Kendrick Lamar Archives - New Hip Hop News

Kendrick Lamar Explaining What ‘Not Like Us’ Means To Him Might As Well Be More Shots Fired At Drake

October 21, 2024 by newhiphopnews

While Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss song “Not Like Us” has been a massive hit since their dust up this spring, fans have been wrestling with the meaning of its titular phrase all along. Obviously Drake is “not like us,” but just who is “us,” and what are they like? In explaining the title of his hit, K. Dot might as well have fired more shots at his onetime rival.

In an interview with his former TDE labelmate SZA for Harper’s Bazaar, Kendrick was asked to explain “what does ‘Not Like Us’ mean to you?”

“Not like us is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent,” he replied. When asked what kind of man that is, he elaborated, “This man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something. He’s not pandering. He’s a man who can recognize his mistakes and not be afraid to share the mistakes and can dig deep down into fear-based ideologies or experiences to be able to express them without feeling like he’s less of a man.”

All of which implies that he doesn’t think Drake is that kind of person. One day, someone’s got to get the real story on just what transpired between the two rappers that Kendrick was willing to go on such a terror campaign against the Canadian.

Young Thug Attempts To End The Feud Between His ‘Brothers’ Drake, Future, And Metro Boomin From Behind Bars

October 19, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Future Drake Young Thug Summer Sixteen Tour 2016 (1024x437) — Getty Image

From a fiery “tweeters and deleters” call out from Drake to Metro Boomin’s chart-topping response, the pair’s animosity curated an eventful summer for rap fans. Although hip-hop heads enjoyed seeing the back-and-forth spat between the two eventually others joined the feud (both willingly and unintentionally).

Now, Young Thug has inserted himself as the voice of reason. Yesterday (October 18), the “Dope Boy” rapper took to X (formerly Twitter) to call for an end to the rap war. Despite having his hands fuel with the YSL RICO trial, Young Thug penned a message for unity from behind bars.

“Drake, Future, and Metro Boomin we all bruddas,” he wrote. “Music ain’t the same without us collabin.”

Fans chimed in with mixed reactions. Many praised Young Thug for stepping in to mend their relationships.

“Goat squashing beefs behind bars the streets need him,” wrote one user.

“Thugger has spoken! Future and Drake can’t beef. They have too much chemistry and too many hits. The culture is better when they collab,” penned another.

On the other hand, many supporters believe that their feud has gone too far after Metro Boomin accused Drake of being a pedophile.

Still, Future seems to agree with Young Thug’s sentiments. Followers noticed that shortly after the message was uploaded, Future reposted Young Thug’s message. As of today, it doesn’t appear that Metro Boomin or Drake have responded to the Young Thug’s post.

Kendrick Lamar Praised Doechii’s Debut Mixtape, Calling It ‘The Hardest Out’ In A Rare Social Media Post

October 18, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar is famously social media averse, but every so often, he does pop up on the apps when he feels something is important enough to speak on. Apparently, Doechii’s debut mixtape, Alligator Bites Never Heal, is one of those things. The Compton rapper reposted Doechii’s mixtape cover from her post on his Instagram Story, giving his assessment in a simple, three-word caption: “The hardest out.” Kendrick Lamar and Doechii were briefly labelmates on Top Dawg Entertainment.

Kendrick Lamar shows love to Doechii via IG 🫂

"the hardest out 🐊" pic.twitter.com/H5wc8ldKEw

— Kurrco (@Kurrco) October 17, 2024

Kendrick isn’t the only one showing appreciation for Doechii’s multifaceted rap skills. Pop star Katy Perry tapped the Florida rapper for a single from her new album, 143, “I’m His, He’s Mine,” debuting the song during her performance at the 2024 MTV VMAs as she was honored with a Video Vanguard Award. Meanwhile, Doechii’s Alligator Bites Never Heal Tour has been receiving rave reviews on social media for its elaborate staging and polished performance, which she had plenty of opportunity to practice when she opened for Doja Cat’s Scarlet Tour last year.

In addition to giving editorial praise to Doechii on Instagram, Kendrick Lamar also gave her more exposure via his PgLang agency, which cast her in its latest short film for Cash App’s “This Is Money” campaign. In “The Barbershop,” Doechii explains how to make use of interest to ensure that her money is working for her.

