© Kendrick Lamar / Youtube
Kendrick Lamar sent a storm with the release of “Not Like Us,” a scathing diss record aimed at Drake. While diss tracks are nothing new to rap, the intensity and impact of “Not Like Us” is something we have not seen recently. It blew up in terms of attention upon its release, breaking Drake’s held streaming records on platforms like Spotify.
In the first week, “Not Like Us” was streamed over 81 million times worldwide on Spotify alone. This was the most streams for a rap song in its first week. The single also reached a couple of milestones extremely quickly. It hit 100 million streams on Spotify in just 9 days, the fastest any rap song has reached that number. It continued to grow fast, crossing 200 million in just 19 days and reaching 300 million in 35 days. On the 70th day since its release, total streams for “Not Like Us” had risen to the huge 500 million on Spotify. No other hip-hop song has come close to these kinds of figures in that kind of timeframe. The track hit a major note with listeners across the world.
The genius behind “Not Like Us” goes much further than the fact of the commercial success it saw. If it is to be described as a work of art, then it would indicate the complete grip that Kendrick had on his craft. The production by Mustard gives it a pulsating West Coast vibe that captures your attention.
The lyrics fire pointed shots at Drake’s public image, referring to his “Certified Lover Boy” nickname with the line, “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile.” Kendrick insinuates Drake uses hip-hop figures such as Future and 21 Savage for “false street cred.” Using clever wordplay, he drags Drake’s tattoos as a bitch “apologizing.” He doesn’t sidestep any serious allegations, as he does when addressing Drake. “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young,” the delivery is cold, clinicalᅳthese accusations sit alongside more veiled references, like “tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A-Minorrr,” alluding to Drake’s alleged vices.
The song is also almost impossible not to react strongly to. Its catchy beat makes you want to move, while the lyrics sink into your head and stir up emotion. It boosts real issues within hip-hop through cultural impact, too. “Not Like Us” actually fueled some intense online debates about art, rivalry, and accountability between artists.
There are understandable questions about the personal accusations within. Yet, this is part of what makes his work resonate: Kendrick faces real problems, not merely content fillers. His songs have been able to express hip-hop’s ability to speak one’s freedom as an artist while shaping the public’s perception of actual events.
No matter which side you find yourself on regarding the issues “Not Like Us” brought up, one can’t deny its musical and lyrical strength. Moreover, it perfectly put a spotlight on what, until then, were unmatched capabilities from Kendrick. It proved to be one of those defining moments in probably hip-hop’s biggest modern rivalry. On account of this commercial smash status and cultural staying power, “Not Like Us” is only a real representation of Kendrick Lamar’s absolute genius.
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