The 2024 ESPY Awards went down last night (July 11), and even there, at a sports event he didn’t attend, Drake was not safe. He’s had a target on his back ever since the Kendrick Lamar feud and success of the “Not Like Us” diss track, and ESPYs host Serena Williams took her shot.
What Did Serena Williams Say About Drake At The 2024 ESPYs?
During her monologue, Williams said, “If I’ve learned anything this year, it’s that none of us, not even me, should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.” A brief clip of “Not Like Us” then played over the PA and Williams did a bit of dancing. She continued, “He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake sits courtside at a [Toronto] Raptors game, they’re going to Forest Gump him: ‘Seat’s taken.’”
Serena Williams crip waking to ‘Not Like Us’ and clowning Drake on stage at the ESPYs pic.twitter.com/y3CUZGmYWO
Meanwhile, Eminem just addressed Lamar and some other rappers on his new album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), saying on “Renaissance,” “Now just travel inside the mind of a hater / ‘Cause I don’t see no fans, all I see’s a bunch of complainers / ‘Kendrick’s album was cool but it didn’t have any bangers’ / ‘Wayne’s album or Ye’s, couldn’t tell you which one was lamer’ / ‘Joyner’s album was corny, Shady’s new sh*t is way worse’ / ‘Everything is either too tame or there’s too much anger’ / ‘I didn’t like the beef so I hated Might Delete Later‘ / You nerdy pricks would find something wrong with 36 Chambers.”
Eminem’s new album, The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), has only been out for 30 minutes, but it’s already causing controversy — just not in the way you might think. While listening to the album’s first song, “Renaissance,” has lyrics dissing another rapper who is currently riding high on the wave of a recent battle: Kendrick Lamar.
Eminem’s been known for lashing out at his peers on record, and K Dot easily falls into that category. Certainly, Em does name check the younger rapper… But does he actually DISS Kendrick Lamar on The Death Of Slim Shady?
Sorry to those fans who think so, but he’s just mocking the “mind of a hater.” Check out the full sequence below:
Now just travel inside the mind of a hater
‘Cause I don’t see no fans, all I see’s a bunch of complainers
“Kendrick’s album was cool but it didn’t have any bangers”
“Wayne’s album or Ye’s, couldn’t tell you which one was lamer”
“Joyner’s album was corny, Shady’s new shit is way worse”
“Everything is either too tame or there’s too much anger”
“I didn’t like the beat so I hated Might Delete Later”
You nerdy pricks would find somethin’ wrong with 36 Chambers
As you can see, the seemingly combative lyric is coming from this imagined hater (some might say straw man) within the context of the lyrics. Maybe all the pugilistsic energy of the election year has fans up in arms, but as it turns out, for once, Em is actually defending the people he’s name checking. He also drops a slew of classic rap acts’ names in the verse, but we’ll have to see how many of his fans actually catch those — y’know since they “don’t really listen to rap, but love Eminem.” Y’all ain’t low.
The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) is out now via Shady Records/Aftermath/Interscope. You can find more info here.
Eminem’s twelfth studio album, The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce), has arrived. However, anyone preparing to clutch their pearls at his latest round of raunchy, offensive humor might end up surprised. Rather than offending, Em opens the album defending fellow lyrical stalwarts like Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, and his protege Joyner Lucas.
On album intro “Renaissance,” Eminem opts for more of a tongue-in-cheek jab at haters of his lyrical brothers-in-rhyme — a move some might call a bit of a departure from his usual provocation.
