Kendrick Lamar set off fireworks this Fourth of July by releasing the highly anticipated music video for his Drake diss track, “Not Like Us.” The video arrives hot on the heels of Lamar’s electrifying performance of the song at The Pop Out concert on Juneteenth, where he played it six times in succession at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Fans have hailed the performance as a knockout blow in the ongoing rivalry that has dominated pop culture and music charts this year.
Directed by Dave Free and Lamar himself, the “Not Like Us” video is filled with jabs at Drake and his OVO label, and it features appearances from several hip-hop stars. The video opens with Lamar doing pushups on cinder blocks in a room introduced by Tommy the Clown, a clear reference to Drake’s “Push Ups” and a callback to when Drake used a photo of Lamar working out as part of his song’s rollout.
Adding to the drama, the video shows Lamar dancing with his partner, Whitney Alford, and their two children. This scene alludes to Drake’s song “Family Matters,” which controversially suggested that Free was the father of one of Alford’s children. The video also features numerous owl references, a nod to Drake’s OVO label. One striking scene includes Lamar hitting an owl piñata, with a cheeky disclaimer at the bottom: “No OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video.”
The beef between Lamar and Drake, which dates back to 2014, has reached new heights in recent months. Both artists have released several diss tracks, exchanging barbs about physical appearance, talent, the use of AI, and even allegations of inappropriate behavior.
The commercial success of “Not Like Us”—which skyrocketed to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100—is seen by many as a clear indication of Lamar’s dominance in the feud. Fans have taken to social media to express their views. One user on X commented, “Kendrick Lamar had the Pop Out concert on Juneteenth where they danced on his grave. He drops the ‘Not Like Us’ video on Independence Day. Drake will never know freedom.”
Another fan added, “Kendrick Lamar’s whole music video was just him messing with Drake. He was doing pushups, destroying an owl piñata, crip walking with Whitney, and ends it off with a shot of an owl in a cage. I know Drake is mad as hell.”
With the release of “Not Like Us,” Lamar has not only fueled the fire of his rivalry with Drake but has also cemented his position at the forefront of the hip-hop scene.