Kendrick Receives Standing Ovation At Grand National Show in Toronto

Kendrick Lamar pulled no punches Thursday night (June 12) when he took over the Rogers Centre in Toronto—right in the middle of Drake’s territory. With tension still thick from their very public lyrical war, all eyes were on Kendrick as he stepped into the 6 to perform on his Grand National Tour. 

But instead of backlash, the Compton MC received a hero’s welcome. 

Fans inside the packed stadium erupted as Dot hit the stage, kicking off a hard-hitting set that included new joints like “Squabble Up” and “TV Off” from his GNX album. He didn’t hold back on the classics either, running through “HUMBLE.” and “All the Stars,” the latter performed alongside tourmate and former Top Dawg affiliate SZA.

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any more surreal, Kendrick fired up that track—“Not Like Us.” Yup, the same diss that’s become a summer anthem and club smash, despite being aimed directly at the city’s golden boy. But here’s the wild part: Toronto didn’t boo. They screamed. Phones lit up the arena. People danced. The energy inside the Rogers Centre hit fever pitch as the crowd rapped every word, turning what could’ve been enemy territory into Lamar’s victory lap. 

When the beat dropped out, Kendrick stood alone in the spotlight, face shadowed, soaking up the moment for a full two minutes while the crowd chanted “One more time!” over and over. 

Meanwhile, the OVO side of things stayed quiet. Drizzy was supposed to go live on stream with Kai Cenat that night, possibly to steal a little attention back—but that got postponed. Fans had also planned a mini “Drake rally” during the show, but the organizers pulled the plug due to “logistical constraints.” 

So yeah, Kendrick Lamar showed up in the 6 and left with the W on Thursday. No pop-ups. No distractions. Just bars, fans, and a performance that might go down as one of the boldest mic drops in recent rap history.