Kendrick Lamar breaks down the meaning of ‘Not Like Us’ without ever mentioning Drake’s name.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper, 37, spoke with SZA in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar published Monday and explained what his song “Not Like Us,” which dissed Drake, meant to him. was asked for. Although Lamar did not mention anyone who inspired the song anywhere in the interview, he did say that “Not Like Us” reflected his own morals and values.
“Different from us? Who I am and the type of human energy that I represent is different from us,” Lamar said. “Now, if you empathize with the man I represent…this man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something. He’s not pandering. yeah.”
She added: “He’s a man who can recognize his mistakes, who isn’t afraid to share them, who can dig deep into fear-based ideologies and experiences and express them without feeling like he’s less than human.” I’m thinking about ‘not like us,’ but I’m thinking about myself and people who identify with me.”
“Not Like Us” was released in May during the feud between Lamar and Drake, during which both rappers released diss tracks aimed at each other. On “Not Like Us,” Lamar mentions Drake by name, rapping, “Say it Drake, you like young.” He also rapped, “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,” referencing Drake’s album Certified Lover Boy.
Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle.
Kendrick LaMalone enjoys summer with ‘Not Like Us’ music video, continues to diss Drake
The cover of “Not Like Us” featured a photo of Drake’s house covered in red marker, the type used to identify registered sex offenders.
Drake and Lamar’s feud began in March when Lamar appeared on Future and Metro Boomin’s song “Like That,” and J. Cole suggested on one of his shows that he, Drake, and J. Things got even more intense after denying that they were one of the “big three” in the rap world. Previous song. “It’s just me being big,” Lamar said.
Kendrick Lamar says he’s not an “angry person” but believes in “love and war”
Elsewhere in the Harper’s Bazaar interview, SZA asked Lamar if his music comes from anger, which he denied.
9 diss songs from Drake and Kendrick Lamar 2024, including “Not Like Us” and “Part 6”
“I don’t think I’m an angry person,” he said. “But I believe in love and war, and I believe that they both need to exist. And being aware of that allows us to react to things, but… You can’t identify with them as who you are. Just allow them to exist and allow them to flow through me. ”
Lamar also opened up about his spirituality in the interview, saying, “I literally talk to God, to the point where I think I’m going crazy, but then God tells me…” “I have to remind them, ‘No,'” he said. , this is really me.
Lamar will headline the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show in February, the NFL announced last month. “Rap music remains the most influential genre of all time,” Lamar said in a statement at the time. “And I’m there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”
