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Kendrick Lamar dropped the much-awaited music video for his Drake diss track Not Like Us on July 4, 2024. The song that many assert won Kenny his feud with the Canadian rapper has not left its spot in the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 since its release in May, and the MV reportedly does not disappoint.
The almost 6-minute video is a visual treat featuring symbolic imagery, dancing, and landmark locations across his hometown of Compton. At one point in the video, his wife and kids join Lamar, and the happy family dances together as he raps:
"The family matter and the truth of the matter/ It was God's plan to show y'all the liar."
Content Warning: The following video contains strong language. Viewer discretion is advised.
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Just an hour after its debut on YouTube, the track went viral. It boasts over 7.4 million views and over 1.3 million likes, as of this writing. Needless to say, fans flooded the comment section of the video to share their reactions, with one saying:
Many praised Kenny for his ingenuity, calling him the "definition of culture" and calling his rapping "unbeatable." Here are some comments seen under Not Like Us on the Compton rapper's YouTube channel:
Others noted important visuals and details in the MV, including it being shot in Compton, having Dave Free direct it, and even owl symbology (the owl is a mascot for Drake's OVO brand).
Kendrick Lamar released Not Like Us on May 4, 2024, less than 24 hours after another Drake diss, Meet the Grahams
Drizzy and K. Dot have been feuding since the early 2010s, but things took a serious turn earlier this year. Both rappers released diatribes one after another, aimed at each other's career and personal lives, including Drake's Family Matters (May 3), Lamar's Meet the Grahams (May 3), and Not Like Us (May 4).
In Not Like Us, Lamar accused Drake of pedophilia. He called out the latter for abusing Atlanta's music and culture for personal financial gain. Kenny compared the Toronto-born rapper to "colonizers" and added that he was insensitive to black history.
The track was a hit, debuting at the top spot on the charts. Kendrick Lamar performed Not Like Us six times at his recent highly successful The Pop Out concert in Los Angeles. Taraji P. Henson even parodied a version of the track at the 2024 BET Awards.
Per an article by Complex on June 23, 2024, rumors emerged that K. Dot was going to shoot a video for the song in Compton. Buzz surrounding the MV led to fans flocking to the streets of the city even before the rapper showed up.
The video is directed by Lamar and his manager, Dave Free (in Family Matters, Drake claimed Free fathered one of Kenny's kids). Alford and the kids dancing with the Compton rapper was meant as a response to the claims of infidelity and abuse by Drizzy in Family Matters.
The MV is shot around Compton, featuring iconic landmarks like Tam's Burgers and the Compton Courthouse. Compton native and Chicago Bulls forward, DeMar DeRozan, also makes a guest appearance. At one point in the video, Lamar is seen doing pushups, a nod to Drake's diatribe Push Ups.
While the rap beef lost steam by the end of the first week of May, it still continues to be discussed and debated for its broader representations of the hip-hop industry.
