Exclusive: Kings star DeMar DeRozan speaks on Kendrick, Drake and cameo in ‘Not Like Us’

NBA star DeMar DeRozan was still going through the free-agent process that brought him to the Sacramento Kings when he was drawn into a bitter feud between two friends, fellow Compton native Kendrick Lamar and Canadian rapper Drake.

The two Grammy-award winning artists released a series of diss tracks targeting each other in an intense and deeply personal rap battle between two of the biggest stars in the music business. In “Not Like Us,” a hit song that is being hailed as a West Coast anthem, Lamar said he was glad DeRozan “came home” from Canada after nine seasons with Drake’s hometown team, the Toronto Raptors.

DeRozan then appeared on stage during Lamar’s Juneteenth concert at the Inglewood Forum and later made a cameo appearance in the “Not Like Us” music video, which was released on the Fourth of July. At the concert and in the video, Crips, Bloods, athletes, entertainers and everyday folks of all stripes stood behind Lamar in a powerful show of peace, unity and togetherness.

In an exclusive interview with The Sacramento Bee, DeRozan discussed his role in the rap battle, his relationships with both artists and how it feels to be back in his home state after the Kings acquired him in a sign-and-trade deal.

“It was fun to be a part of (‘Not Like Us’),” said DeRozan, a six-time All-Star and three-time All-NBA selection. “For that moment, it was so much bigger than what people look at it as a beef between (Lamar) and Drake. It brought our whole city together in a different type of light where there wasn’t no issues, no violence. Everybody was coming together in a peaceful manner and that was the beauty out of those moments.”

Growing up in Compton

DeRozan and Lamar both grew up in Compton.

DeRozan, 34, came out of Compton High School as one of the top college basketball recruits in the country in the Class of 2008. DeRozan went on to USC, where he was named Pac-10 Conference Tournament MVP as a freshman before the Raptors selected him with the No. 9 pick in the 2009 NBA draft.

Lamar, 37, graduated from Compton’s Centennial High School as a straight-A student in 2005. He considered studying psychology and astronomy in college but chose to pursue his music career instead. Lamar’s fourth album “Damn” won the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 2018, the first time the award was given to a musical composition outside of the classical and jazz genres.

“Kendrick is basically family,” DeRozan said. “Obviously we’re from the same city, but that’s family. Whatever I ever need from him, I ask him and vice versa.

“When he did the song, he asked me to be a part of it, and whatever it is he’s doing, I’m going to be a part of it without a thought. That’s kind of always been our relationship.”

No. 1 on Billboard

“Not Like Us” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and has been critically acclaimed as one of the best diss tracks ever made.

The song accuses Drake and members of his OVO Sound record label of pedophilia, sexual misconduct and exploiting Atlanta’s music scene for street credibility. Lamar also mentions DeRozan, who formed a relationship with Drake while playing for Toronto from 2009-18 before the Raptors traded him to the San Antonio Spurs in a deal involving Kawhi Leonard.

“I’m glad DeRoz’ came home, y’all didn’t deserve him neither,” Lamar said in the song’s second verse.

DeRozan seemingly took sides in the feud, but he told The Bee he still considers Drake a friend despite showing his support for Lamar.

“Drake’s still my man, still my man, none of it changed,” DeRozan said. “It’s so easy to get overlooked and look at it for what it looks like, but at the end of the day it’s music, entertainment. Two of the biggest rappers in the world went at it from a competitive standpoint and they battled it out. That’s what you want to see as a fan: Kobe (Bryant) playing (Michael) Jordan 1-on-1 and see who wins, see the trash talking, and whoever wins out of that, you’re still going to have the debate, so that’s all that is.”

Ken and Friends

Lamar performed “Not Like Us” for the first time during his Juneteenth “The Pop Out: Ken and Friends” concert on June 19 in Inglewood.

DeRozan and fellow NBA star Russell Westbrook appeared on stage with Lamar, other musicians and rival gang members with Los Angels Lakers star LeBron James sitting in the crowd.

The concert was widely praised as a moment of cultural significance after warring gang factions stood together in a resounding show of support for Lamar, the city of Los Angeles and the California music scene.

“One thousand percent, that’s the most significant part, and it’s so easy to get overshadowed by all the other stuff, but that’s definitely the most important part,” DeRozan said.

“It was even a conversation I had with Kendrick where I just told him, ‘You don’t know how great you really are being able to pull everybody and everything together in the manner that you did.’ There was never one issue. Not an argument, not a fight, not a discrepancy of any sort whether it was the concert or the video. It was just everybody coming together and showing appreciation and love for where we came from.”

DeRoz’ came home

The Kings acquired DeRozan from the Chicago Bulls in a three-team sign-and-trade deal on July 6 after he spent the day in Sacramento with agent Aaron Goodwin and various members of the organization.

DeRozan received a standing ovation when he was introduced to the Sacramento crowd minutes after the news broke, walking out to “Not Like Us” as he took a courtside seat for a California Classic summer league game at Golden 1 Center.

DeRozan admitted it felt like “DeRoz’ came home” when the Kings held an introductory news conference for him July 9 in Sacramento.

“Yeah, in a way, it definitely felt like that,” DeRozan said. “Even flying up today, I was trying to fall asleep on the plane, and before I even closed my eyes we were landing. It was a quick little 40-minute flight, so it definitely feels like home for sure.”

DeRozan wasn’t anticipating a move to Sacramento when free agency began, but he is excited about joining a promising young core that features De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Malik Monk and Keegan Murray.

“It’s amazing,” DeRozan said. “You never know where the road’s going to lead you until you get there, and this is definitely one of those moments to where you can’t guess it. You can never guess it, but you’ve got to embrace it and enjoy the journey of it all.”