Kendrick Lamar has just unleashed the highly anticipated music video for his scorching Drake diss track, "Not Like Us", and it’s nothing short of epic.
Dropping on July 4 and co-directed by Lamar himself alongside Dave Free (who also felt the sting of Drake's barbs in "Family Matters"), the video is a star-studded spectacle featuring West Coast legends. Cameos include dance king Tommy the Clown, producer Mustard rocking a Toronto Blue Jays cap, and former Toronto Raptor DeMar DeRozan.
The Compton MC kicks off the video with fresh bars, giving a shoutout to his "To Pimp A Butterfly" collaborator Kamasi Washington: “Reincarnated, I was stargazing’ / Life goes on honey all of my babies / Woke up, lookin’ for the broccoli / Hot key, keep a horn on me, that Kamasi / IP ownership, the ownership is by me / Mister get off, I get off at my feet.”
In a series of striking visuals, Lamar works out in a minimalist room adorned with speakers and canvases, dances with Crip-Walking performers, stops by Tam’s Burgers, and rallies a massive crowd on the streets of Compton.
As the video winds down, Lamar shares a tender moment dancing with his partner Whitney Alford and their two children, clearly hitting back at Drake's accusations of infidelity and family neglect.
Taking direct aim at Drake’s label OVO, Lamar declares “no Ov-Hoes were harmed in this video” before demolishing an owl pinata, a cheeky nod to the label’s logo. He wraps up the video by staring down an owl in a cage, then striding away into the darkness.
The hype for the video was real, with fans buzzing as photos and clips from the shoot leaked online. Filmed across iconic Compton spots like City Hall, Enterprise Park, and Nickerson Gardens, the production drew more than 1,000 bouncing fans and featured appearances by artists like Steve Lacy, Roddy Ricch, YG, and Thundercat. Sneak peeks dropped the night before, cranking up the anticipation to fever pitch.
Since its May release, "Not Like Us" has smashed records, giving Lamar his fourth Billboard Hot 100 Number One single. The track, which ignited his beef with Drake, also became the most streamed hip-hop song per day on Spotify, with 6.8 million daily plays and over 440 million total streams.
At his recent "The Pop Out: Ken & Friends" Juneteenth concert special in Los Angeles, Lamar performed the diss track five times in a row, with Dr. Dre making a surprise appearance to deliver the opening line: “Pssst, I see dead people.” The rapper also debuted a new verse calling for Drake to return Tupac’s iconic 1996 MTV Video Music Awards ring, which Drake reportedly bought at auction.
Two weeks ago, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. confirmed "Not Like Us" would be Grammy-eligible, noting that while diss tracks aren’t common nominees, Lamar’s stellar Grammy track record (17 wins and counting) makes this one a strong contender.
Brace yourselves, because Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us" is more than just a diss—it’s a cultural moment.
Photo: Billboard via Getty Images
