not like us
/nɒt laɪk ʌs/
CommonA pointed accusation that someone doesn't belong to or share the values of the speaker's group.
The meaning depends heavily on context. In hip-hop it's a diss track frame. Online it's used to roast someone who acts out of step with a community's norms, sometimes playfully, sometimes genuinely.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | the way he moved on that was not like us at all. | His behavior was out of step with what the group considers acceptable. | x, 2024 |
| 02 | he started gatekeeping the hobby for no reason. not like us. | His behavior is exclusionary in a way the community disagrees with. | reddit, 2024 |
| 03 | he doesn't play the game, he just watches others play. not like us. | Playful in-group poke at someone who doesn't fully participate. | tiktok, 2024 |
| 04 | not like us dropped and suddenly everyone had an opinion. | Kendrick's diss track generated massive discussion. | x, 2024 |
Use it when
- Accusing someone of being fake, predatory, or not genuine within a community.
- Drawing an in-group/out-group line, seriously or playfully.
- Referencing Kendrick Lamar's diss track and its themes of predatory behavior.
Do not use it when
- You just mean someone is different or has different interests.
Origin and context
Popularized by Kendrick Lamar's 2024 diss track 'Not Like Us' directed at Drake, which contained allegations of predatory behavior. The phrase carried those connotations into broader internet use.
- First seen
- 2024
- Confidence
- high
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/not-like-usUpdated: 2026-08-28License: CC BY 4.0