Kendrick Lamar has finally released the much-anticipated video for “Not Like Us,” offering fans the visual experience they've been waiting for. After filming in his hometown of Compton and performing the track six times consecutively at his “The Pop Out” concert last month, the video is here to solidify the song's impact.
Directed by Dave Free and Lamar himself, the video is a triumphant celebration of the West Coast, filled with subtle jabs at Drake and his OVO crew. The video kicks off with Tommy the Clown welcoming Lamar into a metallic room, where Lamar does push-ups on cinder blocks—a clear nod to Drake’s “Push Ups,” which referenced a photo of Lamar doing the exercise.
The visuals then show Lamar taking a swing at an owl piñata, symbolizing Drake’s OVO owl, with a cheeky disclaimer reading, “No OVHoes were harmed during the making of this video.” The video proceeds with Lamar cruising through the streets in a car, accompanied by the song’s producer, Mustard. The least subtle part of the video is the ending where Lamar is holding a live owl, known as the symbol for OVO, Drakes record label, then proceeds to put in a beautiful black cage, metaphorically putting an end the feud by locking Drake away from the culture.
Lamar’s fiancée, Whitney Alford, and their two children are seen dancing in a living room within the video. Alford had been mentioned in one of Drake’s diss tracks, “Family Matters,” where Drake insinuated that Dave Free, Lamar’s close associate and the video's co-director, fathered one of Alford’s children.
The video for “Not Like Us” serves as a victory lap for Lamar, who has arguably come out on top in his feud with Drake. Lamar's recent “The Pop Out” concert on June 19 in Los Angeles saw him performing “Not Like Us” six times in a row. The event was a homage to his roots, featuring a lineup of West Coast icons including Dr. Dre, YG, Tyler the Creator, and Schoolboy Q, further cementing his status as a hometown hero.
