It all started as a ‘beef’ between two rap giants, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Although they had previously collaborated on their respective albums in the 2010s, they began throwing subtle shades at each other through songs in the following years, starting with Kendrick’s diss of Drake on Big Sean’s “Control,” which he later called a “Friendly Competition.”

The “friendly competition” got out of control, and things escalated quickly in 2024 when the subtle feud turned into a highly mediatized lyrical battle, with netizens taking sides. During their “back-and-forth,” the rappers said the craziest things and made serious allegations against each other. However, one song ultimately established the winner: “Not Like Us.”

Upbeat, direct, and easy to sing, everyone knew from when Kendrick Lamar dropped the track that he had won the battle. The song took off. It felt and sounded different from all the previous ones and quickly became a cultural phenomenon that people learned, sang, and repeated, not just online but also in real life. I can’t count how often I’ve heard ‘Not Like Us’ being played loudly in nearby cars at the red light. It became the song of 2024.

Not Like Us helped Kendrick get selected to perform at the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show. He also won multiple awards at the 2024 BET Hip-Hop Awards: “Hip-hop Artist of the Year,” “Song of the Year,” “Best Hip-Hop Video,” “Lyricist of the Year,” and “Impact Track.”

In addition, Kendrick won the “Best Collaboration” and “Video Director of the Year” awards.

Indeed, 2024 will not be remembered without this rap beef and Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us.