With the release of his new music video for “Not Like Us,” the controversial diss tune targeted at Drake, Kendrick Lamar’s winning run keeps on. This video tracks Lamar’s recent six-times-in-a-row performance of the song at his vibrant “The Pop Out” event last month, so confirming his victory in the well-publicized conflict with Drake that has enthralled mainstream culture this year.
References to Drake and his OVO label abound in the video, which shows Lamar celebrating alongside well-known West Coast hip-hop stars. Directed by Lamar and Dave Free, it stars West Coast icons including producer Mustard, who sports a Toronto Blue Jays cap in a clear jab at Drake, Tommy the Clown, Compton-born NBA star and former Toronto Raptors player DeMar DeRozan, and CEO of Top Dawg, Anthony “Top Dawg†Tiffith.
Starting the video with Lamar doing push-ups on cinder blocks, the video nods to Drake’s “Push Ups,” referencing a picture of Lamar performing the same workout. In a scenario that subverts Drake’s song “Family Matters”, which implied that Free fathered one of Lamar’s children with Alford, Lamar’s partner Whitney Alford and their two children also show up dancing together.
The video features visual references to owls, signifying Drake’s OVO label, all over it. With a disclaimer saying, “no OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video,” there are scenes where Lamar smashes an owl piñata and pictures of an owl resting on Lamar’s arm in a cage. The video also features local references to the Compton courtroom and Tam’s Burger.
May saw the conflict between Drake and Lamar break out with several diss records released by both musicians. As Shaheem Reid of The Hollywood Reporter points out, every song displayed growing quality and pettiness. With “Not Like Us” topping the Billboard Hot 100 and this video acting as the last flourish in his victory, many feel Lamar came out triumphant.
