Kendrick Lamar Wins Record of the Year at 2025 Grammys for ‘Not Like Us’, Pays Tribute to L.A.: ‘We Gonna Keep Rocking’

The 67th Grammy Awards are airing live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on CBS and will stream on Paramount+

Kendrick Lamar is not like us!

The rapper shocked fans at the 2025 Grammys after taking home the award for record of the year for his beloved rap anthem, “Not Like Us.”

During his acceptance speech, the 2025 Super Bowl performer, 37, showed love for the city of Compton, Calif., and showed his appreciation for his collaborator, Mustard.

“This is my neck of the woods that’s held me down since I was a young pup. Since I was in the studio scrapping to write the best raps and all that — the records like these. I can’t give enough thanks to these places that I rolled around since high school,” he said.

Kendrick Lamar and Mustard accept the Record of the Year award for "Not Like Us" onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena on February 02, 2025 in Los Angeles, California — Kendrick Lamar and Mustard accept the Record of the Year award for “Not Like Us” onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena in February 2025.KEVIN WINTER/GETTY

“Most importantly to the people and the families out in the Palisades and Altadena. This is a true testament that we’re going to continue to restore this city. We gonna keep rocking,” the rapper continued.

This year’s nominees for record of the year Grammy was packed with talent.

The songs “Now and Then” by The Beatles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyoncé, “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, “360” by Charli xcx, “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan, and “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone all received nods for the category.

Kendrick Lamar in 2022.JASON KOERNER/GETTY

“Not Like Us” by Lamar served as a diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake packed with scathing lyrics, bringing their rap beef to a fever pitch. “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,” Lamar raps at one point, referring to Drake’s 2021 album *Certified Lover Boy*.

“And your homeboy need subpoena, that predator move in flocks/That name gotta be registered and placed on neighborhood watch,” he says later on in the song, taking further aim at allegations surrounding Drake, 38.

Lamar performed “Not Like Us” five times back-to-back during his L.A. Juneteenth concert in 2024, also marking the first time he played it live.

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“Y’all ain’t gonna let nobody disrespect the West Coast, huh? Oh y’all ain’t gonna let nobody mock or imitate our legends, huh?” he asked the audience at one point, alluding to the track “Taylor Made Freestyle” that featured AI inclusions of Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur.

Throughout his career, the Pulitzer Prize winner has won 19 Grammys and has been nominated for 57. He has nods for best music video, best rap song and song of the year at this year’s awards.

Rapper Kendrick Lamar performs onstage during day three of Rolling Loud Miami 2022 at Hard Rock Stadium on July 24, 2022 in Miami Gardens, Florida. — Kendrick Lamar and Mustard accept the Record of the Year award for “Not Like Us” onstage during the 67th Annual GRAMMY Awards at Crypto.com Arena in February 2025.KEVIN WINTER/GETTY

“Most importantly to the people and the families out in the Palisades and Altadena. This is a true testament that we’re going to continue to restore this city. We gonna keep rocking,” the rapper continued.

This year’s nominees for record of the year Grammy was packed with talent.

The songs “Now and Then” by The Beatles, “Texas Hold ‘Em” by Beyoncé, “Espresso” by Sabrina Carpenter, “360” by Charli xcx, “Birds of a Feather” by Billie Eilish, “Not Like Us” by Kendrick Lamar “Good Luck, Babe!” by Chappell Roan, and “Fortnight” by Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone all received nods for the category.

Kendrick Lamar in 2022.JASON KOERNER/GETTY

“Not Like Us” by Lamar served as a diss track aimed at fellow rapper Drake packed with scathing lyrics, bringing their rap beef to a fever pitch. “Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophiles,” Lamar raps at one point, referring to Drake’s 2021 album *Certified Lover Boy*.

“And your homeboy need subpoena, that predator move in flocks/That name gotta be registered and placed on neighborhood watch,” he says later on in the song, taking further aim at allegations surrounding Drake, 38.

Lamar performed “Not Like Us” five times back-to-back during his L.A. Juneteenth concert in 2024, also marking the first time he played it live.

PEOPLE Picks the Top 10 Albums of 2024, from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift to Billie Eilish

“Y’all ain’t gonna let nobody disrespect the West Coast, huh? Oh y’all ain’t gonna let nobody mock or imitate our legends, huh?” he asked the audience at one point, alluding to the track “Taylor Made Freestyle” that featured AI inclusions of Snoop Dogg and Tupac Shakur.

Throughout his career, the Pulitzer Prize winner has won 19 Grammys and has been nominated for 57. He has nods for best music video, best rap song and song of the year at this year’s awards.

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