Drake stirred controversy along with his “Nokia” video as critics pointed to visible parallels with Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”
Drake confronted contemporary scrutiny over his “Nokia” music video after social media customers accused him of mimicking Kendrick Lamar’s visible fashion and thematic decisions from “Not Like Us.”
Launched Monday (March 31), the black-and-white “Nokia” video—shot in IMAX and directed by Theo Skudra—options the rapper throwing elaborate events, rollerblading via neon-lit scenes and coordinating all of it with a retro flip telephone.
Nevertheless it wasn’t the cinematic aptitude or the cameo from NBA star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander that drew essentially the most consideration—it was the alleged similarities to Lamar’s work.
Viewers shortly identified that Drake’s dance sequence bore a hanging resemblance to 1 Ok. Dot carried out in “Not Like Us.”
Others highlighted the presence of dancers styled equally to these in Lamar’s Tremendous Bowl halftime present.
One of the talked-about moments got here on the finish of “Nokia,” when an owl—Drake’s signature OVO image—flies freely throughout the display screen, a transfer some interpreted as a counter to Lamar’s use of a caged animal in his personal video.
The comparisons didn’t cease there. Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” featured NBA participant DeMar DeRozan, whereas Drake’s “Nokia” included Gilgeous-Alexander. Some on-line speculated that the basketball-themed cameos had been greater than coincidence.
Screenshots and side-by-side clips flooded social media as customers debated whether or not the similarities had been coincidence or one thing extra calculated. Theories ranged from strategic trolling to a extra profound commentary on their inventive competitors.
Drake trolling Kendrick Lamar with Nokia and a music video in IMAX 😏🔥
Drake is HIM! Himothy Neutron😂😭 pic.twitter.com/G8Act0qpQ3
— MEMBERS ⁶𓅓 (@OVOmembers) March 31, 2025
— MONIE.🌹 (@chillwithmonie) March 31, 2025
Extra inspiration from Kendrick Lamar and the west coast discovered within the new Drake “NOKIA” music video. This was a scene within the Tremendous Bowl advert when Dr. Dre carried out, I’m telling yall, this s### ain’t stopping no time quickly. pic.twitter.com/X2ez0zLrbj
— kd. (@yes2letters) April 1, 2025
Drake mocking Kendrick’s Tremendous Bowl efficiency within the #Nokia video
This subsequent album goes to be fireplace 🔥 pic.twitter.com/zYFyJbbZzK
— Preserving Tradition Alive (@Q4quise) March 31, 2025
Drake was actually mocking Kendrick within the Nokia video. 😂 pic.twitter.com/V9wx87zgAd
— Perpetual Prince ⌚️ (@WahnPrince) April 1, 2025
Regardless of the chatter, “Nokia” continues to climb the charts, sitting at No. 11 on the Billboard Scorching 100 as of its launch week.
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