Kendrick Lamar has had an incredible year in 2024, and surprisingly, he didn’t release a new album.
Engaging in a high-profile feud with Drake may have been his smartest move yet. Since the intense track “Like That,” where he boldly called out Drake, Kendrick has further cemented his status as one of hip-hop’s legends.
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This year, he’s been recognized as the winner of what many are calling the biggest rivalry in hip-hop history. He received multiple Grammy nominations for “Not Like Us,” landed a prestigious spot at the Super Bowl halftime show, and his diss tracks are being celebrated as some of the greatest ever. To top it off, Apple Music named him Rapper of the Year.
Kendrick had an impressive year, earning seven Grammy nominations for his hit track, including Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Music Video.
His song “Not Like Us,” released on May 4, 2024, was one of several diss tracks aimed at Drake. However, this particular track struck a chord with listeners and ultimately led to a significant setback for the Toronto rapper.
RELATED: Kendrick Lamar Reveals The True Meaning Of “Not Like Us”
On May 18, 2024, “Not Like Us” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Its immense popularity also allowed it to break records for the Most Weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs Chart, surpassing “Old Town Road” as the longest-running top song in the chart’s 35-year history.
Last month, the 37-year-old Kendrick Lamar discussed the significance of his track “Not Like Us” in an interview with Harper’s Bazaar. Although he didn’t specifically name the individual (Drake) who influenced the song, he emphasized that “Not Like Us” embodies his personal morals and values.
“Not like us? Not like us is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent,” Lamar explained. “Now, if you identify with the man that I represent … This man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something. He’s not pandering.”
He continued, “He’s a man who can recognize his mistakes and not be afraid to share the mistakes and can dig deep down into fear-based ideologies or experiences to be able to express them without feeling like he’s less of a man. If I’m thinking of ‘Not Like Us,’ I’m thinking of me and whoever identifies with that.”
