not like us lyrics​

[Intro]
Psst, I see dead people
(Mustard on the beat, ho)

[Verse 1]
Ayy, Mustard on the beat, ho
Deebo any rap nigga, he a free throw
Man down, call an amberlamps, tell him, "Breathe, bro"
Nail a nigga to the cross, he walk around like Teezo
What's up with these jabroni-ass niggas tryna see Compton?
The industry can hate me, fuck 'em all and they mama
How many opps you really got? I mean, it's too many options
I'm finna pass on this body, I'm John Stockton
Beat your ass and hide the Bible if God watchin'
Sometimes you gotta pop out and show niggas
Certified boogeyman, I'm the one that up the score with 'em
Walk him down, whole time, I know he got some ho in him
Pole on him, extort shit, bully Death Row on him
Say, Drake, I hear you like 'em young
You better not ever go to cell block one
To any bitch that talk to him and they in love
Just make sure you hide your lil' sister from him
They tell me Chubbs the only one that get your hand-me-downs
And Party at the party playin' with his nose now
And Baka got a weird case, why is he around?
Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles
Wop, wop, wop, wop, wop, Dot, fuck 'em up
Wop, wop, wop, wop, wop, I'ma do my stuff
Why you trollin' like a bitch? Ain't you tired?
Tryna strike a chord and it's probably A minor

[Chorus]
They not like us, they not like us, they not like us
They not like us, they not like us, they not like us

[Verse 2]
You think the Bay gon' let you disrespect Pac, nigga?
I think that Oakland show gon' be your last stop, nigga
Did Cole foul, I don't know why you still pretendin'
What is the owl? Bird niggas and burnt bitches, go
The audience not dumb
Shape the stories how you want, hey, Drake, they're not slow
Rabbit hole is still deep, I can go further, I promise
Ain't that somethin'? B-Rad stands for bitch and you Malibu most wanted
Ain't no law, boy, you ball boy, fetch Gatorade or somethin'
Since 2009, I had this bitch jumpin'
You niggas'll get a wedgie, be flipped over your boxers
What OVO for? The "Other Vaginal Option"? Pussy
Nigga better straighten they posture, got famous all up in Compton
Might write this for the doctorate, tell the pop star quit hidin'
Fuck a caption, want action, no accident
And I'm hands-on, he fuck around, get polished
Fucked on Wayne girl while he was in jail, that's connivin'
Then get his face tatted like a bitch apologizin'
I'm glad DeRoz' came home, y'all didn't deserve him neither
From Alondra down to Central, nigga better not speak on Serena
And your homeboy need subpoena, that predator move in flocks
That name gotta be registered and placed on neighborhood watch
I lean on you niggas like another line of Wock'
Yeah, it's all eyes on me, and I'ma send it up to Pac, ayy
Put the wrong label on me, I'ma get 'em dropped, ayy
Sweet Chin Music and I won't pass the aux, ayy
How many stocks do I really have in stock? Ayy
One, two, three, four, five, plus five, ayy
Devil is a lie, he a 69 God, ayy
Freaky-ass niggas need to stay they ass inside, ayy
Roll they ass up like a fresh pack of 'za, ayy
City is back up, it's a must, we outside, ayy

[Chorus]
They not like us, they not like us, they not like us
They not like us, they not like us, they not like us

[Verse 3]
Once upon a time, all of us was in chains
Homie still doubled down callin' us some slaves
Atlanta was the Mecca, buildin' railroads and trains
Bear with me for a second, let me put y'all on game
The settlers was usin' townfolk to make 'em richer
Fast-forward, 2024, you got the same agenda
You run to Atlanta when you need a check balance
Let me break it down for you, this the real nigga challenge
You called Future when you didn't see the club (Ayy, what?)
Lil Baby helped you get your lingo up (What?)
21 gave you false street cred
Thug made you feel like you a slime in your head (Ayy, what?)
Quavo said you can be from Northside (What?)
2 Chainz say you good, but he lied
You run to Atlanta when you need a few dollars
No, you not a colleague, you a fuckin' colonizer
The family matter and the truth of the matter
It was God's plan to show y'all the liar

