Kendrick Lamar Dominated Grammys With “Not Like Us,” Cementing His Place as West Coast Royalty

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At the 2025 Grammys, Kendrick Lamar, the influential hip-hop artist hailing from Compton, maintained his dominance in rap. His 2024 hit single “Not Like Us” garnered him five awards, including song of the year, record of the year, best rap song, best music video, and best rap performance. This night served not only as a tribute to his music but also as a testament to his exceptional talent for merging artistry, commercial triumph, and cultural discourse.

As Lamar strolled up to the stage to receive his Grammy for “Record of the Year” for “Not Like Us”, a multitude of spectators, which included Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, joyfully danced and belted out some of the song’s powerful verses as they echoed loudly from the speakers. Despite its potentially contentious nature to certain individuals, it’s significant that Kendrick didn’t repeat “A minorrrrr” as a chorus until after Drake had made several hurtful accusations about Lamar’s partner and kids in “Family Matters”.

Lamar’s Grammy triumph marks a significant victory for his musical competition, with the song’s release on May 4, 2024, marking the end of Lamar’s long-standing rivalry with Drake. The track made an impressive debut, amassing 96 million streams in its first week and surpassing a billion Spotify streams within three months. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a cultural sensation.

Following its debut, fans began dissecting Lamar’s sharp lyrics. Among the accusations Lamar calmly made against his rival were claims about the Toronto rapper’s problematic behavior, poor moral values, dubious integrity, and cultural exploitation. After pointing out his adversary’s flaws, Lamar then targeted Drake’s companions before introducing a chorus that has since served as a battle cry for choosing individuality over popularity, staying faithful to one’s art, culture, and strong ethical principles.

The song that initially began as a powerful statement in a rap feud has grown even more significant after it became known as the most triumphant battle record in hip-hop history (interestingly, Drake’s diss track “Back to Back” was beaten for the Best Rap Performance Grammy in 2016 by Kendrick Lamar’s single “Alright” from his album To Pimp A Butterfly).

In this year’s awards, although Lamar was undeniably dominant, he maintained a humble demeanor during his time at the Grammy stage. He dressed in a light-hearted tribute to his Canadian rival, donning a denim ensemble from head to toe, often referred to as a “Canadian tuxedo.” However, unlike some past performances where artists might engage in feuds, Lamar avoided any such behavior. Instead, he seized the opportunity to highlight his hometown and the culture he cherishes during his acceptance speech for Record of the Year, using the podium as a platform to shed light on his roots rather than boasting about his success.

This song is dedicated to these cities – Compton, Watts, Long Beach, Inglewood, Hollywood, moving up to the Valley, the IE, even San Bernadino. These places have been a constant presence in my life since I was just a youngster, helping me through tough times in the studio as I worked hard on my rhymes and creating tracks like these. I owe so much gratitude to these areas that I’ve traveled through since high school, particularly the people and families residing in Palisades and Altadena. This is a true tribute to our city’s resilience, proving that we can continually rebuild and thrive. We will continue to make noise!

At that moment, the event served as a powerful reminder of the Grammys’ emphasis on rehabilitation, following the destruction caused by wildfires in Los Angeles only a few weeks prior. Lamar’s affection for his city was clear in how he seamlessly incorporated so many West Coast elements into the music video for “Not Like Us.” As he concluded his winning streak that night, he graciously dedicated his song of the year Grammy to his significant other and the West Coast rappers who influenced him during his rise.

Lamar pointed out in the video that Whitney was Crip walking. He then took over the microphone and dedicated the song to all the West Coast artists who paved the way early on, such as G Malone, Problem, Bad Lucc, K-Boy, Daylyt, Mykestro. These were the individuals who influenced him to become the MC he is today. He also mentioned Schoolboy, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul. He emphasized that this is what it’s all about because at the core, there’s nothing more powerful than rap music. He stated, ‘We are the culture.’ It will continue and endure. To the upcoming artists, he simply hopes you appreciate the art form. It has the power to take you where you want to go.

The final thought really underscores why Lamar has been successful in bringing together multitudes of fans. Just like his acclaimed song, he is rightfully receiving accolades for his talent in evolving hip-hop while preserving its essence. In an industry dominated by trends and algorithms, Lamar stays true to himself. His Grammy wins symbolize his position as a guardian of the culture.

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2025-02-03 18:25