Terrence “Punch” Henderson, the former president of Kendrick Lamar’s label, has explained why the hit song “Not Like Us” was excluded from Lamar’s latest album GNX.
On Monday (February 3), Punch addressed fan questions on X (formerly Twitter), where one user asked him: “Hey @iamstillpunch do you have some education for us as to why Dot didn’t include the mega smash on the album?” referring to the Drake diss track.
Integrity. That record was for the battle. The album was a separate thing. Could have put it on there to boost overall sales but choose to leave it for what it was. Integrity.
— Punch TDE (@iamstillpunch) February 4, 2025
“Not Like Us” would not have influenced the initial chart performance of GNX because Billboard doesn’t count previously released singles in first-week sales (though they do count for total sales after that).
The album didn’t need it, debuting with nearly 319,000 equivalent units, which was enough for a number one debut on the Billboard 200.
It also had its share of hits, with “Squabble Up” reaching the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and tracks like “TV Off,” “Luther,” “Wacced Out Murals,” and “Hey Now” breaking into the top five.
If “Not Like Us” had been on the tracklist, GNX would have surpassed one million units within two weeks of its release, according to Chart Data.
The song itself hit the million mark in just two weeks — the fastest to do so last year — and has now surpassed six million units in the U.S., making it one of the biggest-selling songs of 2024.
It has also been a critical hit, winning all five of its nominations at the 2025 Grammys, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.
“Not Like Us” became the first diss track to win a Grammy and is the most awarded rap song in the history of the Grammys.
Although the Mustard-produced anthem was a powerful diss that helped Kendrick win his feud with Drake, the concept of integrity is central to the song’s deeper meaning.
In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar last year, Kendrick explained his vision for “Not Like Us,” stating: “Not like us is the energy of who I am, the type of man I represent. This man has morals, he has values, he believes in something, he stands on something.”
“He’s not pandering. He’s a man who can recognize his mistakes and not be afraid to share the mistakes and can dig deep down into fear-based ideologies or experiences to be able to express them without feeling like he’s less of a man.”
He added: “If I’m thinking of ‘Not Like Us,’ I’m thinking of me and whoever identifies with that.”
