Drake’s famous NBA buddy banned Kendrick Lamar diss song from swanky party

The Fanatics founder and CEO has picked a side in the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef.

Feb 18, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Fanatics owner Michael Rubin attends the 73rd NBA All Star game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping single “Not Like Us” has been inescapable over the course of the summer. But one key sports figure made sure to cultivate a space where the Drake-aimed diss track was banned. 

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Back in July, Fanatics founder and CEO Michael Rubin held his annual all-white party. Though Drake has been laying low for much of the summer, he was in attendance for the party — which happened to take place the same day the “Not Like Us” video was released. Pictures surfaced online of Drake at the party, which led people to wonder if Rubin had implemented a ban on the biggest song of the summer from being in rotation.

In an interview on “The Breakfast Club,” Rubin confirmed that he did, in fact, instruct the DJ not to play “Not Like Us.”

​​“It was true,” Rubin said. “Drake‘s my friend for a long time. I’m not gonna invite him and then have–look, he’s obviously going through a little bit of a battle right now…I just didn’t think it was appropriate, so I just sent a note. I said ‘Hey, let’s not play anyone’s music that’s feuding with anyone that’s there.'”

While the Drake and Kendrick Lamar beef is one of the biggest hip-hop rivalries in recent memory, the feud has carried over into the sports world as well. Sacramento Kings power forward DeMar DeRozan appeared in the video, but later said he still has love for Drake, and that his cameo in the video was all in good fun.

At the ESPYs, Serena Williams showed love to her hometown hero Lamar, noting that Toronto Raptors fans would “Forrest Gump him” if he ever showed up to a game.

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In a viral video taken from the Team USA men’s basketball practice sessions, Steph Curry expressed frustration over having heard the song so many times, while LeBron James said that he loves the song.

While the feud has seemingly died down, watching it unfold was almost as intriguing as the NBA Finals or even the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Almost.

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