Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 diss track Not Like Us won five major trophies at the 2025 Grammy Awards including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Lamar dedicated his Record of the Year award to Los Angeles. (Photo Credits: X)
Kendrick Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’ won big at the 2025 Grammy Awards. The song took home five honours, including the Song of the Year title on Sunday night. The award was presented by legend Diana Ross, who offered a sombre reflection on current events across the world. “How can we have the balance between celebrating and being filled with sorrow? Even as we face trials and tributes with our soul, music brings us home,” she said in her introductory speech, later calling a “starstruck” Lamar onto the stage.
The rapper who appeared backstage, moments after receiving the prize for the Record of the Year, dedicated it to the West Coast artists who have inspired him in his career, while also highlighting the importance of rap music in the industry.
“All the West Coast artists, from early on — G Malone, Problem, Bad Lucc, K-Bo, Daylyt … these are the cats that inspired me to be the MC I am today. Schoolboy, J-Roc, Ab-Soul, this is what it’s about, man. Because at the end of the day, nothing more powerful than rap music — I don’t care what it is. We are the culture,” he said. The rapper was competing against Shaboozey’s A Bar Song (Tipsy), Billie Eilish’s BIRDS OF A FEATHER, Taylor Swift and Post Malone’s Fortnight, Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ Die With A Smile, Sabrina Carpenter’s Please Please Please, Chappell Roan’s Good Luck, Babe!, and Beyonce’s Texas Hold Em.
Lamar also dedicated his Record of the Year award to Los Angeles, days after the city battled devastating wildfires. “We gonna dedicate this one to the city. This is my neck of the woods, have held me down since a young pup. Since I was in the studio, scrapping to write the best raps and all that. Most importantly, the people and the families out in the Palisades and Altadena, this is a true testament that we can continue to restore this city,” he said.
While Lamar picked both the Record of the Year and Song of the Year, Chappell Roan was crowned Best New Artist whereas Beyonce’s Cowboy Cartel won the Best Country Album and Album of the Year.
