Kendrick Lamar’s music has always sparked conversation, and his track “Not Like Us” is no exception.

In a recent ranking by Pitchfork, the song was named the third-best track of the decade, yet the complexity and contradictions surrounding it make it a particularly intriguing piece of art.

“Having contradicting feelings about Kendrick Lamar’s music isn’t anything new,” Pitchfork stated, referencing Lamar’s critically acclaimed yet divisive album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers.

However, they note that “Not Like Us” stands out as one of the most intricate rap songs of its time, forcing listeners to reflect on their own musical consumption in a way few chart-toppers ever do.

The cultural impact of “Not Like Us” is undeniable. Like Kendrick’s previous anthem, “Alright” from To Pimp a Butterfly, this track also became deeply embedded in the social and cultural landscape.

Pitchfork compares it to “Alright” but notes that “Not Like Us” took things further, as its title phrase was quickly commodified and adopted into mainstream lexicon.

Initially, the song was a bold celebration of hip-hop culture while taking direct aim at Drake, one of Lamar’s biggest contemporaries. Yet, as Kendrick’s music often does, it soon transcended its original context, eventually catapulting him to major platforms like the Super Bowl halftime show.

However, the commodification of “Not Like Us” has, according to Pitchfork, diluted its initial impact. Despite being a track that encapsulated a sharp critique and declaration of hip-hop identity, its overexposure, including Lamar performing the song five times in a row during an Amazon stream, softened its power.

Pitchfork suggests that, while “Not Like Us” remains an omnipresent rap banger, giving it larger cultural significance now feels somewhat tainted.

Nonetheless, the track continues to live on as a testament to Kendrick Lamar’s ability to blend cultural commentary with compelling music.

Even with the contradictions and the commercialization that followed, “Not Like Us” stands as one of the few modern rap songs to dominate not only the charts but also the broader conversations surrounding the genre.

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