Kendrick Lamar “Not Like Us” debuted at #1

Not Like Us Kendrick Lamar

Writer(s): Sean Momberger, Ray Charles, Kendrick Duckworth (see lyrics here) Released: May 5, 2024 First Charted: May 18, 2024 Peak: 12 BB, 16 ST, 121 RB, 6 UK, 2 CN, 5 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.6 US, -- UK, 1.15 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 659.39 video, 973.96 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Rapper Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in 1987 in Compton, California. He released his first album, Section 80, in 2011 but didn’t really take off until his sophomore effort, Good Kid, m.A.A.d. City in 2012. The album peaked at #2 and was certified three times platinum. Five #1 albums followed from 2015 to 2022. He first reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2015 as a featured artist on the remix of Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.” He ascended to the top on his own in 2017 with “Humble” and, in 2024, reached #1 a third time as a featured artist on Future & Metro Boomin’s “Like That.” Lamar’s guest verse on “Like That” was a diss of rappers Drake and J. Cole in response to their 2023 song “First Person Shooter.” While Kendrick and Drake denied conflict between them for years, there is speculation that their feud goes back as far as 2013 when Lamar dissed Drake and other rappers on Big Sean’s “Control.” Lamar claimed it was meant in friendly competition. After “Like That,” Drake responded with “Push Ups,’ “Taylor Made Freestyle,” and “Family Matters.” Lamar came back with “Euphoria,” 6:16 in LA,” and “Meet the Grahams,” a song which accused Drake of pedophilia and sexual misconduct. Less than 24 hours later, Lamar also dropped “Not Like Us,” which echoed similar themes while also challenging Drake’s cultural identity. WK The song also compared Drake t a slave owner, accusing him of exploiting Atlanta rappers like Future and Lil Baby for street credibility and cash. SF Critics hailed it “as one of the greatest diss tracks in history.” WK “Not Like Us” was produced by Mustard, who’d previously reached a career best of #5 with Ella Mai’s “Boo’d Up” in 2018. SF He sampled “I Believe to My Soul,” a 1968 cover by saxophonist Monk Higgins of a 1961 song by Ray Charles. WK “Not Like Us” became Lamar’s fourth trip to the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 and became the longest-running #1 song in the history of the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart with 21 weeks on top. WK It was nominated for Grammys for Record and Song of the Year. It was the most played song in the world on Spotify in 2024. SF Resources: SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia Related Links: First posted 1/4/2025.