You can listen to Alligator Bites Never Heal here, courtesy of Top Dawg Entertainment.

Kendrick Lamar Breaks Instagram Silence To Praise TDE Star Doechii

October 17, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Doechii is having a moment. The TDE rapper dropped one of the most acclaimed albums of the year, Alligator Bites Never Heal, in August. She’s since become the most buzzed-about artist on the label, which is saying a lot for a roster packed with generational talent. Doechii has been making music for a minute, but Alligator Bites has truly been her coming out party. And Kendrick Lamar, of all people, has taken notice. The mysterious member of the Big Three broke his social media silence to heap praise on Doechii via Instagram.

The K. Dot embargo was lifted on October 17. The Compton rapper posted a screenshot of Doechii’s album along with an alligator emoji. It was the caption that came with the emoji, however, that turned heads. Lamar dubbed Doechii “the hardest out” period. For a rapper who has dominated the game in 2024, that’s quite the praise. It’s also further proof that Lamar is a TDE supporter through and through, despite no longer being on the label.

Doechii Dubbed Lamar ‘The Greatest’ In Return

Doechii returned the praise to Kendrick Lamar on her own Instagram profile. She reposted Dot’s caption and added: “Thank you Dot, you the greatest.” The exchange may seem like a moderate deal on its face, but it’s a big deal based on Doechii’s previous comments. The TDE signee went on The Joe Budden Pod and admitted that Lamar is at the top of her dream collaborator list. Budden asked if she expected a Dot guest verse for her album, given the TDE connection, but she clarified that she did not expect anything. She also claimed that wants to refine her artistry further before working with a rapper of Lamar’s level.

“That’s the goal,” Doechii explained. “Eventually I’m gonna ask Top [Dawg] if he could ask Kendrick, or ask Kendrick myself and see what comes from that. But I’ma be real. I don’t think I have the record right now for that opportunity. I think I would have to come a certain way and I don’t think I’m ready for that.” Lamar’s co-sign is certainly a step in the right direction when it comes to locking up a feature from the rapper in the future. We can only hope we don’t have to wait to long to hear Dot and Doechii team up.

[via]

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F1 Team Uses Unreleased Kendrick Lamar Snippet In New Promo Video

October 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The world is still waiting on Kendrick Lamar to drop new music. The Compton set the world on fire with “Not Like Us” and its accompanying video. Those who watched closely, though, know that Dot played a snippet of an unreleased song at the beginning of the video. The snippet was wildly catchy, and featured a sample of a classic 80s single. It’s been months without any update on the snippet, but that didn’t stop the Mercedes F1 team from using it to their advantage. The team weaved the snippet into a social media promo for their drivers.

The video, which was posted on Instagram, sees the Mercedes F1 team in action while Lamar raps. It’s a pretty slick melding of sight and sound. It may seem a bit random, combining racing with rap, but there’s actually a precedent with regards to Kendrick Lamar. Lewis Hamilton, the star driver on Mercedes, posed for a photoshoot in on October 14. The photoshoot saw the driver pose sitting down, front of a white and red flag. It was a striking pose on its own merits, but what really caught fans off guard is the tribute that was being paid to Kendrick Lamar.

Kendrick Lamar Teased The Song In His Last Video

Hamilton’s pose and color scheme was a direct reference to Lamar’s Super Bowl announcement video. The Compton rapper confirmed he was playing the 2025 Halftime Show by posing with a football and sitting in front of a white and red flag. The irony is that Lewis Hamilton was actually linked to Kendrick Lamar’s opponent, Drake, during the start of the beef.

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Ayesha Curry Poses With Drake Affiliate After “Meet The Grahams” Reference

October 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar really put a dent in Drake’s reputation with “Meet the Grahams.” Other disses were more popular, and easier to replay, but the Alchemist-produced single was brutal. Lamar presented a scathing indictment of Drake’s persona and his vices to the world. He also warned famous celebrities to stay away from the 6 God moving forward. These celebs including LeBron James, Steph Curry and their respective families. Which is what makes the recent public appearance by Steph’s wife, Ayesha Curry, so surprising.

