DeMar DeRozan adds his own wrinkle to Drake, Kendrick Lamar beef on Los Angeles show originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar sent shockwaves through the music world on Wednesday, with a one-night concert called “The Pop Out: Ken & Friends” at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California, that was widely aimed at dissing the Toronto rapper Drakeand celebrate the music and culture of the West Coast.
Lamar rallied as several prominent West Coast figures, including Dr. Dre, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock and Tyler the Creator. He also paid tribute to Nipsey Hussle and Kobe Bryanttwo prominent LA figures who have passed away in recent years.
Los Angeles athletes Russell Westbrook and Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan also joined Lamar onstage as the Compton rapper performed “Not Like Us,” the anti-Drake diss track from his discography; he played that song not once, but five times during the concert.
The song mentions DeRozan saying, “I’m glad DeRoz came home, y’all didn’t deserve him either,” referring to DeRozan’s return to the United States after nine years playing in Toronto, Drake’s hometown.
The lyrics were a response to Drake’s admiration for the former Raptors forward in ‘Lemon Pepper Freestyle’ when he rapped ‘They love me in my city like DeMar DeRozan’, an ode to him after he was traded to the Spurs for Kawhi Leonardwho ultimately brought Toronto the championship, DeRozan couldn’t.
DeRozan’s performance at Lamar’s concert is quite a message for Drake and Toronto. The Raptors drafted him out of USC with the No. 9 pick in the 2009 NBA Draft. He played the first nine seasons of his career in Toronto, earning four All-Star nods and two All-NBA selections.
However, it is well known that DeRozan is a big supporter of his hometown. He trains there every summer and has played in Compton Drew League games in recent summers. He also expressed a strong interest in playing for his hometown Lakers before they abruptly traded for Westbrook in the summer of 2021.
That summer, instead of signing with the Lakers, DeRozan signed a three-year contract with the Bulls, rejuvenating his career in Chicago. With the Bulls, he has earned two All-Star nominations in the past three years, two finalists for the NBA’s Clutch Player of the Year Award and a top-10 MVP vote in 2021.
However, the tide could turn this offseason as DeRozan could potentially become an unrestricted free agent in July. According to KC Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago, the Bulls have offered DeRozan a two-year contract with a high annual salary of $40 million.
Whether or not DeRozan remains in Chicago will soon be answered in the coming weeks as the NBA Draft and free agency approach. But it’s clear his heart will always remain in Compton after coming up with Lamar and company on Wednesday.
Click here to follow the Bulls Talk Podcast.