[Bridge]
Mm
Mm-mm
He a fan, he a fan, he a fan (Mm)
He a fan, he a fan, he a
Freaky-ass nigga, he a 69 God
Freaky-ass nigga, he a 69 God
Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life
Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life
Freaky-ass nigga, he a 69 God
Freaky-ass nigga, he a 69 God
Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life
Hey, hey, hey, hey, run for your life
Let me hear you say, "OV-ho" (OV-ho)
Say, "OV-ho" (OV-ho)
Then step this way, step that way
Then step this way, step that way

[Outro]
Are you my friend?
Are we locked in?
Then step this way, step that way
Then step this way, step that way

"Not Like Us" – Kendrick Lamar's Explosive Fourth Diss Track

On May 4, 2024, Kendrick Lamar reignited his longstanding feud with Drake by dropping his fourth diss track, "Not Like Us". Released less than 24 hours after "Meet the Grahams", Kendrick’s third Drake-directed diss, this fiery track stakes its claim as one of the most talked-about releases of the year.

The conflict heated up after Drake’s controversial "Taylor Made Freestyle"—a diss track released on Instagram—used AI-generated vocals of West Coast icons Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. Facing backlash and legal challenges, Drake's song was swiftly removed following a cease-and-desist from Tupac Shakur’s estate. "Not Like Us" arrived as Kendrick’s powerful response, defending the West Coast and calling out Drake for cultural appropriation.

A Bay Area-Inspired Banger

Kendrick partnered with renowned producer Mustard for this diss, delivering sharp lyrics over a bouncy, hyphy-inspired beat. Mustard, in a Billboard interview, revealed that the beat was crafted in just 30 minutes. He envisioned what a collaboration between Dr. Dre and Lil Jon might sound like—a fusion of West Coast smoothness and crunk energy. The result is a beat that matches Kendrick’s dynamic delivery, incorporating zany vocal inflections reminiscent of Bay Area legend E-40.

The Disses Get Personal

Kendrick doesn’t hold back on "Not Like Us", escalating prior allegations against Drake. Among the most scathing lines, Kendrick refers to him as a “certified pedophile,” a biting wordplay on Drake’s 2021 album, Certified Lover Boy. He also accuses Drake of being a "culture vulture" and a “snitch,” doubling down on previous claims.

Adding to the diss's sting, the cover art features an aerial view of Drake’s Toronto mansion, “The Embassy,” with a visual design resembling a sex offender registry. This bold artistic choice reinforces Kendrick’s accusations, suggesting the mansion as a hub for questionable activities.

Unprecedented Records and Impact

"Not Like Us" dominated the charts and broke records worldwide. Within three days of its release, it shattered the record for most single-day Spotify streams for a hip-hop track in the U.S., overtaking Drake and Lil Baby's "Girls Want Girls". Globally, it beat Drake’s "Champagne Poetry" for the highest single-day streams. The track also debuted at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking Kendrick's fourth chart-topper and his first-ever #1 debut.

By May 15, "Not Like Us" had become the fastest hip-hop song to reach 100 million Spotify streams, surpassing "God’s Plan". It also set a new record for the most Spotify streams in a single week, toppling Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s collaborative hit "Fortnight".

Live Debut and Music Video

Kendrick premiered the track live at his Pop Out: Ken & Friends Juneteenth show on June 19, 2024, at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. Sharing the stage with West Coast icons like YG, Mustard, DeMar DeRozan, and Russell Westbrook, Kendrick performed "Not Like Us" multiple times to close out the show.

The music video, filmed in Compton, California, debuted on July 4th, 2024. It captured the essence of Kendrick’s hometown, blending raw energy and unapologetic West Coast pride with cinematic storytelling.

A Cultural Moment

"Not Like Us" stands as more than a diss track—it’s a cultural statement. Kendrick Lamar’s bold confrontation of Drake’s actions and his unwavering defense of West Coast hip-hop reaffirms his position as one of the most fearless voices in music. With this release, Kendrick not only avenged his coast but also set a new standard for diss tracks, pushing boundaries both lyrically and artistically.