Canada found itself unexpectedly entangled in the ongoing feud between rap heavyweights Drake and Kendrick Lamar, as Lamar’s scathing diss track “Not Like Us” became a rallying cry against the Great White North following recent sporting events.
The track, which originally targeted the Toronto rap sensation Drake, was repurposed to taunt Canada after consecutive losses in major sports competitions. From Argentina’s soccer victory over Canada at the Copa America to the U.S. basketball team blasting the song after defeating Canada in an Olympic exhibition game, “Not Like Us” seemed to be on repeat whenever Canada faced defeat.
Social media exploded with speculations that the song would serve as an anthem of sorts against Canada in the sporting world. Comparisons were drawn to the satirical “Blame Canada” from the 1999 South Park movie, highlighting the growing sentiment of animosity towards the nation.
Music journalist Del Cowie pointed out that the associations between Drake and Canada stemmed from a lack of understanding about the country’s rich hip-hop history and contributions to the genre. While Lamar’s track played into the rivalry between Canada and the U.S., with references to Drake as a cultural “colonizer,” Cowie emphasized that Canadian hip- hop had a unique identity worth recognizing.
Despite the trolling and jabs, prominent American rappers like Lamar acknowledged Canada’s influence in hip-hop, with Toronto producers like Boi-1da and WondaGurl making significant contributions to the music scene. The beef between Drake and Lamar may have sparked controversy, but it ultimately highlighted Canada’s undeniable impact on the global hip-hop landscape.
Written by
Derek Chan
