Kendrick Lamar’s 2025 Grammy sweep was the ultimate victory lap for his Drake diss track “Not Like Us”, but it seems the Recording Academy is trying to rewrite history.
During the ceremony, Kendrick won five major awards—Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video. When he took the stage to accept Record of the Year, the entire Crypto.com Arena erupted in a massive sing-along to “Not Like Us.” But now, that viral moment is nowhere to be found on the official Grammy footage uploaded to YouTube.
According to Hot New Hip-Hop, the Recording Academy removed the crowd’s reaction, instead cutting straight to Kendrick’s acceptance speech. While no official explanation has been given, many believe it’s linked to Drake’s ongoing lawsuits surrounding the track.
Kendrick vs. Drake—The Battle That Took Over Hip-Hop
Kendrick and Drake’s highly publicized beef began after K.Dot called out both Drake and J. Cole on Future and Metro Boomin’s track “Like That.” While J. Cole quickly bowed out, Kendrick and Drake went bar for bar in a battle that dominated 2024, with “Not Like Us” emerging as the ultimate anthem.
Speaking on the beef in a recent Apple Music interview, Kendrick revealed that he always saw it as sport:
“My intent from day one was to keep the nature of it as a sport… I love when artists grit their teeth.”
He compared the rivalry to battle rap legends like Murda Mook and Lux, emphasizing that he wanted to bring back the hunger and competitiveness that rap had been missing.
While Kendrick seems ready to move on, the Grammys editing out his big moment has left fans wondering—was this just a technical decision, or is there more to the story?
