“Not Like Us” has become an anthem that’s inescapable at this point, and ubiquitous in pop culture as it returns to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. But not everyone is thrilled to hear Kendrick Lamar’s Drake diss track everywhere — including Steph Curry.
Following USA Basketball’s dominant 105-79 exhibition victory over Nikola Jokic and Serbia on Wednesday (July 17), the arena DJ in Abu Dhabi bumped the Mustard-produced banger, and the Golden State Warriors superstar was caught voicing his frustration.
“Damn with this song. It’s not the only song in America,” Curry pleaded. LeBron James pushed back as he seems to be enjoying the “Not Like Us” explosion. “I love it,” James can be heard saying at mid-court while rounding up his teammates.
Shooting guard Anthony Edwards appears to be on LeBron’s side, as he can be seen at the end of the clip dancing to “Not Like Us.”
Steph’s reaction caused quite a stir on social media, as Jermaine Dupri, responded, essentially saying today’s rap culture just isn’t used to massive hits such as “Not Like Us” dominating the landscape.
“I just saw Steph’s reaction to the Kendrick record and I thought it was very ironic because what he is feeling (Pause ) is a record impacting the streets and this new generation is not use to that,I’m sure many of yall don’t understand what I’m saying,” he wrote on Instagram.
JD continued to share his thoughts in an accompanying video while walking. “The goal in hip-hop used to be impact, not sales, not charts — impact. How hard you could impact the streets,” he said. “That’s no longer the goal and — to me — that is the sole reason why rap isn’t what rap used to be because n—-s don’t care about impacting the streets no more.”
DJ Jazzy Jeff chimed in on the matter in the comments, saying, “I think what the issue is we used to have a few songs with this impact at the same time to spread it out alil more…because we haven’t had a Lean Back or a In Da Club in so long.”
Kevin Durant defended his former teammate in a comment online, saying, “Maybe bro just wanna hear another song.”
Perhaps Curry was surprised to be hearing “Not Like Us” across the globe in the United Arab Emirates. Although, Team USA could be making “Not Like Us” their victory song, as they fittingly played Kendrick’s hit after defeating Canada last week.
Time will tell if the arena DJs keep playing the hit, or listen to Curry and pull back following the team’s next exhibition contest, which comes on July 22 against Germany in London.
Watch the clip of Steph Curry talking about “Not Like Us” below.
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