Kendrick Lamar’s 'Not Like Us' diss track lyrics and meaning explained

Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance on Sunday night carried multiple messages. However, for social media users, the main takeaway was clear: Don’t mess with Kendrick Lamar.

In Lamar's diss track Not Like Us, he accuses Drake of pedophilia, continuing the themes he introduced in Meet the Grahams, a track he had dropped just a day earlier.

Lamar says, "Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young / You better not ever go to cell block one."

He also references Drake’s 2021 album *Certified Lover Boy*, stating, "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles."

In one of the track’s most controversial lines, Lamar reinforces his point: "Why you trollin' like a b—? Ain't you tired? / Tryna strike a chord and it's probably A-minor."

The single's cover art features an aerial view of Drake’s Toronto estate, edited to resemble a sex offender registry map, highlighting the homes of convicted offenders.

Beyond reiterating his accusations about Drake’s alleged inappropriate behavior with minors, Lamar also takes aim at his cultural identity, accusing him of using Black artists from Atlanta to gain "street credibility." He further references past personal experiences involving J. Cole, Lil Wayne, and Serena Williams.

Both fans and music critics at the time agreed that this track cemented Lamar’s victory in the feud.

By late 2024, Drake took legal action, filing a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG), the record label he shares with Lamar. The lawsuit alleged that UMG failed to block the release of *Not Like Us*, which Drake claimed contained damaging and defamatory accusations. He argued that not only did UMG allow the song’s distribution, but it also promoted it, further harming his reputation.

A month later, the legal battle began, with Drake asserting that UMG’s actions not only tarnished his public image but also put his personal safety at risk.