Late Thursday night, Kendrick Lamar released the music video for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us,” featuring a brief but significant cameo by former Toronto Raptors player DeMar DeRozan. The video, filmed in Lamar’s hometown of Compton, California, includes appearances from several notable figures, including Mustard, who produced the track, dancer Tommy the Clown, and Top Dog Entertainment CEO Anthony (Top Dawg) Tiffith.
The video reignites the long-standing feud between Lamar and Toronto’s Drake, which had been relatively quiet for months. “Not Like Us” reached No. 1 on the Billboard 100 upon its debut in May and quickly became the most streamed American hip-hop song in a single day. The track is filled with jabs at Drake, ranging from playful to serious allegations.
DeRozan’s appearance in the video is particularly poignant. Born in Compton, DeRozan played nine seasons with the Toronto Raptors before being traded in 2018 for Kawhi Leonard. The trade was controversial, as DeRozan had been the face of the franchise and led the team to the playoffs five consecutive times. Despite initially harsh words for Raptors management, DeRozan eventually made peace with the move.
Drake, a global ambassador for the Raptors, often sports the team’s gear and has tied his OVO brand to the team’s training facility. DeRozan’s cameo in Lamar’s video, appearing at the 2:43 mark during the line “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither,” seems especially pointed given Drake’s close association with the Raptors.
This isn’t the first time DeRozan has sided with Lamar in the feud. On June 19, Lamar hosted a concert at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, featuring a mix of up-and-coming L.A. rappers and established hip-hop names. During the concert, Lamar performed his Drake diss songs, including “Not Like Us,” multiple times, with DeRozan joining him on stage.
The music video for “Not Like Us” includes several taunts against Drake, such as Lamar destroying an owl-shaped piñata, a nod to OVO’s logo, and caging a live barn owl. The video also addresses Drake’s accusations against Lamar, including allegations of physical abuse and infidelity. In a clear retort, Lamar features his family prominently in the video, contrasting the accusations with images of his partner Whitney Alford and their children.
Whether this latest shot will reignite the feud remains unclear. Last month, Drake quietly deleted all Instagram posts related to the feud and seemed to indicate he was moving on with a story captioned “Good times. Summer vibes up next.” However, the feud has already had real-world consequences, including several attempted break-ins at Drake’s Toronto home and a shooting involving his security guard.
The Kendrick Lamar victory lap continues with the release of the “Not Like Us” music video, which many see as the cap on Lamar’s definitive victory over Drake. The video features several references to Drake and his OVO label, with Lamar celebrating alongside West Coast hip-hop luminaries. Directed by Lamar and Dave Free, the video includes cameos from prominent West Coast figures, including Mustard, Tommy the Clown, and DeRozan.
The video begins with Lamar doing push-ups on cinder blocks, a reference to Drake’s “Push Ups.” It also features Lamar’s partner Whitney Alford and their two children, pushing back against Drake’s accusations of infidelity and family mistreatment. The video includes several visual references to owls, the bird associated with Drake’s OVO label, and concludes with Lamar staring down an owl in a cage before walking away into darkness.
The conflict between Drake and Kendrick Lamar has captivated the world, with each musician releasing multiple diss tracks. Many feel Lamar won the feud, with “Not Like Us” reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming the most streamed hip-hop song per day on Spotify. The video is seen as the cherry on top of Lamar’s victory.
NBA star DeMar DeRozan was seen dancing onstage as Kendrick Lamar performed “Not Like Us” at the Kia Forum. DeRozan, who has a history with both Lamar and Drake, appears to be in a unique situation. He played nine years with the Toronto Raptors and was close to Drake, who provided comfort to DeRozan after he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018.
Drake, a diehard Raptors fan, has referred to DeRozan as a “brother” and an “incredible captain.” However, Lamar also has a connection with DeRozan, as both grew up in Compton. With his feud with Drake reaching epic proportions, Lamar released “Not Like Us,” which includes a line referencing DeRozan: “I’m glad DeRoz came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither.”
Lamar performed the track multiple times during his “The Pop Out — Ken & Friends” show in Inglewood, with DeRozan and Clippers star Russell Westbrook joining him on stage. The video and concert performances have solidified Lamar’s position in the feud, with many seeing him as the clear winner.
Source: CBC, The Hollywood Reporter, ESPN
