"Not Like Us" | ||||
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Single by Kendrick Lamar | ||||
Released | May 4, 2024 | |||
Recorded | May 2024 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 4:33 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | Kendrick Duckworth | |||
Producer(s) | Mustard | |||
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 brass instruments and finger snaps. Its lyrics continue the themes introduced in "Meet the Grahams", doubling down on allegations against Drake of pedophilia and sexual misconduct, while also accusing him of exploiting Atlanta's music and cultural scenes for street credibility and financial interests. Lamar first performed "Not Like Us" during The Pop Out: Ken & Friends, where he played the track five consecutive times.
"Not Like Us" was met with widespread acclaim from music critics, who felt it solidified Lamar's victory in the conflict. Complex named it the best track of the feud, while other publications listed it among the greatest diss tracks ever made. Commercially, "Not Like Us" spent two non-consecutive weeks atop the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and is the longest-running number-one song on the Hot Rap Songs chart. It also reached the top spot in New Zealand and South Africa and peaked in the top 20 in Australia, Canada, and several European countries. The music video for "Not Like Us", directed by Dave Free and Lamar, was released on American Independence Day to additional critical acclaim.