DeMar DeRozan has addressed his cameo in the video for Kendrick Lamar's hugely successful Drake diss "Not Like Us."
In an interview with Fox40's Sean Cunningham, as seen below, the newly-signed Sacramento Kings star was asked about his appearance in the music video for the song, which arrived not long after he showed up onstage with K Dot during his recent 'Pop Out' performance in Los Angeles. He was specifically asked if the cameo means they won't be able to play Drake's music at the Golden 1 Center.
"We love Drake, we always can play him, said DeRozan, who has a history with the Canadian rapper because he used to play for the Toronto Raptors. "Kendrick been a friend of mine, family. Damn near family, for a long time, for a while. We're from the same city, we grew up damn near in the same neighborhood. ... It's always been there. It hasn't always been publicized, but, you know, that's basically family."
In the second verse of "Not Like Us," Kendrick specifically mentions DeRozan's extensive time at the Raptors and suggested the team didn't deserve him. "I'm glad DeRoz came home, y'all didn't deserve him neither," he raps on the track. Appropriately, DeRozan makes his appearance in the video during this line.
DeRozan spent his first nine NBA seasons at the Raptors before he was traded to the San Antonio Spurs in 2018. He was later traded to the Chicago Bulls in 2021, where he remained until he was traded to the Sacramento Kings this week.
In an interview with NBC Sports Chicago in 2021, DeRozan said he knew K Dot when they were growing up in Compton. "Everybody always supports one another, the ones that are coming up. It’s a crazy bond when you sit back and look at the ones who came through that city and are successful," he shared. "I definitely have a great relationship with Kendrick, who I knew growing up—everyone from Compton."