Now just travel inside the mind of a hater
‘Cause I don’t see no fans, all I see’s a bunch of complainers
“Kendrick’s album was cool but it didn’t have any bangers”
“Wayne’s album or Ye’s, couldn’t tell you which one was lamer”
“Joyner’s album was corny, Shady’s new shit is way worse”
“Everything is either too tame or there’s too much anger”
“I didn’t like the beef so I hated Might Delete Later”
You nerdy pricks would find somethin’ wrong with 36 Chambers
Eminem likes to name drop. He always litters his verses with contemporary artists, whether it be in the form of praise or mockery. He poked fun at Megan Thee Stallion on his single “Houdini,” for example. On the opening song to his new album, however, Em name drops a handful of legendary artists. He cites the most recent work they released, and undermines the criticism they’ve gotten from fans. In the rapper’s estimation, someone like Kendrick Lamar should be getting even more respect for the caliber of music he’s making.
“Renaissance” isn’t a particularly long song, but it sets the tone for The Death of Slim Shady. Eminem uses dense wordplay to illustrate how insane he (or rather, Slim Shady) is. As the song reaches its end, though, he decides to speak up for his peers. Kendrick Lamar is the first name on his list. “‘Cause I don’t see no fans, all I see’s a bunch of complainers,” he raps. He then proceeds to assume the perspective of said complainers, and make statements that he’s vehemently against. “‘Kendrick’s album was cool but it didn’t have any bangers,’” he mockingly adds. “‘Wayne’s album or Ye’s, couldn’t tell you which one was lamer.’”
Eminem has made his admiration for Kendrick Lamar clear in the past. The two rappers collaborated on the 2013 song “Love Game,” and Em has labeled him a “top tier lyricist” on multiple occasions. Eminem was also vocal in his adoration for Lamar’s polarizing album, Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers. The same album that “didn’t have any bangers,” according to Eminem’s designated “complainers. Em tweeted that he was absolutely floored by Mr. Morale shortly after it dropped in 2022. “This Kendrick album is f*cking ridiculous,” he wrote. “I’m speechless.”
Kendrick Lamar has returned the praise. During a 2016 interview with GQ, the Compton rapper claimed that Eminem was one of his biggest influences. He cited Em’s 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP, in particular. “The day I heard The Marshall Mathers LP, I was just like, How does that work,” he explained. “His time is impeccable. When he wants to fall off the beat, it’s impeccable. These are [the] things that, through experience and time, I had to learn… I got my clarity just studying Eminem.” Talent recognizes talent.
In 2016, Drake hosted the ESPYs. He was praised for his performance and comedic timing. In 2024, however, Serena Williams made the ESPYs an anti-Drake affair. The tennis superstar took the stage during the event and addressed the elephant in the room. She was referenced (positively) in the diss track “Not Like Us,” and she gave the love right back to Kendrick Lamar by dancing to the stage in the middle of her speech. Serena Williams also suggested that Drake is going to have a difficult time living the song down.
Serena Williams was the host for the 2024 ESPYS, so the chances were high that she was going to make a joke about the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle. She didn’t waste any time. “If I’ve learned anything this year,” she noted. “Its that none of us should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar…” The song “Not Like Us” then kicked in, and Williams danced while the crowd looked on in delight. The real blow was dealt after the song came to an end, though. Serena Williams then used Drake as an example of what can happen when someone challenges K. Dot. “He will make your hometown not like you,” she explained. “The next time Drake sits courtside at a Raptors game, they’re gonna Forest Gump him, seats taken…”
Serena Williams And Drake Were Romantically Linked For Years
Serena Williams just crip walked at the ESPY Awards to ‘Not Like Us’ making fun of Drake
“and if I’ve learned anything this year, its that none of us should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar… he will make your hometown not like you, the next time Drake sits courtside at a… pic.twitter.com/KAwTdm4uWR
Serena Williams and Drake have a complicated personal history. They were seen together throughout 2011, which is when rumors swirled that the two were dating. Their friendship lasted several years, and the two allegedly left the 2015 US Open semi-finals together. Williams and Drake ended their friendship sometime before 2017, as the former married Alexis Ohanian and welcomed a child. Drake is believed to address the split in the song “Nothings Into Somethings.” The rapper also took aim at Ohanian in “Middle of the Ocean” from 2022. “Sidebar,” he raps. “Serena, your husband a groupie. He claim we don’t got a problem but. No, boo, it is like you comin’ for sushi.”
