Kendrick Lamar Lights Up Toronto with “Not Like Us” as Drake and Kai Cenat Cancel Livestream Counter-Event
Kendrick Lamar made a bold and unforgettable statement in Toronto—the hometown of longtime rival Drake—by performing the searing diss track “Not Like Us” to an electrified crowd at the Rogers Centre. The performance marked Kendrick’s first time in the city since the public escalation of their highly publicized feud last year, and he showed no signs of backing down.
As part of the Grand Central Tour alongside SZA, Kendrick’s stop in Toronto carried significant weight. Fans were eager to see how he would handle the charged atmosphere, and he delivered with full intensity, performing “Not Like Us” without censoring a single bar. The crowd responded with thunderous cheers, and chants for an encore echoed throughout the stadium as the show wrapped up.
The timing of Kendrick’s show seemed to rattle the Drake camp. In what many saw as an attempt to counterprogram the concert, Drake had originally planned to appear on a Twitch livestream with popular content creator Kai Cenat. However, in a sudden move, both Drake and Cenat pulled out of the event just before it was set to go live, postponing it for a later date.
Cenat later revealed that the livestream was supposed to feature a major fan engagement segment tied to Drake’s “Somebody Loves Me” music video challenge. The duo had planned to give away over $300,000 to 20 lucky fans—each receiving $15,000—to produce their own one-minute clips that would ultimately be edited into the song’s official video. The stream was scheduled to start precisely during Kendrick’s Toronto performance, fueling speculation that it was a direct response to Lamar’s tour stop.
Cenat has previously voiced strong opinions about Drake’s visuals, particularly criticizing the video for “Nokia” from the $ome $exy $ongs 4 U project. Speaking on Twitch, he argued that the video lacked energy and creativity, even mock-directing his own interpretation live, suggesting it should have taken place in a carnival or arcade with roller skates and vibrant action.
Adding further intrigue to the unfolding narrative, R&B artist SiR recently claimed that his own Toronto concert was canceled due to the ongoing tension between Kendrick and Drake, hinting that the feud may be influencing broader industry decisions in the city.
With Kendrick Lamar’s powerful presence on stage and Drake’s retreat from the livestream spotlight, the rivalry between the two rap titans continues to evolve—now extending beyond the music itself and into the realm of public appearances and fan engagement. For Toronto fans, Kendrick’s no-holds-barred performance was not just a concert; it was a cultural moment.
