Kendrick Lamar took the stage in Toronto on Wednesday night and did something few would dare: he performed ‘Not Like Us’—a scathing track widely seen as a jab at hometown hero Drake—right in the rapper’s own backyard.
The crowd, packed into the Scotiabank Arena, didn’t just cheer. They roared.
Fans sang along, arms raised, as the track’s pounding beat shook the venue. When Lamar left the stage, they shouted for more.
“He really did it. In Toronto. That’s wild,” said 26-year-old Marcus Allen, who travelled from Montreal for the show. “The whole place went off.”
This moment, part of Lamar’s The Pop Out — Ken & Friends tour, has reignited the ongoing conversation around his long-running feud with Drake. The two artists, both giants in modern hip-hop, have traded lyrical shots for years. But few expected Lamar to go this far — and be so warmly received in the heart of Drake territory.
“Kendrick isn’t just challenging Drake — he’s challenging the idea of loyalty in rap,” said music journalist Ayesha Grant. “Toronto didn’t boo. They bounced.”
Lamar didn’t mention Drake by name during the set. But ‘Not Like Us’ — with lines many believe refer to the Toronto star — left little doubt about who was on his mind.
In Toronto, a city that often rallies behind its homegrown artists, the reception was surprisingly open.
“People aren’t as one-sided as you’d think,” said Jamal Fraser, a local DJ. “Toronto loves Drake, no question. But Kendrick? He’s earned his stripes.”
Drake has yet to publicly respond to the Toronto performance. In the past, he’s shrugged off Lamar’s digs, suggesting fans would tire of the drama. But this latest move may prove harder to ignore.
Industry observers say the moment speaks to Kendrick Lamar’s standing—not just as a skilled rapper, but as a cultural force unafraid to challenge norms.
“It’s a power move,” said hip-hop historian Marcus Hall. “To come into Toronto, perform that song, and leave to cheers? That’s confidence. That’s command.”
Whether this reignites the lyrical battle between the two remains to be seen. For now, fans are left with a night they won’t soon forget — and the sense that in hip-hop’s fiercest rivalry, the story is far from over.
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