Why Kendrick Lamar’s Savage ‘Not Like Us’ Could Pop Out At the Grammys

A celebratory mood usually prevails on Grammy night. Artists dance to their fellow stars’ rousing performances; epic speeches abound; cameras catch meme-worthy moments. And when it comes to the songs most likely to win trophies, diss tracks aren’t what come to mind.

But this year, there’s Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” — the savage climax of his epic beef this spring with Drake, which despite its barbed bars became an ebullient summer anthem, blaring through car speakers and soundtracking block parties and barbecues. It’s also a contender for song and record of the year nominations — and if it wins on Grammy night, it could well bring that same energy to the evening’s festivities.

Recording Academy president/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. admitted as much in June, a few weeks after the song was released. “It’s a hot record,” he told TMZ. “It’s amazing artistry, great writing. The talent on that record is incredible. And you got artists that have been nominated before, and Kendrick has been successful with the organization, so I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be.”

A lyrical masterpiece, “Not Like Us” shattered streaming records and became Lamar’s fourth No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. And notwithstanding its severe allegations against Drake (“Tryna strike a chord and it’s probably A-Minor”), it is indeed Grammy-eligible.

“I think the voting members of the academy appreciate greatness,” Mason added in June. “They appreciate what’s hot, what’s going on. That’s a relevant record that’s impacting on so many levels. So much creativity and talent. I like to believe that the academy members recognize that and vote appropriately.”

If “Not Like Us” earns major nominations, it certainly wouldn’t be without precedent. In 2015, Drake’s “Back to Back,” a diss track aimed at Meek Mill, was nominated for best rap performance (in a now-ironic turn of events, he lost to Lamar’s “Alright”). In 1992, LL COOL J and Kool Moe Dee engaged in a heated battle, with the former emerging victorious after he released “Mama Said Knock You Out” — which then won the Grammy for best rap solo performance.

The Grammys have rewarded artists from outside hip-hop for their subtle (or not-so-subtle) digs, too. In late 2002, Justin Timberlake released his second solo single, “Cry Me a River,” a pointed chronicle of a breakup calling out an ex for cheating, with a music video starring a dead ringer for Timberlake’s own high-profile ex, Britney Spears. (In her 2023 memoir, Spears finally told her side of the story, accusing him of cheating on her multiple times.) At the 2004 ceremony, “Cry Me a River” won Timberlake the Grammy for best male pop vocal performance, edging out veteran competitors like Sting and Michael McDonald.

In some cases, pop smashes that clearly signal their diss intentions in their titles have also garnered Grammy attention. Taylor Swift’s 2014 hit “Bad Blood” — whose remix happened to feature Lamar — was allegedly inspired by her fractured friendship with Katy Perry. The song topped the Hot 100 and won best music video at the 2016 Grammys. Gwen Stefani has said that when Courtney Love called her a “cheerleader” in a 2004 interview, it inspired her classic “Hollaback Girl,” which was then nominated for best female pop vocal performance, though it ultimately lost to Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone.”

While “Not Like Us” proved decisive in Lamar and Drake’s long-winded feud, and seems the likeliest award contender of the four dis tracks he released within one month, sources tell Billboard it might not be the only one to garner Grammy attention: The rap categories may also recognize his “Euphoria.” For Lamar — a 17-time Grammy winner who has had years where he has won multiple awards in one night — it doesn’t seem out of the question. As for Drake — who himself has five Grammys, including for wins where he bested Lamar — the rapper has had a fraught relationship with the awards of late, even famously boycotting the Grammys following The Weeknd’s snub in 2022. And cultural momentum appears to be on Lamar’s side — meaning that come February, Compton could enjoy yet another victory lap.

This story appears in the Oct. 5, 2024, issue of Billboard.