Did Kendrick Lamar reignite Drake feud ahead of 'ICEMAN' release? Music video move sparks buzz

The music videos for 'Not Like Us'and 'Luther' disappeared from YouTube without warning before returning hours later

Kendrick Lamar sparked widespread speculation after the sudden removal and re-upload of his music videos for “Not Like Us” and “Luther” on YouTube, with fans questioning whether the move was intended to divert attention from Drake’s upcoming album ICEMAN.

According to reports, the videos disappeared from YouTube on May 11 without warning before returning hours later.

The temporary removal immediately triggered debate online, particularly because “Not Like Us” had accumulated more than 400 million views before the re-upload reset its public view count.

The re-uploaded versions appear largely unchanged, although some users claimed there were slight visual adjustments, including altered framing and colour grading. Others pointed to missing or modified Universal Music Group metadata as a possible sign of changes involving licensing or distribution rights.

Much of the discussion has centred on timing. Drake’s ninth studio album, ICEMAN, is reportedly scheduled for release on May 15, leading some fans to believe Lamar intentionally reset the videos to boost their visibility within YouTube’s trending algorithms ahead of the launch.

Others suggested the move could relate to business or legal matters. The report noted that Lamar’s 2024 album GNX and the track “Euphoria” had also temporarily disappeared from Apple Music, fuelling speculation over distribution adjustments or internal rights changes.

Some fans linked the incident to Drake’s previously dismissed lawsuits regarding allegations that “Not Like Us” benefited from artificial streaming inflation. Online theories suggested resetting the video statistics could demonstrate the track’s popularity without relying on previous numbers.

Despite the speculation, Lamar has not publicly commented on the removals or re-uploads. Several social media users also questioned whether the disappearance may have been caused by a technical issue rather than a calculated promotional strategy.