Kendrick Lamar fans are fuming after Post Malone’s “I Had Some Help” snagged the title of Song of the Summer, beating Lamar’s hit Drake diss “Not Like Us.”
Billboard announced the winner of their Songs of the Summer chart for 2024 on Wednesday. Post Malone’s country collaboration with Morgan Wallen took the crown, much to the dismay of Kendrick Lamar’s die-hard fanbase.
The chart, which tracks the most popular songs based on streaming, airplay, and sales from Memorial Day through Labor Day, saw “I Had Some Help” leading for all 14 weeks. This marked a standout summer for Post Malone, but it left Kendrick’s supporters scratching their heads.
Lamar’s “Not Like Us” landed in third place, trailing Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” which sits at number one on the Hot 100. It’s the only rap song in the top ten this summer, making waves and creating a larger conversation on social media.
Fans took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their outrage. One user exclaimed, “‘Not Like Us’ and that 5 million it sold must have come out in a different summer that I’m not aware of.” Another questioned the credibility of the chart, stating, “WHO was listening to this the whole summer?? I couldn’t step foot outside without hearing ‘Not Like Us.'”
Despite falling short for Song of the Summer, “Not Like Us” has been a significant hit since its May release, peaking at number one on the Hot 100. The track, produced by Mustard, became Kendrick’s second chart-topping single of the year and has broken several streaming records, much to Drake’s chagrin.
In addition to its commercial success, the track held deep cultural significance. During Lamar’s Pop Out concert in Inglewood, he performed “Not Like Us” five times, joined by Dr. Dre, in a moment many saw as a triumphant display amid his ongoing feud with Drake.
Moreover, the song was a unifying force in Los Angeles. Lamar brought members of the Crips and Bloods on stage, symbolizing a moment of solidarity and unity within the community. An emotional Kendrick told the crowd, “We done lost a lot of homies to this music shit, to this street shit. For all of us to be together on stage, that shit is special.”
Post Malone may have taken the summer crown, but Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” remains a powerful anthem, resonating deeply with fans and leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.
