DJ Mustard had no clue that his beat was used in Kendrick Lamar Drake diss track Not Like Us

DJ Mustard reveals he had no idea the song was even being released.


Pop Culture & Art June 20, 2024
Photo: Reuters

Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us" proved to be a game-changing move in his lyrical battle with Drake, but the song's unexpected release and diss track nature were a surprise even to its producer, DJ Mustard.

Mustard, known for his West Coast sound, revealed in a Billboard interview that he was completely unaware of Kendrick's plans for the song. He had sent Kendrick a batch of beats, and "Not Like Us" was simply one of them. Mustard had no clue it would become a Drake diss or that it would be released as a surprise on that fateful Saturday evening in May.

The producer also debunked rumors that the beat sampled Nas' "Ether," stating that he was simply channeling the creative energy of Dr. Dre and Lil Jon during the studio session. Despite the quick 30-minute creation process, the beat became the foundation for a track that soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and garnered hundreds of millions of streams.

This revelation sheds new light on the behind-the-scenes creation of one of the most impactful diss tracks in recent hip-hop history. It highlights Kendrick Lamar's strategic prowess and the unexpected twists and turns that can occur in the music industry.

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