Kendrick Lamar Mocked Drake Once Again During the Tou
Kendrick Lamar kicked off his long-awaited Grand National Tour with a commanding presence in Minneapolis this weekend. With the opening of the tour, he didn’t do so, and he wasted no time reuniting the lyrical firestorm with Drake.
Joined by SZA for the opening night of their ambitious 39-date stadium run, Lamar took a moment to perform “Not Like Us.” The track was a satirical skit clearly aimed at the Toronto rapper. The playful but pointed interlude hinted at Drake’s ongoing defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group. The lawsuit was recently amended to include claims about Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance.
In the skit, Kendrick appears seated at a table, being interrogated by a voice resembling a lawyer. The faux deposition presses him on two key dates: May 4, 2024—the day “Not Like Us” was released. The other one was February 9, 2025, when Lamar performed the track during his electrifying Super Bowl set. Playing it coy, Kendrick responds, “I don’t keep up with dates.” When the off-screen lawyer asks whether Drake’s final bar from “Family Matters” jogs his memory, they quote, “Does this ring a bell? Drop, drop, drop.” What followed was the unmistakable needle drop.
“I see dead people”—the cinematic cue that signals the start of “Not Like Us,” sending the stadium crowd into a frenzy.
The moment wasn’t just a flex—it was a statement. Fans online were quick to note the skit’s layered nods. They compared it to Lil Wayne’s infamous 2012 deposition tied to “The Carter,” documentary. What’s more, there was a 1995 interview in which 2Pac’s lyrics were scrutinized in court. With Lamar’s gang known for its subtlety and cultural awareness, the references appeared intentional. Thus framing Lamar as a performer and a storyteller deeply engaged in the broader hip-hop narrative.
The Fight Between Kendrick Lamar and Drake
The tension between Kendrick Lamar and Drake has been simmering for months. It peaked with a flurry of diss tracks and strategic live performances. Drake’s recent legal filing goes as far as to accuse Lamar’s Super Bowl appearance of being “orchestrated to assassinate the character of another artist.” It’s a rare and dramatic claim, especially given the typically celebratory nature of the halftime stage.
But if Kendrick felt constrained by the legal implications, he didn’t show it in Minneapolis. Instead, he leaned into the moment with humor and precision. Thus delivering a performance underlining his dominance in the current rap conversation.
With nearly 40 shows ahead, the Grand National Tour is already shaping up to be more than a victory lap. It’s a cultural event unfolding in real-time. As for the Drake saga, Kendrick has clarified one thing: he’s not finished talking.
