Michael Rubin confirms he banned Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” at an all-white party to show solidarity with Drake

Famous businessman Michael Rubin has confirmed that he changed the playlist in Drake’s favor during his all-white star-studded party.

His annual whites-only party in the Hamptons kicked off on July 4, the same day that Drake’s current arch-rival Kendrick Lamar released his famous hit “Not Like Us,” a diss track aimed at the Canadian native.

The song’s success quickly spread across social media and the country, marking Lamar’s victory lap in the historic rap feud between the two. Some may have expected the iconic hit to grace Rubin’s high-profile social event – whose guests included Quavo, Kim Kardashian and, of course, Drake.

Rumors began to swirl that the song was not allowed to be played at the party to ensure that 37-year-old Drake would not feel uncomfortable. In a recent interview with The Breakfast Club, the CEO of Fanatics revealed that he created the “Not Like Us-free zone.”

When asked by the moderator whether the rumors at 1:25 p.m. that there had been a specific order not to play the song were true, Rubin confirmed: “Yes. It’s true.”

“For me, Drake has been my friend for a long time. I’m not going to invite him and then – look, he’s in the middle of a little argument right now. I just didn’t think that was appropriate, so I sent a message. I said, ‘Hey, let’s not play the music of someone who’s in a fight with someone over there,'” Rubin, 52, explained, adding that it was his personal decision and not Drake’s wish.

“This is a great test for him. You can’t get to where he is without people chasing you,” he continued. “With success comes more competition, more hate. And the best people show why they’re the best… he’s going to put out a lot of incredible music… and I think people are going to say, ‘That’s why Drake is Drake.'”

Drake, real name Aubrey Drake Graham, and West Coast rapper Kendrick Lamar were involved in a public rap dispute that escalated in March. In May, police began investigating a shooting that took place outside Drake’s Toronto mansion in which a security guard was injured.

Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” reached number two on the annual Billboard Song of the Summer chart.

The song also received its first nomination for Song of the Year at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards.

Tags

Drake, Kendrick Lamar