Serena Williams wasn’t a fan of Drake’s bars. Neither was Kendrick Lamar, evidently. He blasted Drake for talking badly about the tennis icon on the aforementioned “Not Like Us.” The bond between K. Dot and Williams tracks, given their shared Compton upbringing. “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither,” Dot spits. “From Alondra down to Central, n**ga better not speak on Serena.” Drake’s trash-talking came back to haunt him, and Williams just handed him another embarrassing moment on a stage he once dominated.
Kendrick Lamar’s metaphorical beatdown of Drake was so bad, it’s still getting referenced months later in all kinds of contexts outside of hip-hop. For instance, Ken’s fellow Comptonite, Serena Williams, name-dropped him while dancing to his song “Not Like Us” during her monologue as host of the 2024 ESPY Awards.
“If there’s anything I’ve learned this year,” she joked, “it’s that none of us — not even me — should ever pick a fight with Kendrick Lamar.” The show’s DJ took the opportunity to play a clip of the song, allowing Williams the chance to reference one of her own viral moments and do a little C-walk before continuing, “He will make your hometown not like you. The next time Drake is at a Toronto Raptors game, they’re going to Forest Gump him,” she laughed, launching into an approximation of the country bumpkin accent of that film’s protagonist’s bullies. “‘Seat’s taken.’”
Serena Williams crip waking to ‘Not Like Us’ and clowning Drake on stage at the ESPYs pic.twitter.com/y3CUZGmYWO
It wasn’t the first time she’s referenced the song recently. During a panel at the 2024 Essence Fest, she called “Not Like Us’ the song of the summer (prompting Uproxx’s own Derrick Rossignol to take a swing at identifying all the candidates for that honor). “I love that song,” she said. “It’s like the hit of the summer. When they play that jam, I’m jamming.”
Poor Drake. It wasn’t too long ago, that he was the only makin’ ’em laugh at the ESPYs. Live long enough, you will become the villain (although, again, he brought all this on himself).
The Compton star’s alleged disconnect from the world, which became a trademark of sorts for him, also led to a disconnect with Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha fans who demand their stars to be ever-present and at the top of their to keep their crown. Two years later, Lamar finds himself in the good graces of these young fans following his win in the epic, rapid-fire rap battle against Drake. Through his diss tracks, especially “Not Like Us,” Lamar not only reconnected with the world and remained present, but he also proved that he always had his ears to the streets.
For example, in the “Not Like Us” video, Lamar references a Drake TikTok dance video — something a rapper who goes “months without a phone” wouldn’t notice. In the end, it made for an entertaining war that also made Lamar a more appealing figure for Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha rap fans who had yet to connect with him.
When Lamar announced Morale, he did so by quoting a tweet by self-labeled “hip-hop enthusiast” SK (@raptalksk) who claimed that “Kendrick Lamar is officially retired” due to the lengthy absence fans endured before the album’s release. SK, a college freshman at the time of that tweet, captured the general sentiment of Gen-Z and Alpha rap fans who’d yet to see Lamar be the star that their elders claimed he was. Lamar wasn’t as active and ever-present as his contemporaries – Drake and J. Cole – or modern-day stars like Travis Scott, Future, and Young Thug, nor was his music universally loved like the aforementioned names.
Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha rap fans live in an era where their favorite entertainment is readily and consistently available, and new editions quickly arrive to replace the previous ones. In the past decade, Lamar didn’t care to cater to their desires, but in his battle with Drake, Lamar prioritized their interests knowing that it was key to beating his opponent.
