Kendrick Lamar dominated the 2025 Grammys, taking home five awards for “Not Like Us“—his hugely successful diss track aimed at Drake.
The energy in the room was electric as Miley Cyrus announced his name, with the crowd erupting in cheers. Even Taylor Swift and Beyoncé were on their feet as the viral anthem blasted through the arena.
As the entire room rapped along to, “You’re tryin’ to strike a chord and it’s probably A minor,” fans couldn’t ignore the deeper meaning behind the line. Lamar’s Grammy win marked a rare moment in hip-hop history. “Not Like Us“ became the first diss track to earn a Grammy in over 30 years, following LL Cool J’s “Mama Said Knock You Out,” which took aim at Kool Moe Dee and won Best Rap Performance in 1992.
Drake and Kendrick’s feud has spanned more than a decade. Their professional relationship unraveled in 2013 after Kendrick called out Drake on Big Sean’s Control.
Since then, they’ve exchanged lyrical jabs, with the tension reaching a boiling point in 2024. In May, Drake fired back at allegations Kendrick Lamar raised in “Not Like Us“ with his own track, The Heart Part 6.
The rivalry shows no signs of cooling. Drake, currently on the Anita Win Max tour, now faces the added weight of Lamar’s Grammy sweep just days before his Super Bowl LIX performance. But Kendrick isn’t done commanding attention. His halftime set just got even bigger—SZA is joining him.
Apple Music, the show’s sponsor, dropped the bombshell announcement on Thursday, releasing a teaser featuring Lamar on the phone discussing his setlist. As he talks, SZA sneaks up behind him and drenches him in blue liquid, setting the tone for what promises to be an unforgettable collaboration.
Their Super Bowl pairing makes perfect sense. As labelmates on Top Dawg Entertainment, they’ve collaborated on several tracks, most recently “Luther“ and “Gloria” from Lamar’s GNX album. With their combined star power, the halftime show is set to be one of the most talked-about performances in Super Bowl history.
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