Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Wins Big at the Grammys
A Double Win for Lamar
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” became the de facto song of 2024 when it dropped in May, and now it’s a Grammy Award winner. The diss track aimed at rapper Drake topped the Billboard singles charts and crowned Lamar as the victor of the long-simmering beef between the two artists. Lamar is a double Grammy nominee in two categories thanks to another song that fueled the feud: “Like That” by Future and Metro Boomin, which features Lamar. Through his verse in the March track, Lamar rejected the idea that he, Drake, and J. Cole were on the same level. Cole had implied this in a verse in Drake’s 2023 song “First Person Shooter.”
Nominations Galore
Lamar was nominated for five awards for “Not Like Us”: record of the year, song of the year, rap song, rap performance, and music video. During the Grammys Premiere Ceremony Sunday afternoon, the song picked up awards for rap song, rap performance, and music video. It won both song of the year and record of the year in the evening ceremony.
Record of the Year
Lamar beat out stiff competition to take home record of the year, including the Beatles with the AI-concocted song “Now and Then.” Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and producer Giles Martin created the record using a 1980 John Lennon demo recording and AI technology. The category also was crowded with smash hits: Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso,” Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” and Charli XCX’s “360.” Grammy darlings Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish also were nominated for their respective hits of the year, “Fortnight” and “Birds of a Feather.”
Song of the Year
The frontrunner for song of the year was Chappell Roan’s “Good Luck, Babe!,” which the singer co-wrote with Daniel Nigro and Justin Tranter. Lamar also beat fan favorites “Texas Hold ‘Em” (performed by Beyoncé), “Birds of a Feather” (Billie Eilish), “Please, Please, Please” (Sabrina Carpenter), “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (Shaboozey), “Fortnight” (Taylor Swift with Post Malone), and “Die With a Smile” (Bruno Mars and Lady Gaga).
Rap Song and Performance
Lamar took home the award for rap song, besting several artists, including himself. He also was nominated for his collaboration with Future and Metro Boomin for “Like That.” GloRilla, Rapsody with Hit-Boy, Kanye West, and Ty Dolla Sign under the artist name ¥$, and Rich the Kid with Playboi Carti were also nominated.
Music Video
For the video he shot in his hometown of Compton, Lamar took home the Grammy for music video. Fellow rappers Eminem and ASAP Rocky were nominated for “Houdini” and “Tailor Swif.” And Swift herself was nominated, as was Charli XCX, for “Fortnight” and “360,” respectively.
Conclusion
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” has cemented its place in music history with its double win at the Grammys. The song’s impact on the music industry is undeniable, and its success is a testament to Lamar’s skill as an artist.
FAQs
Q: What song did Kendrick Lamar win for at the Grammys?
A: Lamar won for “Not Like Us” in the categories of song of the year and record of the year.
Q: Who did Lamar beat to win record of the year?
A: Lamar beat out stiff competition, including the Beatles, Beyoncé, Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan, and Charli XCX.
Q: Who was Lamar nominated alongside for “Like That”?
A: Lamar was nominated alongside Future and Metro Boomin for “Like That.”
Q: What was the theme of “Not Like Us”?
A: The theme of “Not Like Us” was a diss track aimed at rapper Drake.
