DJ Mustard, like most Kendrick Lamar fans, was in disbelief when he first heard the rapper's “Not Like Us,” even though he provided the song's catchy beat.
The Los Angeles-based producer revealed his role in Lamar's anthem, revealing to Billboard in a video interview released this week: “I heard the song when everyone else heard it.”
“I'd never heard it before, I wasn't in the studio with him,” she told the outlet.
In May, Lamar released “Not Like Us” amid his public feud with Drake. Over Mustard's upbeat beat, Lamar attacks the “God's Plan” rapper with lines accusing him of child sexual abuse and disrespecting hip-hop legend Tupac Shakur. The song, the fifth diss track Lamar has released since March, became an almost instant hit. It quickly went viral on social media and hit dance club playlists.
Mustard said he wanted to “get a song with Kendrick” and had sent him “five beats a day,” not knowing how he would use them. The producer, whose collaborators also include YG and Wiz Khalifa, said he only heard from the Pulitzer Prize winner one night. Mustard (real name Dijon Isaiah McFarlane) recalled Lamar's response: “'This is fire.' “
The Grammy-nominated DJ told Billboard that Dr. Dre and Lil Jon inspired the final snippet. “It took me about 30 minutes to make” the beat for “Not Like Us,” he said.
“I didn't know [Lamar] “I was going to accelerate that pace like that,” he added.
“Not Like Us” has been more than just the song that seemingly ended the feud between Lamar and Drake, at least for now. Lamar’s June 16 “Pop Out” concert at the Kia Forum was an unforgettable grand finale.
Lamar performed his first live performance of “Not Like Us” on Wednesday and then performed it four more times. Each time, he paused on the popular lyric, “A minorrrrrrrrrrr,” a note he and the audience held for an extended period of time.
During his final performance of “Not Like Us,” Lamar brought guests on stage, including Mustard, singer Steve Lacy, LA Clipper Russell Westbrook and radio host Big Boy, to sing. The concert, which aired on Prime Video, concluded with an instrumental version of “Not Like Us.”
“This excites me,” Lamar said moments before beginning his finale and before taking a legendary group photo. “We have lost Much much of friends with this music s—. Many friends from some streets and that we are all together on this stage; unit on each side of motherf— LA”
He added: “We have prepared this just for all of you.”
