragedy and joy. The thought of being remembered is what keeps me going. What I was trying to say is, the negatives don't matter — it's history that counts. At 19, I was just really, really excited to be in the room. Everything was romantic then. Now, nearly a decade later, it's a bit different. I have to speak against negativity and conflict. There's so much b******t that you're forced to address, but it's OK."

The rappers began trading insults on a number of diss tracks, with Drake, also 28, hitting back at Mill with two scathing songs, Charged Up and Back To Back, both of which won the approval of fans gripped by the unexpected feud. Earlier in October 2015, Mill's rapper girlfriend Nicki Minaj, who is labelmates and close friends with Drake, ended an interview when she was asked for her opinion on the row, as well as a lawsuit filed by Lil Wayne against Cash Money chief Birdman.

Listen to Drake's diss track Back To Back:

The Anaconda rapper told the New York Times reporter: "That's disrespectful. Why would a grown-a*s woman thrive off drama? What do the four men you just named have to do with me thriving off drama? Why would you even say that? That's so peculiar. Four grown-a*s men are having issues between themselves, and you're asking me do I thrive off drama?"

Reports emerged that Ima Boss rapper Mill was planning to release another diss track aimed at Drake, this time in collaboration with Houston hip hop star and Drake rival Sauce Walka. Mill and Walka were pictured together in the recording studio but it is not known if they were actually laying down a track.

With the row now in the past, Drake is focusing on furthering his career and told W magazine that he is keen to return to his acting roots. The former Degrassi star said: "I can't wait to get back into acting. No one ever asks me to do movies and, although music is my focal point now, I'd love to do a film. That was the life that I lived before, and it would be interesting to live it again."