In the latest development of the long-standing feud between rap titans Kendrick Lamar and Drake, Lamar has emerged as the clear victor. His track "Not Like Us" has not only reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 but has also been cemented as a cultural milestone following a highly successful live-streamed show, "The Pop Out," where Lamar performed the track six times.
The rivalry between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has spanned over a decade, with numerous diss tracks and public jabs escalating their beef. However, the feud reached its boiling point earlier this year when Lamar was featured on Future and Metro Boomin’s track “Like That.” Drake retaliated with "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made," the latter featuring verses with A.I. voices of rap legends Snoop Dogg and 2Pac.
Lamar's counterattack included the tracks "Euphoria" and "6:16 in LA," escalating the lyrical warfare. The feud intensified with Drake’s "Family Matters," where he alleged that Lamar’s creative partner, Dave Free, was the father of one of Lamar’s children and accused Lamar of abusing his partner, Whitney Alford. Lamar responded swiftly with "Meet The Grahams," taking aim at Drake’s own family. The climactic "Not Like Us" overshadowed Drake’s final entry, "The Heart Part 6," which dismissed Lamar’s allegations and branded Lamar as estranged from Alford and their family.
The "Not Like Us" music video, a co-directed effort by Lamar and Free, serves as a visual celebration of Lamar’s triumph in the feud. The video features nods to Drake’s tracks, including scenes of Lamar doing push-ups referencing "Push Ups" and a cameo by Alford and their two children, directly addressing Drake’s familial disses. Lamar's video is a victory lap that visually ties together the narrative of the feud, further solidifying his dominance.
Lamar's refusal to tolerate any disrespect to West Coast rap is evident in the song, which defends 2Pac’s honor. The video features appearances from California legends, including Tommy the Clown and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, founder of Lamar’s former label TDE, who was name-dropped on Drake’s "Push Ups." "Not Like Us" producer Mustard makes an appearance, donning a Toronto Blue Jays cap—a nod to Drake’s hometown. NBA All-Star DeMar DeRozan, Lamar’s fellow Compton native and former Toronto Raptor, also features in the video.
The video cleverly includes imagery of owls, the symbol of Drake’s OVO record label, culminating in a scene where Lamar beats an owl-shaped piñata with a bat, accompanied by the text: “Disclaimer: No OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video.”
With "Not Like Us" dominating the charts and the music video reinforcing his victory, Kendrick Lamar has decisively won the feud, leaving no doubt about his position at the top of the rap game.
