According to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., Kendrick Lamar’s song “Not Like Us” is eligible for a Grammy.
Mason lauded the song in a recent interview with TMZ and hinted that it could win a Grammy. “Clearly, it’s a hot record. “It’s amazing artistry,” he said. “You have an artist that has previously been nominated, and [Lamar] has clearly been successful with the organization. I don’t see why it shouldn’t be.
Despite being a diss, which is not a regular nomination for the coveted award, “Not Like Us” topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart and sold well over one million copies. Mason even downplayed any concerns about how the track’s hostile lyrics would harm its chances. “I believe the voting members of the academy appreciate greatness.”
On the song, Lamar most notably accused Drake of being a “certified pedophile” and dished out lyrics like, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ’em young / You better not ever go to cell block one / To any b**ch that talk to him and they in love / Just make sure you hide your lil’ sister from him.” The Compton rapper was spotted filming the visual for the release earlier this month, alongside YG, Kalan.FrFr, Roddy Ricch, and others on set.
“When I was making it, in the back of my head, [I was thinking], ‘What would Dr. Dre do if Lil Jon was in the studio and they [were] collabing on a beat?'” Mustard talked about crafting the big hit. He later revealed: “It took me around 30 minutes to make that beat. I had no idea he was going to gas that beat like that.”
“Not Like Us” was one of numerous singles by Lamar directed against Drake. “Euphoria,” released in April, peaked at No. 3 on the Hot 100 after debuting at No. 11.
