"Not Like Us" is a diss track written and recorded by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on May 4, 2024, through Interscope Records, amidst his feud with Canadian rapper Drake. It is Lamar's fifth installment in his series of diss tracks directed at Drake; it premiered less than 20 hours after his previous single, "Meet the Grahams".
Met with widespread acclaim from music critics, who felt it solidified Lamar's victory in the conflict, "Not Like Us" is hailed as one of the greatest diss tracks in history, and many regard it as the best in the feud. The song ignited conversations based on race and cultural appropriation, was adopted as an anthem for the West Coast, and influenced various sectors within popular culture. "Not Like Us" broke several records on the streaming platform Spotify and marked Lamar's fourth number-one song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It is also the longest-running number-one song on the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, while peaking in the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and several European countries. "Not Like Us" received five nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, including for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
Hours after "6:16 in LA" was released, Drake responded with the single "Family Matters", in which he accused Lamar of abusing his romantic partner Whitney Alford and alleged that one of his two children was fathered by his creative partner, Dave Free. Less than an hour later, Lamar responded with "Meet the Grahams", which described Drake as an alleged sexual predator who runs a sex trafficking ring inside of his Toronto mansion, known as the Embassy, while fathering a secret daughter.[2] "Not Like Us" was unexpectedly released on May 4, 2024, less than 14 hours after "Meet the Grahams" was published.[3] The only prior marketing that the song received came from Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, the head of Lamar's former record label Top Dawg Entertainment, who posted, "Dot, I see dead people" on X (formerly Twitter) approximately two hours before its premiere.[4] The single's cover art shows a bird's-eye-view of the Embassy from a Google Mapsscreenshot with 13 red markers placed on its roof, symbolizing the presence of registered sex offenders.[5]
Mustard, the song's primary producer, wanted to work with Lamar for years and would send him about five beats a day for three months.[15] He was inspired to compose the beat after imagining what Dr. Dre would create if he was in a recording studio with Lil Jon.[12] With contributions from Sounwave and Sean Momberger,[12] Mustard produced "Not Like Us" in about 30 minutes by speeding up the sample's tempo to create a "relentless" and "urgent" atmosphere.[10] Its additional bassline, snare drums, and finger snaps heightened its "aggressive" tone.[16] On April 6, 2024, Mustard sent the finished production to Lamar while attending his manager's birthday dinner.[15] He received a complimentary text message from Lamar later that evening.[15] Mustard did not know that his work would anchor the song until it was released to the public.[15][16]
Lamar also takes several opportunities to challenge Drake's cultural identity. The chorus of "Not Like Us" has alluded to him stating that "rap practitioners" such as Drake are unlike his caliber, "one that organically abides by the given morals of Black culture".[22] Lamar further suggests that Drake's portrayal of Blackness likens him to Brad "B-Rad G" Gluckman from the film Malibu's Most Wanted (2003).[6] In the third verse, Lamar flips Drake's comment about how he raps like he is about to "get the slaves freed" in "Family Matters" to not only claim that he misused the term "slave", but to also accuse him of exploiting Black artists from Atlanta for street credibility and financial gain.[5] He uses his previous collaborations with Future, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Young Thug, Quavo and 2 Chainz as examples of him forming "calculated strategies" over "authentic connections"—actions Lamar considers to be a form of colonization.[10][23]
Critical reception
"Not Like Us" was met with widespread critical acclaim for its contagious production, Lamar's vocal performance, and scathing songwriting. GQ's Frazier Tharpe dubbed the track a leading contender for the "song of the summer". He praised how the "banger" summoned Mustard's "raucous, party-starting homegrown energy" to deliver Lamar's "haymaker" that both out-strategized Drake and celebrated their West Coast upbringings.[24]Stereogum editors found the song to be not only an "ultra-effective" diss record but a hit filled with "vicious" allegations and history lessons.[11] Serena Williams and M. Night Shyamalan, the writer and director of The Sixth Sense, praised "Not Like Us".[25][26] Professional wrestler Shawn Michaels appreciated that his Sweet Chin Musicfinisher was mentioned in the song and invited Lamar and Drake to settle their differences at a WWE NXT program.[27][28]Harvey Mason Jr., chief executive officer of the Recording Academy, praised the song's artistry and relevance.[29]
