Award-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar has opened up about the creative process and inspiration behind his Grammy-winning Drake diss track, “Not Like Us”.
In a recent interview with Apple Music, Lamar explained that his motivation stemmed from a deep desire to protect and elevate hip-hop culture, which he feels is often undervalued as an art form.
“I was just thinking about the culture, really. It’s always that for me, first. When people talk about rap, they think it’s just rap, and not an actual art form. But when you put records like that at the forefront, it reminds people that this is more than just something that came 50 years ago.”
At the 67th Grammy Awards, Lamar’s “Not Like Us” secured five awards, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year. Reflecting on this success, Lamar—who now has 22 Grammys—expressed pride in carrying the torch for hip-hop and hopes future generations will surpass his achievements.
“As a writer, that’s what I can appreciate the most. Knowing how much time I’ve dedicated over the years—trial and error, writer’s block, figuring out how to find inspiration—I don’t take this lightly. Whether a song connects on a spiritual, comedic, or personal level, it’s still writing. And I love that people recognize that.”
The Compton-born rapper is also set to headline the Super Bowl halftime show in New Orleans on February 10, marking another milestone in his career.
“This performance is everything I’ve worked for. It reminds me of the essence of hip-hop and how far it can go. To put the culture on this kind of stage, where it belongs, is something I live and die by. Hip-hop changed my life, my family’s life—I don’t take it for granted.”
With “Not Like Us” dominating the charts and the Super Bowl set to be another historic moment, 2025 is shaping up to be another defining year for Kendrick Lamar and hip-hop culture.