Unlike any other time in his career, Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha rap fans became Kendrick Lamar’s main audience during the height of his beef with Drake. “Not Like Us,” Lamar’s final entry in the battle, is a joyful dance on Drake’s metaphorical grave and a victory lap that mocks the rapper with comedic vitriol, a perfect delivery for Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha fans. Lines like “Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A minor” and “Freaky-ass n****, he a 69 God” and the “OVOHoe” chant quickly became rallying cries in young fans’ newfound love for Lamar in the mainstream world. With “Not Like Us,” Lamar successfully recruited a new generation of rap fans who’d failed to appreciate him as one of rap’s elites. It’s the same crowd that Drake typically catered to with his music, especially that of the past half-decade.
It was a smart move from Lamar who is just two years removed from the mixed reception Morale received. Yes, the album topped the charts and went on to win a Grammy for Best Rap Album the following year, but it wasn’t held in the same regard by this young generation. It extended a streak of difficulty Lamar had in roping in Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha.
To Pimp A Butterfly, arguably his best album, is often deemed his worst by this young crowd. DAMN. trended in the right direction, but Morale erased that progress – not that Lamar desired to go out of his way and recruit this crowd. That changed with “Not Like Us.” Lamar reportedly removed copyright claims on the song for a limited time which allowed streamers – mostly made up of Gen-Z and Alpha members – to freely use the record for any content they desired, even commercial purposes.
Just like that, “Not Like Us” skyrocketed to the top of the charts and entered itself into the song of the summer conversation while becoming the biggest hit of Lamar’s career. To this day, videos with the song continue to go viral on social media. Whether it be at clubs, birthday parties, other artists’ concerts, in weather reports, or Twitch streams from this generation’s favorite streamers, “Not Like Us” has become inescapable. It’s a successful move by Lamar pulled right from Drake’s playbook as the Toronto native employed the same tactics with his Meek Mill diss track “Back To Back.”
Lamar pushed the agenda further by performing the song five consecutive times at his The Pop Out — Ken & Friends show before releasing an epic music video for the song three weeks later. The same Kendrick Lamar who would release an album, drop music videos, and go on tour, before retreating to his Compton cave, is now outside and in the face of everyone willing and unwilling to watch just as the young generation called for him to be.
“Not Like Us” and Kendrick Lamar’s rap beef with Drake placed the star right back in the good graces of young rap fans. How long Lamar will be there remains unknown, but at the very least, their eyes are on him as they await his next move. Rumors of new music on the way from Lamar have picked up steam by the day as some hint at a massive “Not Like Us” remix while others point the rapper’s sixth album is on the way.
The latter seems to be the most likely as the “Not Like Us” video begins with a brief preview of an unreleased song complete with thumping, bass-rattling production that Lamar glides over with a catchy flow. The preview was met with support from all generations as they begged Lamar to release the song. This is all a result of “Not Like Us,” a record that unlocked the Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha rap fan generations for Kendrick Lamar who will have his biggest audience yet for the most anticipated era of his career.
The American public is more invested in the ongoing Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef than the upcoming presidential election. Unlike the upcoming presidential election, however, the Drake-Kendrick beef has a clear winner. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” ostensibly ended it, but the “Not Like Us” victory lap is relentless.
Now, even Siri has chosen a side — emphasizing the certified loser of this rap rapture.
HipHopDX’s Jeremy Hecht recorded himself asking Siri to play Drake’s Certified Lover Boy on Spotify, and instead, Kendrick Lamar whispers, “Psst, I see dead people,” which is the intro to “Not Like Us.”
As is my journalistic duty, I also asked Siri to play Certified Lover Boy, Drake’s September 2021 album, on Spotify, and Siri played “Not Like Us.” However, the second time I tried it, Siri did play Certified Lover Boy, so it would appear that Siri’s pettiness is limited to one attempt — or Spotify corrected the glitch. Hilarious, nonetheless.
“I mean, love Drake, love Drake, you always could play him,” DeRozan told Fox 40’s Sean Cunningham in response to whether Drake songs can be played during his games with the Sacramento Kings, his new team. “Kendrick’s been a friend of mine — family, damn near family for a long time, for a while. We from the same city, grew up damn near in the same neighborhood. So, it’s always been there. It hasn’t always been publicized, but that’s basically family.”