Ayesha Curry appeared on the Instagram Story of OVO Mark, a veteran Drake affiliate. The two are seen sitting on the front steps of a house and sipping drinks together. DJ Akademiks took note of this link up and used it to illustrate the fact that Lamar’s advice fell on deaf ears. “OVO Mark with Ayesha Curry,” Ak wrote in the caption. “‘Steph keep the family away’ aging like milk.” Ayesha Curry’s appearance in a bit of a surprise, but those who have kept up with Steph Curry’s comments know that he never turned his back on Drake during the beef.

Ayesha Curry And Steph Curry Continue To Support Drake

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A post shared by Akademiks TV (@djakademikstv)

Steph Curry voiced his annoyance with another Kendrick Lamar diss, “Not Like Us,” during one of the U.S. Olympic Games. He also sang the praises of the 6 God during an interview with GQ. “I’m a big Drake guy. I’ve been for a long time,” he asserted. “I think obviously you know what it is for the rap industry to have that, but I still rock with Drake. Absolutely. Absolutely.” Curry and his former Warriors teammate, Kevin Durant, have continued to show their support for Drake post-battle. Ironically, the NBA star that Drake was closest with, LeBron James, has done the opposite.

LeBron James gushed about “Not Like Us” during the aforementioned video of Curry dismissing the song. He also appeared in the audience during Lamar’s “Pop Out” show on Juneteenth. Drake appears to have taken notice of this lack of support. He unfollowed James on Instagram, along with Lamar and several other celebs on October 1. That friendship seems severed, but the mutual admiration between Drizzy and the Curry family seems very much intact.

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SZA Seemingly Indicates A New Kendrick Lamar Album Is Coming Soon

October 14, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar has had a massive 2024 thanks to his feud with Drake, especially his No. 1 hit diss track “Not Like Us.” Naturally, the situation has fans wondering if Lamar has a new album on the way, to follow 2022’s Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers. Well, some people close to him might just be indicating that he indeed does have a project in the queue.

On October 7, Devin Malik, a Top Dawg Entertainment-affiliated producer who has worked with Lamar, tweeted a celebratory clip of Lamar rapping “Not Like Us” and wrote, “mood cause new k dot album otwwww.” Yesterday (October 13), SZA shared the tweet on her Instagram Story, seemingly indicating she either also knows of a forthcoming Lamar album or is just excited about the prospect.

Adding credence to the rumor is a report from last week, which indicated Lamar is currently organizing a “tour of major stadiums,” which would suggest he’d be touring in support of a new project. The same report claimed Lamar turned down an invitation to headline Coachella in 2025.

Meanwhile, J. Cole recently addressed dipping out of his beef with Lamar on the new song “Port Antonio,” rapping in part, I pulled the plug because I’ve seen where that was ’bout to go / They wanted blood, they wanted clicks to make they pockets grow.”

Top5 Claims He’s Still Doing “Research” To Take Down Kendrick Lamar

October 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Top5 is a Drake ride or die. The Toronto artist was recently released from prison, and the first thing he did was thank Champagne Papi. “Shoutout big bro @champagnepapi for the Lawyer Fees & Gary Grill for being the best lawyer in Toronto,” he wrote on Instagram. Top5 has no problem heaping praise on Drizzy. The one thing he seemingly loves more, though, is going after Drake’s enemy, Kendrick Lamar. Top5 has made some extremely bold statements about Kung Fu Kenny over the last few weeks. And he continued to do so on October 10.

Top5 posted footage of him watching the music video for Lamar’s “Not Like Us.” He uploaded the brief clip to his Instagram Story with the caption: “Still doing my homework.” The specificity of the homework is not made clear, nor is Top5’s intent. Given how much he seemingly hates Lamar, though, the update is not surprising. The Toronto artist recently threatened Lamar with violence during an appearance on Late Night With Liyah Mai. He made it clear that K. Dot is not safe in his neck of the woods. “Tell him come to Toronto. Swiss cheese,” he asserted.

Top5 Previously Threatened To Shoot Kendrick Lamar

Top 5 in bed kick feet up doing his research on Kendrick Lamar pic.twitter.com/q703oCEYJN

— Akademiks TV (@AkademiksTV) October 11, 2024

The threats didn’t stop there. Top5 went into detail with Mai as to how he plans to take down Kendrick Lamar if he ever sees him. “I’ll get the low, put on my Nike tech black,” he claimed. He then, inexplicably, claimed that Lamar’s peer, YG, would help him out. “Tell YG get us a driver, put the window down and get some fresh air.” It was all very aggressive, especially for a beef that has only played out on record. Top5 also included producer Metro Boomin in his offer. Metro, of course, collaborated with Lamar on the song “Like That.”

