Released on May 4, 2024, through Interscope Records, "Not Like Us" was Lamar's fifth installment in his series of diss tracks directed at Drake, premiering less than 20 hours after his previous single "Meet the Grahams".

Primarily produced by Mustard, with additional work from Sounwave and Sean Momberger, "Not Like Us" is a hyphy-influenced West Coast hip hop song composed of a prominent bassline with lively strings and finger snaps.

Lyrically, it continues the themes first introduced in "Meet the Grahams" by doubling down on allegations of Drake's pedophilia and sexual misconduct, while also criticizing his cultural identity and relationships with artists based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Tensions escalated in March 2024, following Lamar's surprise appearance on Future and Metro Boomin's single "Like That", which was perceived as a diss aimed at Drake and J. Cole over their track "First Person Shooter".

Less than an hour later, Lamar responded with "Meet the Grahams", which described Drake as an alleged sexual predator who runs a sex trafficking ring inside of his Toronto mansion, known as the Embassy, while fathering a secret daughter.

[4] The single's cover art shows a bird's-eye-view of Drake's Toronto mansion from a Google Maps screenshot with 13 red markers placed on its roof, symbolizing the presence of registered sex offenders.

[10] Several elements of its production, including the "stirring" violins, piano and brass instruments, were taken from samples of Monk Higgins's 1968 rendition of "I Believe to My Soul", a cover of Ray Charles's 1961 composition.

[12] With contributions from Sounwave and Sean Momberger,[12] Mustard produced "Not Like Us" in about 30 minutes by speeding up the sample's tempo to create a "relentless" and "urgent" atmosphere.

[17] Using various metaphors and allusions to his native Southern California, Lamar then dives into a barrage of attacks targeting Drake's alleged inappropriate sexual behavior with minors.

[5] He uses his previous collaborations with Future, Lil Baby, 21 Savage, Young Thug, Quavo and 2 Chainz as examples of him forming "calculated strategies" over "authentic connections".

He praised how the "banger" summoned Mustard's "raucous, party-starting homegrown energy" to deliver Lamar's "haymaker" that both out-strategized Drake and celebrated their West Coast upbringings.

[11] Professional wrestler Shawn Michaels appreciated that his Sweet Chin Music finisher was mentioned in the song and invited Lamar and Drake to settle their differences at a WWE NXT program.

[31] Jordan Rose of Complex declared "Not Like Us" as the best track released during Lamar and Drake's feud due to its electric tone and "contagious" production, although much of the lyrics are "very questionable".

Salamishah Tillet of The New York Times opined that while the message of "Not Like Us" may seem to attack Drake's biracial identity, its popularity has inspired a broad assortment of interracial interpretations.

[38] Rolling Stone's Andre Gee believes the song is a "rally against perpetrators who shifted hip-hop from a Black and brown community with culturally understood modes of being into an at-times parodic circus.

"[39] The Triibe's Mark P. Braboy expanded on Gee's sentiments by applying the song's message to "culture vultures" in hip hop journalism who have built their platforms off of their exploitation of Black trauma.

[79] In October 2024, "Not Like Us" broke the record set by "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X featuring Billy Ray Cyrus for the most weeks spent atop the Hot Rap Songs chart.

[113] A number of celebrities made cameo appearances in the music video, including Jay Rock, Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, Terrence "Punch" Henderson, Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr., Mustard, Dave Free, Tommy the Clown and the Hip Hop Clowns, Charm La'Donna, DeMar DeRozan, YG, Roddy Ricch, Steve Lacy, JasonMartin, Thundercat, Brandon T. Jackson, Hit-Boy and his father Big Hit, Storm DeBarge, Kida the Great, and Taiwan Williams, among others.

[115] Lamar completes seventeen push-ups on four cinder blocks—a response to Drake ordering him to "drop and give me fifty" on "Push Ups"—in a bedroom with strong similarities to a prison cell.

[97][126] Vinson Cunningham of The New Yorker thought that the video's Independence Day release was a "jingoistic move" that draws a "bright line" along the Canada–United States border.

[127] Entertainment Weekly observed the inclusion of new music in the intro to the video, noting fan speculation that it was to be included in Lamar's potential next studio album.

[106] GQ appreciated Lamar's choice of fashion style in the video, pointing out that his wearing of a Prada suit and multiple Martine Rose track jackets reinforced a claim that he made a year ago that he "is the best-dressed MC in rap".

His attorneys accused UMG of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and using deceptive business practices and false advertising.

[133] UMG stated in response that the allegations were "offensive and untrue", that they would "never do anything to undermine" any artist signed to the label, and that "fans choose the music they want to hear".

[134][135] Drake later filed a second petition against UMG under Texas law claiming defamation by failing to halt the release of a song "falsely accusing him of being a sex offender."

[155] Spiro Vovos, who owns the Tam's Burgers chain, later clarified that it was more of a surge in foot traffic and content creators visiting the location; the sales influx mostly occurred as the video was being filmed.

[161] Several musicians, such as Isaiah Rashad,[162] Janet Jackson,[163] Megan Thee Stallion,[164] and T-Pain,[165] have incorporated "Not Like Us" in their live performances; while others including DaBaby,[166] Remble,[167] Montana of 300,[168] and Kevin Hart shared freestyles.

Democratic figures including vice president Kamala Harris,[177] representative Jasmine Crockett,[178] mayor of Baltimore Brandon Scott,[179] attorney general of Illinois Kwame Raoul,[180] and a protest against Donald Trump in Chicago used the song's chorus as a political metaphor to criticize the president-elect and members of the Republican Party.

[181][182][183] Sports journalist Bomani Jones argued that the song influenced a shift in campaign messaging on "every side",[184] suggesting a parallel with politicians like Tim Walz, the governor of Minnesota, publicly branding Trump, his running mate JD Vance, and other Republicans as "weird".

[196] The social media accounts of the Argentina national football team used the song's title to mock Drake after he lost a $300,000 bet in favor of Canada during the semifinals of the 2024 Copa América.