Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ victory lap: Compton fans pop out for music video shoot

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As a dedicated cinema devotee and avid hip-hop fan, I was absolutely thrilled to witness the recent events surrounding Kendrick Lamar’s music video shoot for his latest hit single “Not Like Us” in Compton. The energy and excitement were palpable, both online and on the ground as thousands of fans turned out to be a part of this historic moment.

If you’re looking for rap enthusiasts who have grown weary of Kendrick Lamar’s popular hit “Not Like Us,” you shan’t search for them in Compton, where the artist hails from.

After putting on an unforgettable show at the Kia Forum for “Pop Out — Ken & Friends” on Juneteenth, I was thrilled to learn that Kendrick Lamar was filming his new music video, “Not Like Us,” in and around Compton. With over a thousand eager fans in tow, we descended upon iconic landmarks such as City Hall, Enterprise Park, Nickerson Gardens, and Tam’s Burgers over the weekend. As a movie critic, it was an absolute privilege to witness the energy and excitement of the community coming together to be a part of this incredible project by a true artistic visionary and award-winning legend.

In social media posts, there are images and clips of Lamar and DJ Mustard dancing to their collaboration “Not Like Us” at Tam’s Burgers, a location previously highlighted in the L.A.-themed Super Bowl LVI performance. A different video captures numerous fans jumping in time with the song’s infectious rhythm next to the Compton Courthouse, where Lamar is present as well.

“COMPTON. PERIOD,” the Compton Cowboys captioned an Instagram photo of Lamar dancing with a crowd.

Several social media updates revealed that apart from local spectators, musicians such as Steve Lacy, Thundercat, Roddy Ricch, and YG, as well as NBA player DeMar DeRozan, were present at Kendrick Lamar’s video shoot. The influence of big names continued from his “Pop Out” concert, which doubled as a tribute to West Coast hip-hop.

At the one-night event, Lamar and Mustard invited a number of prominent figures from Los Angeles to join them on stage at The Forum during their performances. This esteemed group included music executive Dr. Dre, basketball star Russell Westbrook of the L.A. Clippers, and popular radio host Big Boy, among many others.

Kendrick Lamar dances during the music video shoot for “Not Like Us” at Nickerson Gardens on Saturday.
(Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

At the Juneteenth concert, Lamar treated his audience to a blend of his classic and contemporary tunes, featuring repeated performances of “Not Like Us” – his provocative diss song aimed at Drake. Since early spring, these rap titans have exchanged barbs through music, with accusations of questionable conduct between them. In the songs “Meet the Grahams” and “Not Like Us,” Lamar leveled allegations of child sexual abuse and disregard for Tupac Shakur against Drake (real name Aubrey Graham). Conversely, in “Family Matters,” Drake accused Lamar of domestic violence.

In May, Lamar released “Not Like Us,” which gained significant popularity almost immediately. This development appeared to bring an end to the conflict between Lamar and Drake – for the time being.

As a longtime fan of Kendrick Lamar, I can tell you that his music resonates deeply with me and many Angelenos. The anticipation for the release of his “Not Like Us” music video is palpable in our community. Unfortunately, no one seems to know exactly when it will be unveiled to the world. I reached out to Lamar’s representatives on Monday, but they have yet to get back to me.

Crowds of Kendrick Lamar fans gathered Saturday at the Compton Courthouse, where he filmed the music video for his song “Not Like Us.”
(Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

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2024-07-18 21:10