NBA star DeMar DeRozan made a surprise appearance at Kendrick Lamar's June 19 "Pop Out" concert at Inglewood's Kia Forum, dancing alongside the rapper during a performance of "Not Like Us"—the chart-topping diss track widely interpreted as targeting DeRozan's former associate, Drake.
The moment has fueled speculation about the current state of DeRozan and Drake's once-public friendship. The Toronto-born rapper and the Compton-raised basketball player were previously vocal about their bond, with Drake referencing DeRozan in music and the two making joint appearances during DeRozan's tenure with the Toronto Raptors. Whether their connection has cooled—and whether DeRozan's stage presence signals anything beyond appreciation for Lamar's music—remains unconfirmed by either party.
What Happened at 'The Pop Out'
Lamar's concert, held Juneteenth weekend, drew a star-studded lineup of West Coast hip-hop figures including Dr. Dre, who made an unannounced appearance. The event functioned partly as a cultural homecoming for Lamar, who has spent much of 2024 at the center of hip-hop's most closely watched rivalry.
DeRozan's participation placed him in a visible position during "Not Like Us," a song whose lyrics directly reference Drake and his OVO collective. Video from the event circulated widely across social media platforms within hours, prompting immediate reaction from fans tracking intersections between sports and music celebrity circles.
Reading the Room: Appearance vs. Allegiance
Public appearances at concerts carry ambiguous weight. DeRozan's presence could indicate personal support for Lamar, general enthusiasm for a dominant cultural moment, or simply an opportunity arranged through mutual connections in Los Angeles basketball and entertainment circles.
The article's original framing—presenting dancing to a popular song as definitive "side-choosing"—overstates what the moment actually demonstrates. "Not Like Us" spent multiple weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of 2024's most streamed tracks across demographics. Attendance at its live performance, even onstage, does not inherently constitute a statement about Drake.
Neither DeRozan nor Drake has publicly addressed whether their relationship has changed. Without direct comment, conclusions about motive remain speculative.
Context: A Feud Years in the Making
The Drake-Lamar rivalry predates 2024 by nearly a decade, with periodic lyrical exchanges dating to 2013. The conflict intensified dramatically in spring 2024, when Lamar released multiple diss tracks including "Euphoria," "Meet the Grahams," and "Not Like Us"—the latter accompanied by a music video featuring prominent Los Angeles figures. Drake responded with "Family Matters" and "The Heart Part 6" before largely stepping back from public exchanges.
Drake's role in the feud has been primarily as respondent rather than initiator of recent rounds—a dynamic worth noting when assessing how third parties might interpret involvement with either artist.
The Takeaway
DeRozan's appearance at "The Pop Out" registers as noteworthy celebrity crossover content: a recognizable athlete participating in a landmark music event during a peak cultural moment. Whether it constitutes meaningful commentary on his relationship with Drake depends on information not currently available.
For Lamar, the concert reinforced momentum following his commercial and critical resurgence. For observers tracking celebrity allegiances, the episode offers another data point in an ongoing story—one requiring more than stage presence to fully interpret.
The Pop Out concert took place June 19, 2024, at Kia Forum in Inglewood, California.
