Kendrick Lamar, a name synonymous with hip-hop, just dropped a bombshell with his Not Like Us official video, and it has already painted the town red with headlines. Packed with Easter eggs and sizzling digs, this release isn’t just a feather in Lamar’s cap—it’s an entire peacock strut.
With a powerhouse combo of Dave Free and Lamar at the helm of the video’s direction, every frame honors the West Coast vibes that have long been the lifeblood of the latter’s work. Fans have already taken notice of Lamar’s fiancée Whitney Alford and their two kids, who can be seen dancing in a living room in the Not Like Us video.
It’s obvious that the video feels like a winning lap for Lamar, who might’ve come out ahead in the beef that erupted earlier this year with Drake.
Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us Music Video Took More Shots at Drake
The feud between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has been one for the ages, but it seems like the latter just put the nail in the coffin with his latest music video for Not Like Us. The video, directed by Dave Free and Lamar himself, is a celebration of the West Coast, with a few subtle jabs at Drake and his OVO crew.
The opening scene after one minute of the clip shows Lamar doing push-ups on cinder blocks, a clear reference to Drake’s track Push Ups. Lamar then takes a swing at an owl (the bird linked to Drake’s OVO label), with a disclaimer flashing on the screen stating that
No OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video.
But the real kicker comes when Lamar’s fiancée, Whitney Alford, and their two children make an appearance dancing in a living room. This is a direct hit at Drake, who insinuated in his diss track Family Matters that Alford had a child with Lamar’s longtime associate Dave Free (see THR).
Needless to say, Lamar is basking in his victory over Drake in this ongoing feud. And fans, who have enthusiastically commented on social media, can attest to this (via Instagram):
Nah this is wild, Drake can’t come back from this one. -@itsjuanjo15
This is like when everybody celebrated after the second Death Star got blown up. -@cooper_thompson13
Drake turned this man into a family man. -@velzsantana
Kendrick is a genius. -@treyvonfaab
Stunning visuals. Love the west side love! As far as the Drake s*it…a Whole lotta. –@marcel_whoxay
Lamar even performed the song at his recent ‘The Pop Out’ concert in LA, where he was joined by a star-studded lineup of musicians including Dr. Dre, Tyler the Creator, and Schoolboy Q (see Variety).
From Collaborators to Competitors: The Story of Drake and Kendrick Lamar
Drake and Kendrick Lamar were once inseparable, like two peas in a pod, but now their friendship has turned into a bitter rivalry that has taken the music industry by storm. The feud escalated rapidly after Lamar took shots at J. Cole’s First Person Shooter.
Cole referred to himself, Lamar, and Drake as the “big three” in the music business in the song. But when push came to shove, it was Drake and Lamar, who found themselves embroiled in a war of words that had fans on the edge of their seats. Lamar responded by mocking Cole and Drake in an uncredited verse in Metro Boomin & Future’s song Like That.
Push Ups, Drake’s response diss track, was a clear jab at Lamar. On the other hand, the Canadian singer was referred to as a “pathetic master manipulator” and a “scam artist” in the latter’s song Euphoria.
Well, before things got ugly, Drake and Lamar had a harmonious working relationship. They collaborated on the track Poetic Justice, a song that delved into the deep struggles of Lamar while showcasing Drake’s lyrical prowess.
But alas, all good things must come to an end, and now the two are at each other’s throats, hurling insults and diss tracks like there’s no tomorrow. And with the latest music video for Not Like Us, it’s clear that Lamar is not just in it to win it—he’s here to dominate!