Jordan Rose of Complex declared "Not Like Us" as the best track released during Lamar and Drake's feud due to its electric tone and "contagious" production, although much of the lyrics are "very questionable". Rose believes that "time will tell" if the song marked the "end conclusion" of their war, but it has already proven itself to be "the stone that stunned Goliath."[30]Vibe's Armon Sadler ranked "Not Like Us" as the second-best track of the feud, praising the "undeniable bop" as a "masterclass" in execution.[31] Mark Elibert from Billboard, who named it the fourth-best song, shared similar sentiments.[32]
Pitchfork named "Not Like Us" as the third-best song released in the 2020s so far. In his accompanying excerpt, Alphonse Pierre declared the line "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles" as the "defining" lyric of the decade, in ways that are "unsettling and amazing and troubling and funny."[33] Other publications such as Complex,[34]HipHopDX,[35]The Ringer,[36] and The Root ranked "Not Like Us" as one of the greatest diss tracks of all time.[37]
"Not Like Us" was an immediate commercial success and broke numerous streaming records—most of which were previously held by Drake.[55] It is reportedly the most-streamed diss track on Spotify,[56] earning the biggest single-day streams for a hip hop song (12.8 million) and the most song streams in a week by a rapper (81.2 million).[57] Additionally, it became the fastest rap song on the platform to accumulate 100 million (9 days),[58] 200 million (19 days),[59] 300 million (35 days),[60] 400 million (54 days),[61] 500 million (70 days),[62] 600 million (87 days),[56] and 700 million streams (112 days).[63]
In the United States, "Not Like Us" debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated May 18, 2024, opening with 70.9 million streams, five million radio airplay audience impressions, and 15,000 copies sold. It registered the highest first-week streaming figure for a hip hop song since Billboard removed YouTube song user-generated content from its chart metrics in 2020. As Lamar's fourth number-one single and first solo number-one debut, "Not Like Us" became the first rap song in history to top the Hot 100 with a shortened tracking week of five days.[64] It also marked Mustard's first number-one single and debut as a producer, and one of the only chart leaders to be penned by a sole writer.[65]
Following its music video premiere,[66] "Not Like Us" bested "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey and returned to number one on the Hot 100 chart, dated July 20, 2024, with 53.8 million streams, 40 million radio airplay audience impressions, and 8,000 copies sold. It is the longest-running solo chart-topper of Lamar's career, surpassing "Humble".[67] In October 2024, "Not Like Us" broke the record set by "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus for the most weeks spent atop the Hot Rap Songs chart.[68] It also holds the record for the longest-charting number-one song on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with "Kill Bill" by SZA.[69]
In New Zealand, "Not Like Us" debuted at number six on the Official Aotearoa Music Charts dated May 10, 2024.[70] Two weeks later, it reached number two for one week before dropping out of the top three.[71] Following its music video release, "Not Like Us" became Lamar's second number-one single as a solo artist, and his third overall in the country. It remained atop for another week.[72][73]
"Not Like Us" led the Billboard Global 200 chart for two non-consecutive weeks, marking Lamar's first solo number-one song on the survey.[74][75] It also marked his eighth top-ten song on the UK Singles Chart, where it debuted at number ten and later peaked at number six.[76]
The video starts with a view of the Compton Courthouse overlooking the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Lamar sashays down a white, morgue-like hall to a snippet of the then-unreleased song "Squabble Up” from his sixth studio album GNX (2024). Upon knocking on a door, Tommy the Clown slides open an eye hole and asks for the password. Lamar whispers the code, "I see dead people", and is allowed entry,[84] although he is scolded for being late. He takes his seat with his classmates, the Hip Hop Clowns, and grooves to "Not Like Us". Lamar gives the finger and dances in the corner. A classmate passes him a Bible, which he carefully slips in his jacket.
