{"id":270812,"date":"2025-02-10T23:11:38","date_gmt":"2025-02-10T23:11:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/10\/the-meaning-behind-kendrick-lamars-diss-track-hollywood-life\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T17:09:24","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T17:09:24","slug":"the-meaning-behind-kendrick-lamars-diss-track-hollywood-life","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/10\/the-meaning-behind-kendrick-lamars-diss-track-hollywood-life\/","title":{"rendered":"The Meaning Behind Kendrick Lamar\u2019s Diss Track \u2013 Hollywood Life"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> [ad_1]<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"entry-media edge-to-edge entry-media--lead-image\" aria-describedby=\"lead-image-credit\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapper image-wrapper--widescreen\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"384\" height=\"216\" src=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2158477295-e1739220483810.jpg?resize=384%2C216\" class=\"attachment-hl-384x216-tc size-hl-384x216-tc wp-post-image\" alt=\"'Not Like Us' Lyrics: The Meaning Behind Kendrick Lamar's Diss Track\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2158477295-e1739220483810.jpg?resize=384%2C216 384w, https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2158477295-e1739220483810.jpg?resize=768%2C432 768w, https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/GettyImages-2158477295-e1739220483810.jpg?resize=1536%2C864 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 670px\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><figcaption id=\"lead-image-credit\">Image Credit: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- .entry-media --><\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-2\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/kendrick-lamar\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">Kendrick Lamar<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0really popped up and showed out.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-3\">On Sunday, Feb 9, the rapper delivered a <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/super-bowl-halftime-show-2025-5318498\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">Super Bowl halftime performance<\/a> like no other. This marked the first time a rap star headlined the halftime show solo. Lamar had previously performed at the Super Bowl in 2022 as part of a star-studded lineup with <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/dr-dre\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\"><strong>Dr. Dre<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/snoop-dogg\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\"><strong>Snoop Dogg<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/mary-j-blige\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\"><strong>Mary J. Blige<\/strong><\/a>, and\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/eminem\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">Eminem<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-4\">But it wasn\u2019t just the headline performance with special guest\u00a0<span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/pics\/best-sza-photos\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\"><strong>SZA\u00a0<\/strong><\/a>that<\/span> had fans buzzing; it was the execution\u2014especially when KDOT performed his Grammy-winning track \u201cNot Like Us,\u201d his infamous<a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/drake-and-kendrick-lamars-feud-a-timeline-of-the-beef-5273291\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\"> diss track aimed<\/a> at\u00a0<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/drake\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">Drake<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-5\">To dive deeper into their <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/drake-and-kendrick-lamars-feud-a-timeline-of-the-beef-5273291\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">history<\/a>, learn more about the song, and more, keep reading.<\/p>\n<h2>Kendrick Lamar &amp; Drake\u2019s Feud (The Short-ish Version)<\/h2>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-6\">Here\u2019s the timeline:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\">\n<ul>\n<li><strong>October 31, 2023<\/strong>: Drake Drops \u201cFirst Person Shooter\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>In the song featuring <strong>J. Cole<\/strong>, Drake and Cole rap about their superstar statuses. While they celebrate being at the top of the game, Cole gives Kendrick a shoutout, referring to the trio as \u201cthe Big 3.\u201d However, Kendrick didn\u2019t seem to appreciate the mention.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>March 26, 2024<\/strong>: Kendrick Lamar Responds With \u201cLike That\u201d Verse\n<ul>\n<li>Kendrick decided to go on the attack, addressing the situation and specifically calling out the \u201cBig 3\u201d line from <em>\u201c<\/em>First Person Shooter<em>\u201c<\/em> with: \u201cMotherf*** the big three, n***a, it\u2019s just big me.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>April 13, 2024<\/strong>: Drake\u2019s Song \u201cPush Ups\u201d Leaks\n<ul>\n<li>Drake fired back by mysteriously leaking <em>\u201c<\/em>Push Ups<em>,\u201d<\/em> revisiting the \u201cBig 3\u201d line and taking shots at Kendrick\u2019s height. More notably, he also insulted the rapper\u2019s deal with his former label, Top Dawg Entertainment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>April 19, 2024<\/strong>: Drake Drops \u201cTaylor Made Freestyle\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>While awaiting Lamar\u2019s response to \u201cPush Ups,\u201d Drake also released the now-deleted track <em>\u201c<\/em>Taylor Made Freestyle<em>,\u201d<\/em>where he used AI-generated voices of Lamar\u2019s idols<strong> Tupac<\/strong> and <strong>Snoop Dogg<\/strong> to take shots at him. This move led to a cease and desist from Tupac\u2019s estate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>April 30, 2024<\/strong>: Kendrick Hits Back at Drake With \u201ceuphoria\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>With <em>\u201ceuphoria,\u201d<\/em> Kendrick takes numerous shots at Drake over the six-minute track, targeting his credibility, reputation, and even his abilities as a father. At one point, he raps, \u201cI got a son to raise, but I can see you don\u2019t know nothin\u2019 \u2019bout that.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>May 3, 2024<\/strong>: Kendrick Back-to-Backs Drake With \u201c6:16 in LA\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>Just as Drake followed up his 2015 diss track \u201cBack to Back\u201d with \u201cCharged Up\u201d against <strong>Meek Mill<\/strong>, Kendrick wasted no time with a response of his own. Less than three days after dropping \u201ceuphoria,\u201d he released \u201c6:16 in LA,\u201d aimed at Drake. In the track, Kendrick suggests that someone from Drake\u2019s team may be leaking information to him.