Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Hits 1 Billion Streams Amid Drake’s Legal Battle

Kendrick Lamar’s hit song “Not Like Us” has achieved a major milestone by surpassing 1 billion streams on Spotify. This success comes amid a legal battle between Drake and Universal Music Group (UMG), adding even more attention to the track’s impact.

A Record-Breaking Achievement

“Not Like Us,” released on May 4, 2024, made history as one of Kendrick Lamar’s biggest solo hits. In its first week, the song debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It achieved:

• 70.9 million streams,
• 5 million radio airplay impressions, and
• 15,000 digital sales.

These numbers set a record for the highest first-week streams for a hip-hop song under Billboard’s updated streaming metrics.

The track’s momentum didn’t stop there. When the music video dropped, “Not Like Us” reclaimed the number-one spot on the charts on July 20, 2024. It logged 53.8 million streams, 40 million radio plays, and 8,000 sales that week, making it Kendrick’s longest-running number-one solo hit.

Recently, “Not Like Us” also became Spotify’s most-streamed diss track, beating 2Pac’s legendary “Hit ‘Em Up.” It joined the billion-stream club in just 249 days, one of the fastest times ever recorded.

Drake’s Legal Fight with UMG

While Kendrick celebrated this achievement, controversy brewed around the song. Drake has filed a lawsuit against UMG, accusing the label of promoting defamatory content in “Not Like Us.”

Drake claims the track falsely portrays him as a pedophile and suggests UMG:

• Used bots to boost the song’s streams artificially.
• Engaged in illegal payola to make the song more popular.
• Released the track knowing it could incite violence.

Drake also alleges that the song caused real harm, including a shooting near his home, which he believes put his safety at risk.

UMG has denied these accusations, standing by Kendrick and defending the song as a form of artistic expression.

A Decade-Long Rivalry

The feud between Drake and Kendrick Lamar is nothing new. Their rivalry began in 2013 and has included diss tracks and public insults.

“Not Like Us” has reignited the tension between the two. The song’s lyrics take direct aim at Drake, and its success has brought the feud back into the spotlight.

What This Means for the Music Industry

This legal battle raises important questions about the role of record labels. Should they promote controversial content, even if it may harm their artists’ reputations or safety?

Drake’s lawsuit also highlights concerns about:

• Ethical promotion practices.
• The use of bots or payola in music marketing.
• The limits of artistic freedom versus defamation.

Some legal experts believe Drake’s case will be hard to prove because of free speech protections. However, others think this lawsuit could be a way for Drake to gain leverage in his contract negotiations with UMG.

What’s Next?

As this story unfolds, one thing is clear: “Not Like Us” is more than just a hit song. It’s become a cultural moment that has sparked debates about music, business ethics, and artistic boundaries.

For fans, the billion streams celebrate Kendrick Lamar’s genius. For the industry, this situation serves as a reminder of the thin line between success and controversy.