Using cinematography that mirrors the lyric video for "Family Matters",[102] a covered figure resembling Drake on the cover of Dark Lane Demo Tapes (2020) tries to ambush Lamar from behind; he is quickly blown away.[102] Lamar completes seventeen push-ups on four cinder blocks—a response to Drake ordering him to "drop and give me fifty" on "Push Ups"—in a bedroom with strong similarities to a prison cell. He then strikes an owl-shaped piñata and glides down a hopscotch court numbered 1 through 10. A disclaimer, reading: "No OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video," is shown as he repeatedly hits the piñata.[103]Aerial shots of a large crowd of Compton residents gathered inside of the memorial and chanting the song are featured throughout the video.
Shifting back to the classroom, Lamar and the Hip Hop Clowns perform a number under Tommy the Clown's watch. Lamar poses with his partner Whitney Alford and their children in a living room; the couple dances joyfully while the children play.[95] A barn owl and Lamar engage in a stare down—as he leaves, the owl realizes it has been locked in a cage. Free asks the rapturous Compton crowd through a bullhorn if they want to play the song again as the end titles appear on the screen.
Reception and analysis
The music video was met with widespread critical acclaim. Numerous publications and websites called it another victory lap for Lamar in his feud with Drake.[a]CBC News called it a moment of re-ignition of the feud,[111] while Vibe opined it as Lamar's "knockout punch" against the rapper.[112] The video's content also discredited many allegations and claims that Drake had dissed Lamar with, including refuting Drake's derogatory claims against his family with their appearance in the video dancing happily alongside him,[84][85] as well as the video credits reading "Directed by Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar", which dispelled rumors that Lamar and his creative partner had been in conflict with each other.[84][113]
Vinson Cunningham of The New Yorker thought that the video's Independence Day release was a "jingoistic move" that draws a "bright line" along the Canada–United States border. He made an "Edenic" comparison to the image of Lamar and his family posing with Grant Wood's American Gothic (1930) and Gordon Parks's 1942 photograph of the same name, arguing that the frame inaugurated a "new sort" of American iconography.[114]Entertainment Weekly observed the inclusion of new music in the intro to the video, noting fan speculation that it was to be included in Lamar's potential next studio album.[84]USA Today's Naledi Ushe mused that with the release of the music video, Lamar had aimed to take Drake's "song of the summer trophy", noting Drake's perceived achievement with several of his late 2010s singles and the relative failure of the singles from For All the Dogs (2023), leaving the title open for Lamar and Sabrina Carpenter with "Espresso" to contend.[115]NBC News noted the song's appraisal as a celebration of Compton and the West Coast.[93]GQ appreciated Lamar's choice of fashion style in the video, pointing out that his wearing of a Prada suit and multiple Martine Rose track jackets reinforced a claim that he made a year ago that he "is the best-dressed MC in rap".[116]
Drake responded to "Not Like Us" with "The Heart Part 6", where he denied all accusations and admitted that he would have liked to dance to the song if Lamar was not "tripling down on some whole other bullshit."[117] His OVO clothing retailer on London's Carnaby Street was graffitied on May 7, 2024, with the spray-painted phrase "They not like us" in silver lettering on its window.[118] The London Metropolitan Police Service have not announced plans to investigate the store tagging and no arrests have been made.[119]
In the following days, two separate individuals were apprehended by the Toronto Police while attempting to break into Drake's Bridle Path home; the same residence shown on the cover art for "Not Like Us".[120] On June 30, 2024, Rick Ross and his entourage were attacked at the Ignite Music Festival in Vancouver by a group of attendees after he played "Not Like Us" to close out his headlining set.[121] Ross later reported to TMZ that no one from his team suffered any serious injuries from the assault.[122]
During the Pop Out: Ken & Friends, held on Juneteenth at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, Lamar performed "Not Like Us" for the first time.[123] The song was introduced by Dr. Dre whispering the opening lines. The track was followed by four consecutive reprises,[124] including two which featured a wide assortment of emerging and notable West Coast figures.[125] A group photograph, taken by Armen Keleshian, was captured during the set.[126]NPR Music's Sheldon Pearce compared the picture to Art Kane's A Great Day in Harlem (1958).[127] Several critics viewed the "raw" performances of "Not Like Us" as a highlight of the concert and praised its liveliness.[128] David Dennis Jr. of Andscape commended the way Lamar turned a song centered on his disdain for Drake into a moment of "unity and love".[129]
