Kendrick Lamar releases new diss track after 'Not Like Us' as Drake stays silent

Kendrick Lamar has dropped his first track in four months, following up on May's Not Like Us, a song that many saw as the final blow in his ongoing rap feud with Drake.

The untitled track, shared on Instagram on Wednesday, isn't available for streaming but has already stirred excitement among fans.

While the 37-year-old rapper doesn't explicitly mention Drake, the track opens with a pointed message: "I think it's time to let the party die / this s**t done got too wicked to apologize / it's different, get him whacked and disqualified."

The lyrics touch on themes of hedonism, spirituality, and the downside of fame-topics that could reflect Lamar's feelings toward the industry and the lingering tensions with Drake.

Earlier this week, Lamar announced he will headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in February 2025. The news came via a cryptic Instagram post featuring a pair of worn-out Air Force 1 sneakers.

Deeper meaning to post

The post quickly gained over two million likes as fans speculated about its deeper meaning. One commenter summed up the mood, saying, "Bro just confirmed the villain era and in the postmodern [world] that makes him the hero."

The new track also appears to take aim at media personalities, specifically DJ Akademiks, a known Drake supporter.

Lamar raps, "Influencers talk down 'cause I'm not with the basic sh*t / But they don't hate me, they hate the man that I represent." Fans believe this line is directed at Akademiks, with one user noting, "Akademiks punching ghosts rn."

Drake, on the other hand, has chosen to remain quiet. Many fans see his silence as a concession, especially given Kendrick's strong showing in their feud.

Instead of engaging in the back-and-forth, Drake surprised fans in early August by releasing 100 gigabytes of unseen footage from studio sessions, including behind-the-scenes moments from some of his biggest hits.

Kendrick's new track and his upcoming Super Bowl performance signal that he's not done yet.

Fans are eagerly awaiting what comes next, whether it's more diss tracks or a larger project that tackles the broader state of the music industry.

For now, though, Drake remains silent, letting Lamar take center stage in their long-running rivalry.