DeMar DeRozan is team Kendrick Lamar. It was clear from the moment he appeared on stage during Lamar’s “Pop Out” show. He danced alongside Russell Westbrook while Lamar performed the ubiquitous “Not Like Us” five times in a row. If DeRozan’s allegiance wasn’t clear enough, he appeared in the music video for the song as well. He sided with his Compton brethren, which didn’t take much explaining. That being said, the NBA superstar shed light on his decision during a recent interview.
DeMar DeRozan went on FOX 40 Sports to discuss his involvement in the music video. He made it clear that he has nothing against Drake, but he was always going to align with K. Dot when it came time for a battle. “Love Drake, always can play him,” he told the reporter. When it came to Kendrick Lamar, though, there was a different level of loyalty. “Kendrick been a friend of mine. Damn near family,” DeRozan stated. “We both from the same city. Grew up damn near in the same neighborhood, it’s always been there.”
DeRozan also conceded that the closeness of his friendship with Lamar may not have been common knowledge prior to the battle. “It hasn’t always been publicized,” he noted. “But that’s basically family.” DeMar DeRozan occupies an even more interesting role in the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar battle than it initially seems. He was drafted by the Toronto Raptors and spent a decade playing for the team that Drake is a global ambassador for. The All-Star even appeared in comedy sketch with Drake (and Will Ferrell) during the 2016 ESPYS.
The Toronto connection, coupled with the Compton origins, made DeMar DeRozan a prime point of reference for Kendrick Lamar during the battle. Consequently, the rapper mentions DeRozan on the second verse of “Not Like Us.” “I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither,” K. Dot raps. “From Alondra down to Central, n**ga better not speak on Serena.” While it’s hard to imagine a friendship between Drake and DeRozan anytime soon, at least the latter showed love during his interview.
DJ Quik is a Hall of Fame artist. He’s a G-funk pioneer and a production wizard. He’s also a proud Los Angeles native. Quik was absolutely blown away by Kendrick Lamar’s “Pop Out” concert on Juneteenth, despite not being present. He praised K. Dot during a recent interview with AllHipHop. He also admitted, though, that watching the “Pop Out” show was a bittersweet experience. So bittersweet, in fact, that he claims that he actually cried while it was happening.
DJ Quik’s absence was not by design. The rapper would have attended, but he was on tour with fellow West Coast stars Problem and Snoop Dogg. The trio tried to chart a flight back to LA to attend, but Quik said that it proved to be a logistical nightmare. “Snoop tried to fly us back for the Pop Out,” he told the outlet. “He tried to charter a jet and it didn’t work out logistically because we would have missed our show… But we sat there steaming. I was steaming.” The reason Quick was steaming was two-fold. One, he was missing the “Pop Out” show. Two, and perhaps most ironically, he was stranded in Canada, the home of Kendrick’s enemy: Drake.
These two things in tandem proved to be too much for DJ Quik. He shed tears of happiness over what Lamar did, but also tears of sadness given his circumstances. “I was knee deep in Canada when all that unity happened,” he noted. “I cried myself to sleep that night in the dumb-a*s Hilton hotel looking at you guys… started hating. What did I tell you?” Quik wasn’t the only who regretted missing the show, though. Snoop Dogg, who appeared on Lamar’s classic album To Pimp a Butterfly, raved about the concert on social media.
“Sending a big shout out to K. Dot and all the homies from the West that stood together unified,” he told his followers. The IG video was recorded in the same Canada hotel that a bereft DJ Quik fell asleep in the day prior. Still, Snoop kept it positive. “That was beautiful,” he asserted. “That was fun to watch. Beautiful to see all my peoples come together. And K. Dot – you are the King of the West.” A sentiment that DJ Quik would likely agree with.
pic.twitter.com/y3CUZGmYWO
(@mosthiphop) 
