In a night filled with electrifying performances and high-profile guest appearances, Kendrick Lamar hosted a monumental concert at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The event, intended as a show of unity for the West Coast rap fraternity, featured more than 20 musicians, including Dr. Dre, Roddy Ricch, Ty Dolla $ign, Tyler The Creator, and Steve Lacy.
Highlight of the Night: Not Like Us
The undisputed highlight of the evening was the live debut of Lamar’s new song Not Like Us, a scathing diss track aimed at Canadian rapper Drake. The track, which marked the culmination of their long-standing feud, was performed five times, each rendition more intense than the last, driven by the audience’s enthusiasm.
“Y’all ain’t gonna let nobody disrespect the West Coast, huh?” Lamar asked the crowd, who roared in agreement. He continued, “Oh y’all ain’t gonna let nobody mock or imitate our legends, huh?” referring to Drake’s controversial use of AI-generated vocals of Tupac and Snoop Dogg in his song Taylor Made Freestyle.
Long-Running Feud
Lamar’s feud with Drake has been simmering for years but reached new heights in April and May as both artists exchanged barbs through their music. Drake, a mainstream pop-rap icon, accused Lamar of selling out and mocked his height while also making unfounded allegations of domestic violence. In response, Lamar criticized Drake’s music as predictable and suggested he had issues with gambling and drugs. Not Like Us further escalated the feud with accusations of cultural appropriation and unverified claims about Drake’s personal life, which Drake denied.
Concert Details
The concert, titled “The Pop Out: Ken And Friends,” opened with sets by DJ Hed and DJ Mustard, who paid tribute to the late Nipsey Hussle. Lamar hit the stage at 6:30 pm, kicking off with another Drake diss track, Euphoria, which included a new lyric about a ring once owned by Tupac Shakur, purchased by Drake for over $1 million.
Lamar performed a mix of his biggest hits, including DNA, Alright, Swimming Pools (Drank), and King Kunta. He was joined by Schoolboy Q, Ab-Soul, and Jay Rock from the hip-hop supergroup Black Hippy to perform M.A.A.D. City and That Part. The set also featured Lamar’s verse from the Future and Metro Boomin’ track Like That, which had sparked this year’s feud.
Dr. Dre and Grand Finale
West Coast rap legend Dr. Dre made a surprise appearance, hyping up the crowd for the debut of Not Like Us by whispering its opening line, “I see dead people.” The excitement was palpable, with the crowd chanting the song’s lyrics throughout the night. By the final performance, nearly 30 people, including YG, Steve Lacy, Schoolboy Q, Big Boy, G Perico, DJ Mustard, and basketball stars Russell Westbrook and DeMar DeRozan, joined Lamar on stage.
A Message of Unity
The concert, streamed live on Amazon Music, ended with Lamar expressing a message of unity. “This is unity, y’all just don’t know man,” he told the crowd, dedicating the show to friends and musicians lost to violence. “Everybody on this stage got fallen soldiers. For all of us to be together, that [expletive] is special. We put this together with peace… I promise this won’t be the last of us.”
As the fans exited the arena, an instrumental version of Not Like Us played, bringing the night to a powerful close.
Kendrick Lamar’s concert was not just a musical event but a significant cultural moment, highlighting solidarity within the often-fractured Los Angeles hip-hop scene. By addressing his feud with Drake head-on and celebrating the unity of West Coast artists, Lamar delivered a performance that will be remembered for years to come.
