Kendrick Lamar's scathing diss track-turned-mega hit, "Not Like Us," has reached a monumental milestone of 1 billion streams on Spotify. Amid a fiery rivalry with fellow rapper Drake, this critically lauded anthem has secured its place within Spotify's esteemed Billions Club, a prestigious circle reserved for tracks that have surpassed the billion-stream mark. Joining an elite group that boasts names like The Weeknd, Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, and Tyler, the Creator, Lamar's track stands as a testament to its widespread appeal and cultural resonance.
"Not Like Us" is part of a series of diss tracks Lamar unleashed against Drake, the Certified Lover Boy artist. Prior to its release, Lamar dropped "euphoria," followed closely by "meet the grahams" just a day before "Not Like Us" hit the airwaves. This song quickly emerged as one of 2024's biggest sensations, dominating the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks and topping the Hot Rap Songs chart for an impressive 20 weeks. Garnering five Grammy Award nominations, including nods for Song and Record of the Year, "Not Like Us" transcended its origin as a mere diss track, evolving into an international anthem that resonated deeply within diverse cultures.
At the heart of a defamation lawsuit filed by Drake against Universal Music Group (UMG), the shared record label of both artists, lies "Not Like Us." The lawsuit alleges that UMG "approved, published, and orchestrated a viral campaign for a rap track" intended to falsely portray Drake as a criminal pedophile and incite vigilante justice among the public. In November, Drake's Frozen Moments company petitioned a New York court, accusing UMG of "manipulating streaming services and airwaves, including using bots and pay-to-play agreements, to propel 'Not Like Us' into viral fame." Both Spotify and UMG have categorically denied these allegations, with the record label branding them as "offensive and untrue."
Spotify issued a statement following the petition, emphatically stating, "UMG and Spotify have never entered into any agreement where UMG provided 'Not Like Us' at a 30% discount in exchange for Spotify positively recommending the track, including to users searching for other songs and artists." This statement underscores the complex dynamics at play within the music industry, where the boundary between art and commerce blurs, and where the pursuit of viral success can sometimes lead to legal disputes.
