Kendrick Lamar dominated the 2025 Grammy Awards, taking home five trophies, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for his explosive diss track “Not Like Us.” The scathing anthem, which played a pivotal role in his ongoing lyrical battle with Drake, became one of the most talked-about hip-hop moments of the year.
Lamar’s Victory Cements His Status as Hip-Hop’s Top Lyricist
With this latest Grammy sweep, Kendrick Lamar solidified his place among the greatest MCs of all time, bringing his career total to 19 Grammy wins out of 57 nominations.
The 6 God himself, Drake, has yet to comment on his rival’s massive Grammy night, but fans were quick to note the significance of Lamar’s victory.
Kendrick’s Powerful Acceptance Speech: A Tribute to Compton
During his acceptance speech, Lamar paid homage to his hometown of Compton and longtime collaborator Mustard, whose production helped shape “Not Like Us” into a West Coast anthem.
“This is my neck of the woods, the one that held me down since I was a young pup,” he said. “Since I was in the studio scrapping to write the best raps. I can’t give enough thanks to the places I rolled around in since high school.”
He also gave a shoutout to families in the Palisades and Altadena, promising to continue uplifting his community.
A Stacked Record of the Year Category—But “Not Like Us” Stood Out
Lamar’s competition in the Record of the Year category was fierce, featuring nominations from:
- The Beatles – “Now and Then”
- Beyoncé – “Texas Hold ‘Em”
- Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
- Charli XCX – “360”
- Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather”
- Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!”
- Taylor Swift feat. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
Despite the strong lineup, “Not Like Us” stood out for its raw energy and direct lyrical shots at Drake, making it one of the most culturally impactful rap songs in years.
Lamar’s Most Controversial Lyrical Attacks on Drake
“Not Like Us” gained attention not just for its infectious beat but for its brutal takedowns of Drake, including:
“Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles.”
A direct reference to Drake’s 2021 album “Certified Lover Boy”, the lyric sent shockwaves through the rap community.
Later in the track, Lamar didn’t hold back:
“Your homeboy need subpoena, that predator move in flocks.”
A bar that fueled ongoing speculation and placed Drake under intense scrutiny.
The feud escalated further after Drake’s AI-assisted diss track “Taylor Made Freestyle”, which controversially used AI-generated voices of Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur—a move that many fans viewed as disrespectful to West Coast hip-hop.
Lamar responded in the most memorable way possible—performing “Not Like Us” live five times in a row at his 2024 Juneteenth concert in Los Angeles, making it clear he wasn’t backing down.
Kendrick Lamar’s Next Move: Super Bowl LIX Performance with SZA
With his Grammy triumph fresh in mind, Lamar is now preparing for another massive stage—the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, where he’ll be joined by SZA for what’s expected to be a groundbreaking performance.
As the hip-hop world watches closely, one thing is certain:
Kendrick Lamar just made history—and he’s far from finished. ????????????