On November 25, 2024, Drake appeared on a Kicklivestream with Canadian streamer xQc, describing himself as "fully intact, mind, body, and soul" and remarking that "you need facts to take me out, fairy tales won't do it". Lamar reacted to these comments with amusement.[130][131]
Legal actions
In November 2024, Drake filed a petition against Universal Music Group (UMG) and Spotify under New York law claiming that they had conspired to artificially inflate the popularity of "Not Like Us" to "deceive consumers into believing the song was more popular than it was in reality". His attorneys accused UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and using deceptive business practices and false advertising.[132] UMG stated in response that the allegations were "offensive and untrue", that they would "never do anything to undermine" any artist signed to the label, and that "fans choose the music they want to hear".[133][134] Drake later filed a second petition against UMG under Texas law claiming defamation by failing to halt the release of a song "falsely accusing him of being a sex offender." He also accused UMG of "funneling payments" to iHeartRadio as part of a "pay-to-play scheme" to promote "Not Like Us" on the radio.[135]
Cultural impact
Critical analyses
"Not Like Us" has been described by journalists as a cultural touchstone, a clarion call for the West Coast, and one of the biggest diss tracks they have witnessed in their lifetimes.[136][137] They considered the timing of its release and content an effective strategy in capturing the zeitgeist before listeners grew tired of the feud.[137] Canadian outlets such as CBC News and Exclaim! opined that "Not Like Us" has grown into an anti-Canadiananthem reminiscent of "Blame Canada" from South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (1999).[138][139]Uproxx's Wongo Okon noted it helped Lamar become a more appealing figure for Generation Z and Generation Alpha listeners.[140]
The song has also been examined in the context of race and cultural appropriation. Salamishah Tillet of The New York Times opined that while the message of "Not Like Us" may seem to attack Drake's biracial identity, its popularity has inspired a broad assortment of interracial interpretations.[141]Rolling Stone's Andre Gee believes the song is a "rally against perpetrators who shifted hip-hop from a Black and brown community with culturally understood modes of being into an at-times parodic circus."[142]The Triibe's Mark P. Braboy expanded on Gee's sentiments by applying the song's message to "culture vultures" in hip hop journalism who have built their platforms off of their exploitation of Black trauma.[143]
Economy and fashion
Following the release of its music video, Tam's Burgers #21 saw a significant spike in business.[144] Lauro Hernandez and his son Bryan Noe, the managers of the restaurant, reported that they experienced a 30% to 40% boost in sales.[145] Spiro Vovos, who owns the Tam's Burgers chain, later clarified that it was more of a surge in foot traffic and content creators visiting the location; the sales influx mostly occurred as the video was being filmed.[146] A mural honoring Lamar and "Not Like Us" was painted on the restaurant's exterior by Mike Norice.[147][148] Fashion brands such as Willy Chavarria also enjoyed substantial increases in brand recognition and sales after their pieces were featured in the music video.[149]
Small business owners in Compton, however, were negatively impacted by the production of its music video.[150] In a report conducted by the Los Angeles Times, a strip mall across from the Compton Courthouse that houses local businesses had its parking lot overrun by "cars and chaos" as hundreds of people poured out to the Courthouse to catch a glimpse of Lamar. Its owners had to shut down operations and claimed they lost thousands of dollars during the shoot. They placed the blame on city officials for their lack of communication, and have asked Lamar, PGLang, or the city government to provide financial compensation.[151]
^Nugent, Annabel; O’Connor, Roisin; Chilton, Louis; White, Adam (November 18, 2024). "The 20 best songs of 2024, ranked". The Independent. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 28. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 20. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved May 21, 2024.
