| "Not Like Us" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Kendrick Lamar | ||||
| Released | May 4, 2024 | |||
| Recorded | May 2024 | |||
| Genre | West Coast hip hop | |||
| Length | 4:33 | |||
| Label | Interscope | |||
| Composer(s) | ||||
| Lyricist(s) | Kendrick Duckworth | |||
| Producer(s) | ||||
| Kendrick Lamar singles chronology | ||||
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| Music video | ||||
| "Not Like Us" on YouTube | ||||
"Not Like Us" is a diss track written and recorded by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on May 4, 2024, through Interscope Records, amidst his feud with Canadian rapper Drake. It is Lamar's fifth and most recent installment in his series of diss tracks directed at Drake; it premiered 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, synthesized strings and finger snaps. Lyrically, it continues the themes first introduced in "Meet the Grahams" by doubling down on allegations of Drake's pedophilia and sexual misconduct, while also criticizing his cultural identity and relationships with artists based in Atlanta, Georgia. Lamar first performed "Not Like Us" during The Pop Out: Ken & Friends, where he played the track five consecutive times. An accompanying music video, directed by Dave Free and Lamar, was released on American Independence Day.
Met with widespread acclaim from music critics, who felt it solidified Lamar's victory in the conflict, "Not Like Us" was hailed as one of the greatest diss tracks in history. The song ignited conversations based on race and cultural appropriation, was adopted as an anthem for the West Coast, and influenced various sectors within popular culture. "Not Like Us" broke several records on the streaming platform Spotify and marked Lamar's fourth number-one song on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It is also the longest-running number-one tune on the Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, while peaking in the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and several European countries. "Not Like Us" received five nominations at the 67th Annual Grammy Awards, including for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.