Hopefully Top5 doesn’t attend 21 Savage’s upcoming birthday party. Drake was invited to the party along with Metro Boomin, marking the first major event that both artists have attended since things popped off. Drake has seemingly made light of this fact on social media. Top5, presumably, will be too busy watching Kendrick Lamar music videos to accompany the 6 God. It’ll be fascinating to see if his research on K. Dot will actually result in some sort of diss record.

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Drake’s Daughter Allegations Seemingly Debunked By Leaked DMs

October 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Drake vs Kendrick Lamar will go down as the rap story of 2024. They are two of the biggest stars the genre has ever seen, and they dropped some scathing disses. None were more scathing that Lamar’s “Meet the Grahams,” however. Over a menacing Alchemist beat, the Compton spitter claimed that his opponent was hiding a second child from the world. A daughter, to be exact, and the internet seemed to track down the alleged daughter in question. Nobody had proof, but Drake had also been caught hiding a child from the public before. Was it true?

Well, according to DM screenshots, the answer is seemingly no. DJ Akademiks posted a screenshot that dates back to July 15, 2018. The DM appears to be sent to Drake from the woman that Lamar’s camp has suggested is the mother of his daughter. The alleged daughter is even mentioned by name. “My baby Eternity is five and she really adores you,” the woman wrote. “Eternity and I have tixs to your your [sic] Los Angeles show and she really just wants to meet you. I will pay anything to make this happen for my five year old please.”

Drake’s 2018 DM Was Posted By DJ Akademiks

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A post shared by DJ Akademiks (@akademiks)

DJ Akademiks neatly summarized the takeaways from this alleged screenshot in his caption. He told followers that there is no way Drake is the father of this woman’s daughter if they had never met prior to 2018. Furthermore, the DM exchange implies that Drake and the woman in question do not know each other at all. “Apparently the woman as of early as 2018 was hitting up Drake to meet him,” Ak explained. “Which makes it impossible he fathered her child.” The hip hop personality also made sure to highlight the fact that Kendrick Lamar and his camp said otherwise.

The legitimacy of Lamar’s claim on “Meet the Grahams” has been a talking point since it dropped. Elliott Wilson of Rap Radar released a version of the song with the verse about the alleged daughter removed. He felt it damaged an otherwise great song, which led to social media tension between Wilson and the TDE camp. DJ Hed, another Lamar affiliate, has gone on record to claim that everything said on “Meet the Grahams” is true. lf. “I mean, he told me everything was facts,” Hed said during his appearance on the Effective Immediately podcast. Somebody’s lying, and this alleged screenshot doesn’t help K. Dot’s case.

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Kendrick Lamar’s “HUMBLE” and Eminem’s “The Real Slim Shady” Enter YouTube Billion View Club

October 11, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kendrick Lamar and Eminem have both achieved new milestones, cementing their legacies in hip-hop. Kendrick Lamar’s Grammy-winning video for “HUMBLE.” has surpassed 1 billion views on YouTube, marking his second visual to hit this milestone after his feature on Travis Scott’s “goosebumps.” Originally released in 2017, “HUMBLE.” remains a defining moment in Lamar’s career, showcasing his artistic vision and lyrical prowess.

At the same time, Lamar’s latest single, “Not Like Us,” continues to dominate the charts, holding the #1 spot on the US Top Songs chart. Fueled by his ongoing lyrical sparring with Drake, the track has also secured the #25 position on the Global Top Songs chart, while Lamar ranks #8 on US Top Artists.

Eminem’s iconic 2000 hit “The Real Slim Shady” has officially joined YouTube’s Billion Views Club, further cementing his status as one of rap’s enduring legends. The video, known for its playful, star-studded visuals, has stood the test of time as a fan favorite.

In addition to this achievement, Eminem continues to chart with three current hits: “Temporary” (#57), “Houdini” (#59), and the JID-assisted “FUEL” (#81) on the US Top Songs chart. His recent success has propelled him to #3 on the US Top Artists chart, highlighting his ongoing influence in the rap world.

Together, these two rap titans continue to dominate both the streaming world and the charts, showcasing their lasting impact on music.

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