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: 13 BB, 11 DG, 16 ST, 122 RB, 12 UK, 11 CN, 12 AU, 19 DF (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): -- US, 0.6 UK, 1.56 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 688.80 video, 1530.76 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; last updated 6/15/2025.

Jack Harlow “Lovin’ on Me” hit #1

Lovin’ on Me Jack Harlow

Writer(s): Jackman Harlow, Ozan Yildirim, Sean Momberger, Nik Frascona, Nickie Jon Pabón, Delbert M. Greer, Reginald Nelton (see lyrics here) Released: November 10, 2023 First Charted: November 22, 2023 Peak: 16 BB, 112 BA, 12 DG, 15 ST, 15 RR, 11 A40, 113 RB, 13 UK, 13 CN, 110 AU (Click for codes to charts.) Sales (in millions): 0.03 US, 0.6 UK, 1.26 world (includes US + UK) Airplay/Streaming (in millions): -- radio, 133.75 video, 608.52 streaming

Awards: Click on award for more details.

About the Song: Rapper Jack Harlow was born in Kentucky in 1998. He released several mixtapes and EPs before his debut album, That’s What They All Say, came out in 2020 and was a top-five, million-selling album. He experienced his first chart success with the album’s single “What’s Poppin’,” which reached #2 on the pop and R&B charts on its way to being certified seven times platinum. In 2021, he reached #1 as a guest artist on Lil Nas X’s “Industry Baby.” In 2022, he topped the charts on his own with “First Class,” the second single from his sophomore album, Come Home, the Kids Miss You. In 2023, Harlow was back at #1 with “Lovin’ on Me,” a freestanding single. It was his first time topping the UK chart. Vulture’s Hershal Pandya said, “Harlow rides the pocket of the song’s hyphy percussion with charismatic ease.” WK He also said the song sports “a surprisingly nimble flow and impeccable beat selection.” WK Harlow has “a little playful and suggestive fun with various S&M references,” SF insisting that he won’t “be tied down to one girl, or in the bedroom.” SF The song shares “a common recipe” SF with “First Class.” In both “a rhythmic sample takes the spotlight in the production, Harlow drops some flex-singing on the hook, and then he loads up his verses with steamy innuendos.” SF The crunk track was produced by Sean Momberger and Ozan “Oz” Yildrim. The latter previously worked on the #1 hits “Sicko Mode” (Travis Scott & Drake), and “Highest in the Room” (Travis Scott), “Toosie Slide” (Drake), and “Life Is Good” (Future & Drake). SF It was Momberger’s idea to sample Cadillac Dale’s 1995 R&B song “Whatever (Bass Solique).” He said, “I’m a huge sampler. I always love starting ideas with old tracks. I was trying to break the mold of using super well-known samples and dive into older R&B and ‘90s songs.” SF Resources: DMDB encyclopedia entry for Jack Harlow SF Songfacts WK Wikipedia First posted 2/5/2024; last updated 5/4/2024.