It started with a three-note piano riff. That’s all it took. When Metro Boomin dropped the beat for Like That on the We Don't Trust You album in early 2024, the hip-hop landscape didn't just shift—it fractured. People weren't just listening to a song; they were witnessing a declaration of war. Kendrick Lamar’s guest verse, specifically the "Big Three? It's just big me" line, basically detonated a decade of bubbling tension.
Honestly, the track is a masterclass in tension. It feels like a high-speed chase. Future sets the tone with his signature melodic grit, but the energy shifts the second Kendrick touches the mic. You've heard the stories about how hip-hop used to be competitive, but this was different. This wasn't a friendly sparring match. It was a calculated move to dismantle the hierarchy of modern rap.
The Production Magic Behind the Madness
Metro Boomin is a genius. There, I said it. But specifically, his use of the "Everlasting Bass" sample by Rodney O and Joe Cooley is what gives Like That its teeth. It’s a callback to the 80s West Coast electro-rap scene, which is fitting since Kendrick represents the modern pinnacle of that lineage.
The drums are aggressive. They don't just kick; they punch. Most producers would have overcomplicated the melody to match Kendrick’s frantic energy, but Metro kept it lean. He let the 808s do the heavy lifting. By stripping back the layers, he created a vacuum that Kendrick filled with pure, unadulterated vitriol. It’s a specific kind of sonic architecture that Future has mastered over the years—creating spaces where high-energy delivery feels earned rather than forced.
People talk about the beef, sure. But the technical precision of the mixing on Like That is why it stayed on the charts for months. The low-end frequencies are tuned perfectly for club systems, yet the vocals remain crystal clear. That’s a hard balance to strike. If you listen on high-end monitors, you can hear the subtle distortion on Future’s vocals that adds to the "grimy" feel of the track. It’s intentional. It’s art.
Kendrick Lamar and the Verse That Changed Everything
Everyone remembers where they were when they first heard the "Big Three" line. It was a direct shot at Drake and J. Cole. For years, the industry had played nice. There was this unspoken agreement that these three were the pillars of the genre. Kendrick decided to kick the pillars down.
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The wordplay in Like That is dense. When he says, "sneak dissin' first-person shooter," he isn't being vague. He’s referencing the Drake and J. Cole collaboration "First Person Shooter." He’s calling out the very idea of a "Big Three." To Kendrick, being part of a group is a sign of weakness. He wants the throne entirely to himself.
- The Prince vs. Michael Jackson Comparison: This was the coldest part. Kendrick basically said that while his rivals might be big stars, he’s the one with the longevity and the "funk."
- The "Pet Sematary" Line: A grizzly reference to Stephen King that signaled he was ready to bury his competition.
- The Flow Switch: He moves from a slow, methodical pace into a double-time rhythm that mimics the sound of a literal "chopper" (a firearm).
It wasn't just about the words. It was about the audacity. Future and Metro Boomin provided the platform, but Kendrick brought the fire. Most people expected a typical Future track—vibe-heavy, melodic, atmospheric. Instead, they got a historical artifact.
Why Future and Metro Boomin Were the Perfect Partners
Future is the king of the "toxic" anthem, but on Like That, he plays a different role. He’s the orchestrator. He provides the cool, detached foundation that makes Kendrick’s heat feel even more intense. If the whole song had been Kendrick-level aggression, it might have been exhausting. Future’s hook provides the breathing room.
There’s a lot of rumors about why Future and Metro Boomin decided to greenlight this verse. Some say it was about old industry slights; others think it was purely a business move to create the biggest moment in rap history. The truth is likely a mix of both. They knew what they had. You don’t put a verse like that on a lead album unless you’re ready for the fallout.
The chemistry between Metro and Future is documented. From DS2 to What a Time to Be Alive, they have a shorthand. They know how to make a song sound expensive. On Like That, they used that "expensive" sound to host a "backyard" brawl. It’s a fascinating juxtaposition.
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The Cultural Impact and the "Beef" Fallout
The aftermath was chaotic. J. Cole dropped a response, then apologized and took it down. Drake dropped several tracks, leading to an all-out lyrical war that lasted weeks. But Like That remained the North Star of the entire conflict. It was the catalyst.
In the streaming era, songs usually have a shelf life of about two weeks. This track broke that rule. It stayed in the top ten because it became more than a song—it was a news cycle. Every time someone found a new layer in Kendrick's lyrics, the play count jumped.
- It revived the "diss track" as a viable commercial product.
- It forced fans to pick sides in a way we haven't seen since the 90s.
- It solidified Metro Boomin as the most influential producer of his generation.
There’s a nuance here that people miss: the song is actually fun to listen to. Strip away the drama, and it’s still a banger. The bounce is infectious. You can play it at a party, in the gym, or in the car. That’s the secret sauce. If it were just a boring rant over a dull beat, it would have died out. Instead, it’s a staple.
Realities of the Recording Process
Recording a track of this magnitude isn't just about hitting "record." According to various engineer interviews and industry whispers, the track went through multiple iterations. Metro is known for being a perfectionist. He’ll swap out a snare sound twenty times until it sits right in the pocket.
Kendrick’s involvement was kept under tight wraps. Very few people in the studio even knew the verse existed until the album was nearly finalized. This kind of secrecy is rare in the age of leaks. It shows the level of respect (and perhaps fear) that the artists involved have for the "moment." They wanted the world to be shocked. They succeeded.
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Actionable Insights for Music Fans and Creators
If you’re looking at Like That from a creator’s perspective, there are a few things to take away. First, collaboration is about contrast. Future’s smoothness vs. Kendrick’s jagged edge is what makes the song work. Second, don't be afraid of silence or simplicity. The beat isn't cluttered. It gives the vocals room to breathe.
For the average listener, understanding the context makes the experience better. Knowing the history of "First Person Shooter" and the "Big Three" narrative turns a three-minute song into a chapter of a much larger story.
To truly appreciate the track, try these steps:
- Listen to the Sample: Find "Everlasting Bass" on YouTube. Listen to how Metro chopped it. It gives you a new appreciation for the production.
- Read the Lyrics: Use a site like Genius, but don't just look at the meanings—look at the internal rhyme schemes. Kendrick is doing things with vowels that are technically insane.
- Compare the Mix: Listen to Like That on cheap earbuds, then listen on a good pair of over-ear headphones. The way the bass is layered is a masterclass in modern audio engineering.
The song changed the trajectory of 2024. It reminded everyone that rap is still a contact sport. Whether you’re a fan of Drake, Cole, or Kendrick, you have to admit that the genre is more interesting when the stakes are this high. Future and Metro Boomin didn’t just release an album; they started a fire, and Like That was the match.