Kendrick Lamar Debuts 'Not Like Us' Live: "A Cultural Moment"

Kendrick Lamar's recent L.A. concert was nothing short of electrifying as he performed his Drake diss track not once, but five times, captivating the audience with each rendition.

Thousands of fans flocked to the Kia Forum with little notice to celebrate Juneteenth at Lamar's ‘The Pop Out: Ken & Friends’ concert, eagerly anticipating the debut performance of ‘Not Like Us’. The track, with its biting lyrics, had the crowd rapping along passionately, making it clear why it soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

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The concert's intensity peaked when Dr. Dre made a surprise appearance, introducing ‘Not Like Us’ with the chilling line, “I see dead people.” He then hyped the crowd, emphasising the importance of respecting West Coast legends. Lamar echoed this sentiment, further stoking the audience’s fervour.

Lamar also performed another diss track, ‘Euphoria’, spotlighting controversial lyrics about Drake. The crowd’s chants of ‘OV-h–’ from ‘Not Like Us’ added to the charged atmosphere, showing their support for Lamar in the ongoing feud.

The night was a star-studded affair, featuring appearances by West Coast icons Tyler, the Creator, Roddy Ricch, and Ty Dolla $ign. DJ Mustard paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle, with fans raising their phone lights in a poignant moment during ‘Perfect 10’.

This concert marks a significant chapter in the ongoing tension between Lamar and Drake. Their rivalry, filled with diss tracks and sharp lyrics, started with Lamar's response to Drake and J. Cole’s song ‘First Person Shooter’, and has since escalated. Lamar’s assertion in ‘Like That' that it’s “just big me” underscores the fierce competitiveness driving their lyrical exchanges.

-Sushmita Sarkar