Fact Check: Did Kendrick Lamar confirm that 'Not Like Us' was about Drake?

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A viral post on X is making waves among fans of Kendrick Lamar and Drake by claiming that Lamar finally confirmed what 'Not Like Us' was really about.

The post suggests that Lamar explicitly admitted the chart-topping track was about Drake, reigniting interest in one of hip-hop's biggest rivalries. Let's fact-check the claim.

Claim: Kendrick Lamar confirmed he was talking about Drake on 'Not Like Us'

The rumor originated from an Instagram user named Daily Noud, who posted, "Kendrick Lamar confirms he was talking about Drake on 'Not Like Us'."

The second image in the Instagram post claimed, "A lot of people thought I was talking about someone else so I had to put it to rest." The alleged quote was presented as a statement from Kendrick Lamar about the person he was supposedly dissing in 'Not Like Us.'

The post's caption provided additional context about Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us,' claiming, "Kendrick Lamar released Not Like Us in May 2024 as part of an escalating public dispute with Drake.

Produced by Mustard, the song utilizes a West Coast instrumental paired with direct lyrical accusations directed at Drake and members of his team regarding cultural appropriation and personal behavior."

It also added, "The track achieved immediate commercial dominance, breaking streaming records and securing the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart."

The post concluded, "A companion music video featuring locations in Compton and Los Angeles reinforced the regional themes of the release. The song continued to gain traction through heavy rotation, public performances such as the concert event known as The Pop Out, and widespread cultural discussion that persisted long after the initial release."

The post quickly gained traction online, and several users appeared to believe the claim in the comments. One user wrote, "I'm really glad he clarified, I was so confused." Another joked, "Oh now it makes sense, cuz people were saying he said Say Drake, I thought he said Cedric."

Fact Check: False, no evidence to back the viral claim

The claim is false. The post originated from @DailyNoud, a parody account whose bio clearly states that it is a “PARODY Hip-Hop News” account that posts “These are fake stories.” The account also states that it is not affiliated with legitimate outlets such as @DailyLoud.

The images in the post only show photos of Kendrick Lamar and Drake.

They do not include interview screenshots, quotes, or any evidence supporting the claim. Searches for a 2025 or 2026 interview in which Lamar confirmed that 'Not Like Us' was about Drake yielded no credible results.

No reliable news reports, videos, or interview transcripts support the claim. 'Not Like Us' was already widely understood to be a diss track aimed at Drake. Lamar released the song on May 4, 2024, during his highly publicized feud with the rapper.

The song directly targeted Drake several times, including the line “Say Drake, I hear you like ’em young.” It also references Drake's label, 'Certified Lover Boy,' along with several other references tied to their feud.

Because the song was widely understood to be about Drake upon its release, Lamar did not need to make a later confirmation. Lamar did discuss 'Not Like Us' in an October 2024 interview with SZA for Harper's Bazaar.

He explained the song's broader meaning and said, “the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent… He has morals, he has values… He’s not pandering.” However, he did not mention Drake during the discussion, nor has he made any recent statement confirming the claim in the viral post.