Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar was almost scientific in how he approached the lyrical death match with archnemesis Drake in 2024.
From the perspective of most fans and industry pundits, K. Dot mauled Drizzy in one of the most consequential hip-hop battles in the annals of the genre. The explosive blockbuster track “Not Like Us” was the knockout punch that sent Drake reeling head-first to the metaphorical canvas. The toppled titan of pop was forced to beat a hasty retreat back to Toronto to seek refuge and reset.
“Not Like Us” dominated the charts and popular culture in 2024
“Not Like Us” became so ubiquitous in the summer of 2024 that it permeated throughout pop culture, Hollywood and corporate America, and landed No. 1 on the Billboard pop charts. “Not Like Us” solidified its utter dominance by sweeping the Grammy Awards — winning Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Music Video.
Lamar clued his fans about what his mindset in the spring of 2024, according to the Associated Press.
“My intent from day one was to keep the nature of it as a sport I don’t care how motherf—ers look at it as far as like a collaborative effort. That’s cool too, but I love when artists grit they teeth,” Lamar said in New Orleans, the site for the 2025 Super Bowl.
Kendrick Lamar explains his love of battle raps
“I still watch battle raps, I still watch Smack URL, from Murda Mook to Lux to Tay Roc, my bro Daylyt,” Lamar continued. “This always been the core definition of who I am. It’s been that way since day one so I don’t think it was a thing for this year. It was always a continuum. What I will say about this year is that it was more from a space where I think a lot of people was putting rap to the back and you didn’t see that grit, you didn’t see that bite anymore.”
Kendrick Lamar pushes hip-hop culture forward
On his monumental evening at the Grammys, Kendrick said, “I just think about the culture really. It’s always that for me first I’m not even bulls—ing with you. When people talk about rap man, the conversations I hear they think its just rapping and not an actual art form. So when you put records like that in the forefront it reminds people that this is more than just something that came 50 years ago.”
Kendrick Lamar will perform with singer SZA
Lamar, along with his world tour partner SZA, will perform in front of a vast global audience during the Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday, Feb. 9 that normally reaches upwards of 110 million TV viewers.
Check out the entirety of the performers, including the full interview with Lamar, whill be beforming before and during the Super Bowl.