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>May 3, 2024<\/strong>: Drake Fires Back With \u201cFamily Matters\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>On the same day Kendrick dropped \u201c6:16 in LA,\u201d Drake released \u201cFamily Matters\u201d along with its music video. The nearly eight-minute track included controversial lines, suggesting that Kendrick\u2019s child was actually fathered by his manager, <strong>Dave Free<\/strong>. Drake also took aim at Lamar\u2019s relationship with his fianc\u00e9e, <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/who-is-whitney-alford-4645230\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Whitney Alford<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>May 3, 2024<\/strong>: Kendrick Lamar Immediately Responds With \u201cMeet the Grahams\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>Just 20 minutes after Drake dropped \u201cFamily Matters,\u201d Kendrick responded with the\u00a0 track \u201cMeet the Grahams.\u201d The song is structured as a series of letters to Drake\u2019s son, <strong>Adonis<\/strong>, his parents, an alleged secret daughter, and finally to Drake himself. One of the most talked-about claims in the song was Kendrick\u2019s allegation that Drake has an 11-year-old daughter.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>May 4, 2024<\/strong>: Kendrick Jabs Drake Again With \u201cNot Like Us\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>The next day, Kendrick took another shot at Drake with the song \u201cNot Like Us,\u201d where he doubled down on the allegations of sexual abuse against Drake and those associated with OVO that he made in \u201cMeet the Grahams.\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>May 5, 2024<\/strong>: Drake Responds With \u201cThe Heart Part 6\u201d\n<ul>\n<li>Drake released his five-minute rebuttal, \u201cThe Heart Pt. 6,\u201d playing off Lamar\u2019s groundbreaking \u201cHeart\u201d franchise. In the track, he addresses the daughter rumor, claiming that his team fed false information to Kendrick, and denies both the sexual abuse allegations and the accusations of being involved with underage women.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe title=\"Kendrick Lamar - Not Like Us\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/H58vbez_m4E?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Is \u201cNot Like Us\u201d About Drake?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-7\">The track \u201cNot Like Us\u201d is undeniably aimed at Drake.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-8\">It came as part of Kendrick\u2019s ongoing back-and-forth with Drake (as outlined above), and ultimately, it became the song that marked Kendrick coming out on top.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-9\">In addition to the direct references to Drake, such as calling him out by name twice, the song is packed with creative lines and <em>subtle<\/em> jabs, which are even more apparent in the accompanying music video. The visuals only amplified the message Kendrick was sending, making it one of the most talked-about tracks of their rivalry.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-10\">In Kendrick\u2019s halftime show performance, the rapper refrained from using the word \u201cpedophile,\u201d but he still managed to get a lot of people singing along with the line: \u201cTryna strike a chord and it\u2019s probably A minorrrrrr.\u201d Notably, tennis superstar <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/celeb\/serena-williams\/\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\"><strong>Serena Williams<\/strong><\/a>, who was once <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/why-did-drake-serena-williams-break-up-5369420\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">romantically linked to Drake<\/a>, was seen dancing during the track.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">From Compton to NOLA. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/serenawilliams?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">@SerenaWilliams<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/kendricklamar?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">@KendrickLamar<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AppleMusicHalftime?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">#AppleMusicHalftime<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/mnzuP7fJ1N\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">pic.twitter.com\/mnzuP7fJ1N<\/a><\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-11\">\u2014 NFL (@NFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1888764861183635744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">February 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h2>Is Drake Suing Kendrick Lamar?<\/h2>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-13\">No, Drake is not suing Kendrick. However, the \u201cNot Like Us\u201d track became the center of a <a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/drake-vs-umg-lawsuit-5348523\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">defamation lawsuit filed by Drake against Universal Music Group<\/a>, the parent label to which both he and Lamar are signed.<\/p>\n<p id=\"content-paragraph-14\">According to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/universal-music-responds-drake-legal-filing-kendrick-lamar-fight\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-analytics-trigger=\"article-body-link\">Billboard<\/a>, the Canadian rapper decided to sue the music label, accusing UMG of conducting an illegal \u201cscheme\u201d to promote Kendrick\u2019s song, ensuring that it received additional attention. Drake alleges this was done despite the track serving as a diss aimed at him and referencing his name directly.<\/p>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t<\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/>[ad_2]<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/hollywoodlife.com\/feature\/not-like-us-lyrics-meaning-5369443\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[ad_1] Image Credit: Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Kendrick Lamar\u00a0really popped up and showed out. On Sunday, Feb 9, the rapper delivered a Super<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":270813,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[150],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270812"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=270812"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/270812\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/270813"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=270812"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=270812"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michigandigitalnews.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=270812"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}