Kendrick Lamar Dis Tracks to be Nominated for Song of the Year?
Kendrick Lamar Dis Tracks to be Nominated for Song of the Year?
Kendrick Lamar made waves this year with his scathing diss track aimed at rap rival Drake, “Not Like Us”. The harsh call-out track sparked endless debate and quickly smashed streaming records upon its May release. Now, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. says the explosive diss anthem is eligible for Grammy nominations, even to take home the coveted Song of the Year award should Lamar submit it.
Given diss tracks are not typical Grammy fare, this is an interesting development. But “Not Like Us” is no average diss song given its sheer dominance commercially and critically. Almost immediately, it shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went double platinum. Beyond just viral hype, “Not Like Us” has demonstrated serious staying power. It broke several of Drake’s previous streaming records, topping Spotify’s daily and weekly rap streams and becoming the fastest rap track to hit 500 million Spotify streams. Critics also praised the song, ranking it highly on year-end lists as one of the top songs of 2024.
Has “Not Like Us” Shown Enough Artistic Merit for the Grammys?
More importantly, Kendrick crafted a diss track with artistic merit that the Grammys look for. His flow is smooth and lyrics clever as he calls out Drake as “not like us” and accuses him of appropriating rap styles. The catchy beat and music video also showcase Lamar’s creativity. Mason Jr. himself called the song “amazing artistry” and complimented Lamar’s writing.
Will Explicit Lyrics Prevent a Nomination for Kendrick?
Lamar is also no stranger to Grammy success with 17 wins under his belt already, proving voters appreciate his talent. The explicit nature of “Not Like Us” shouldn’t be a barrier either. The Grammys have nominated and awarded similarly controversial songs before, like Eminem’s wins for albums featuring homophobic lyrics. The main criteria Mason Jr. emphasized is the song’s quality and impact over just popularity and internet buzz.
Betentodds.com predicts a 63.69% chance NO Kendrick Lamar diss tracks will be nominated with odds of 1.57 – check the predictions HERE.
How Would This Change the Rap Game?
A Song of the Year win would certainly spark discussion on the short- and long-term ripple effects. In the rap game, it could make beef tracks more commonplace and encourage experimentation with hip hop’s boundaries. Rap diss songs being validated at the Grammy’s highest echelon would be a definitive stamp of approval. Perhaps rap beefs will one day get their own dedicated category.
Is the Recording Academy Ready to Embrace Rap Fully?
More broadly, “Not Like Us” winning would continue the Grammy’s recent efforts to be more rap-focused and celebrate the genre’s diversity. After years of #GrammysSoWhite backlash, a scathing rap diss song taking home the top prize would be a bold artistic statement. Lamar himself would also become the first rapper to win Song of the Year twice, cementing his GOAT status.
For now, it remains to be seen whether Kendrick will even submit ‘Not Like Us’ for Grammy consideration. But he seems primed to make history either way, as the track’s overwhelming success has already forced the Recording Academy to take diss songs seriously as high art.