DeMar DeRozan, a beloved figure in Toronto for several years, left the Raptors on good terms. Even after playing for two different teams since being traded, he is still warmly applauded whenever he returns to the city. DeRozan, once synonymous with the Toronto Raptors, is a franchise legend, and it’s likely his jersey will be retired someday.
However, his recent appearance in the middle of a rap beef might affect how at least one Raptors fan feels about him. DeRozan made a cameo in Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video. The song features a line about DeRozan, but it is part of Lamar’s broader effort to antagonize Drake, the Toronto native and massive Raptors fan.
Drake has considered DeRozan a friend for many years. Fans recall DeRozan’s heartfelt comments about Drake, where he thanked the rapper for supporting him during a tough period in his life.
“No matter what, when it comes to Drake, he’ll forever have a friend in me and loyalty out of me,” DeRozan said in a 2021 interview with Shannon Sharpe. “He cared and was there for me when everything was going crazy,” DeRozan added, highlighting how Drake reached out to him after the Raptors unexpectedly traded him to the San Antonio Spurs in 2019.
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DeRozan’s appearance in Lamar’s music video probably doesn’t indicate that he’s no longer willing to call Drake a friend, but several fans are pointing out what they see as a lack of loyalty.
The line in Lamar’s song refers to DeRozan “coming home,” which could hint that the Compton native might join either the Los Angeles Lakers or Clippers this summer.
While this potential move stirs excitement among fans in Los Angeles, it adds another layer to the conversation about loyalty and friendship, especially in the context of DeRozan’s deep ties with Drake and Toronto.
Regardless of the rap beef and the speculations about his future, DeRozan’s legacy in Toronto remains intact.
His contributions to the Raptors are etched in the memories of fans, and his friendship with Drake is likely to endure beyond the music video cameo. As the offseason unfolds, it will be interesting to see where DeRozan lands and how his relationships and career continue to evolve.
