Kendrick Lamar put a cap on his monthslong feud with Drake by releasing a music video for his hit track “Not Like Us,” which dissed the Canadian rapper.
Lamar launched the video on Independence Day. He beforehand held a live performance referred to as “The Pop Out” on Juneteenth, the place he carried out “Not Like Us” six occasions. Many followers seen the timing of those occasions as digs towards Drake, whom Lamar accuses of stealing Black American tradition in his diss tracks.
The “Not Like Us” music video had obtained over 13 million views as of Friday morning.
Many followers on-line praised the video and seen it as a celebration of Compton, California, the place Lamar is from, and the West Coast. Others delighted in Lamar’s continued jabs at Drake.
The video seems to make a number of references to Drake, together with the inclusion of an owl piñata and a reside owl in a cage. The owl is a mascot for Drake’s label October’s Very Personal, or OVO. Whereas Lamar was hitting the piñata, the music video flashed the disclaimer: “No Ovhoes have been harmed in the course of the making of this video.”
There are additionally references to Toronto, the place Drake is from, within the video. Mustard, the producer who made the “Not Like Us” beat, is featured within the music video carrying a Toronto Blue Jays hat. NBA participant DeMar DeRozan, who’s from Compton however beforehand performed on the Toronto Raptors, additionally makes a cameo within the video. Lamar gave DeRozan a shout out in “Not Like Us” whereas dissing Toronto via the road: “I’m glad DeRoz’ got here house/Y’all didn’t deserve him neither.”
Lamar additionally seemingly made enjoyable of a few of the claims set forth in Drake’s diss tracks in opposition to him. He’s seen doing pushups on cinder blocks within the video, which individuals interpreted as a reference to Drake’s diss in opposition to Lamar, “Push Ups.” Lamar additionally featured his fiancée Whitney Alford and children, whom Drake claimed have been estranged from Lamar.
The 2 rappers have been embroiled in a rap beef since earlier this yr. Whereas many followers caught by their favourite artists, it’s broadly believed that Lamar gained the battle due to how well-liked and pervasive “Not Like Us” has develop into. Some stated that “The Pop Out” live performance on Juneteenth was Lamar’s “victory lap” in his lyrical combat with Drake.
Lamar additionally teased an unreleased observe firstly of the “Not Like Us” video, which followers speculated hinted at a brand new mission from the rapper.