Not Like Us

"Not Like Us" is a diss track written and recorded by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar amidst his highly publicized feud with the Canadian rapper Drake. Released on May 4, 2024, through Interscope Records, it broke numerous records on the streaming platform Spotify and is tied with "Up, Up and Away" as the most-awarded song in Grammy history. With widespread acclaim from music critics and fans who feel it solidified Lamar's victory in his rap battle with Drake, many regard it as the best diss track in the feud and consider it to be one of the greatest diss tracks of all time.
"Not Like Us" was Lamar's fifth installment in his series of diss tracks directed at Drake, premiering less than 20 hours after his previous single "Meet the Grahams". Primarily produced by Mustard, with additional work from Sounwave and Sean Momberger, "Not Like Us" is a hyphy-influenced West Coast hip-hop song composed of a prominent bassline with lively strings and finger snaps. Lyrically, it continues the themes first introduced in "Meet the Grahams" by doubling down on allegations of Drake's sexual interest in adolescents and sexual misconduct, while also criticizing his cultural identity and relationships with artists based in Atlanta, Georgia.
"Not Like Us" peaked at number one in ten countries, while peaking at the top ten in over twenty additional countries. Lamar first performed "Not Like Us" during The Pop Out: Ken & Friends held on Juneteenth, where he played the track five consecutive times. He would perform the song again when he headlined the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. An accompanying music video, directed by Dave Free and Lamar, was released on American Independence Day. "Not Like Us" swept all five of its Grammy nominations at the 67th ceremony: Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video.