Kendrick Lamar delivered his highly anticipated video for his scathing Drake diss track “Not Like Us” on Independence Day (July 4). The cinematic video was directed by pgLang co-founder/producer Dave Free and Lamar, and many of their fans believes Free deserves an Oscar—or at least some kind of recognition—for his work on the visual.
Twitter (X) blew up with reactions to the video as Dave Free, Kendrick Lamar, #TheyNotLikeUs and KDot quickly became trending topics. One person noted, “Dave Free deserves an Oscar I’m not kidding this is f###### phenomenal,” while another said, “Kendrick’s Not Like Us video really is diabolical in the best way +OVO owl (Drake brand) smashing/caging and Push Ups references +Whitney and family dancing +Early image release trolling Drake fans to claim she was unhappy +Dave Free co-directing +YG at shoot +Compton united.”
And that easily summarize the “Not Like Us” visual. Beginning with a black-and-white shot of Kendrick Lamar rapping in a hallway, he knocks at a door, where he’s greeted by a DJ dressed as clown. When asked for the password, Lamar replies, “I see dead people,” the first lyrics from the song. From there, the infectious Mustard beat begins as Kendrick begins his incendiary verses.
Appearances include Kendrick’s fiancée Whitney and their children, Hit-Boy, Mustard and half of Compton. The video has amassed more than 15 million YouTube views since in less than 24 hours. The closing shot, however, appeared to be the most impactful, with Kendrick staring at an owl in a cage. As most of the rap community is well aware, Drake’s OVO Sound logo is an owl. Many of Kendrick’s fans—and even those who aren’t—think the visual is the final nail in Drake’s coffin.
Check out some of the reactions below.
kendrick lamar caught the ovo owl & put it in its cage in the ‘they not like us’ music video😭 pic.twitter.com/TRowdMv7ax
— bear (@oplivio) July 4, 2024
Kendrick Lamar had the Pop Out concert on Juneteenth where they danced on his grave.
He drops the “Not Like Us” video on Independence Day.
Drake will never know freedom.
— Andreas Hale (@AndreasHale) July 4, 2024
Kendrick Lamar’s whole music video was just him f###### with Drake. He was doing pushups, destroying an owl piñata, crip walking with Whitney, and ends it off with a shot of an owl in a cage, I know Drake mad as hell LMFAO pic.twitter.com/qyACBQ33z3
— Hasan 👁🗨 (@flackospalace) July 4, 2024
Drake when he saw that the Kendrick Lamar Not Like Us music video dropped pic.twitter.com/JQsaZp5zGM
— Depressed Lakers fan (@oprahsideclark) July 4, 2024
Drake has been trolling Kendrick Lamar all over again this weekend 😭
he went bowling with the OVO crew and named himself 69god
he also went on Trainwreck’s stream to accuse Spotify of backdooring streams for “Not Like Us”
and he went to New Ho King to eat fried rice pic.twitter.com/0IzSDraVDl
— SOUND (@itsavibe) June 30, 2024
Kendrick Lamar finally drops the music video to the Drake diss “Not Like Us”
he ends it by staring at an owl in a cage pic.twitter.com/RoY8Z4M4QE
— SOUND (@itsavibe) July 4, 2024
Kendrick Lamar really kill Drake with this song LMAOOOOOOOO
— J-Q 💰 (@AKAJQ) July 4, 2024
