It happened in a tiny, cramped closet at Radio City Music Hall. You probably didn’t know that part. Questlove was there, and he watched in actual disbelief as Will Ferrell—the man who once made a cowbell the most famous instrument in the world—speed-memorized one of the most aggressive diss tracks in hip-hop history. We’re talking about Not Like Us Will Ferrell, a crossover that sounds like a fever dream but somehow became the centerpiece of the SNL 50: Homecoming Concert in early 2025.
If you’ve been living under a rock, "Not Like Us" is Kendrick Lamar’s nuclear-grade diss aimed at Drake. It’s gritty. It’s West Coast. It’s absolutely not what you’d expect from a pair of fictional middle-aged music teachers in cardigans. But that’s exactly what we got. Ferrell and his long-time comedy partner Ana Gasteyer stepped onto that stage as Marty and Bobbi Mohan-Culp, their iconic Saturday Night Live characters, and they didn’t just sing it. They transformed it.
The Night Not Like Us Will Ferrell Broke the Internet
Honestly, the "Not Like Us Will Ferrell" performance wasn’t even supposed to happen. It was a last-minute addition, written in the "11th hour" according to those backstage. Ana Gasteyer later told People that they went back and forth on the song choice. They were nervous. They were conflicted. Could two of the dorkiest characters in comedy history really pull off a Kendrick Lamar cover?
The answer was a resounding yes, mostly because of how ridiculous the contrast was.
The Culps are known for taking high-energy pop hits and turning them into low-energy, operatic, and deeply awkward medleys. Think keyboard beats from 1994 and harmonies that belong in a high school cafeteria. When Ferrell’s character, Marty Culp, leaned into the mic and asked, “Are Kenny Lamar and Drake Graham in the house? Maybe you two can hug it out tonight?” the crowd lost it. But then he dropped the beat.
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The Lyrics That Made Everyone Gasp
Ferrell didn't hold back. He kept the most controversial lines. He shouted the "Certified Lover Boy? Certified pedophile" line with the kind of unearned confidence only a character like Marty Culp could possess. It wasn't just a parody; it was a cultural collision.
- The "A Minor" Bit: They took Kendrick’s witty "A minor" taunt and stretched it into a literal, operatic music lesson.
- The Uncensored Energy: Unlike some televised versions of the song, Ferrell’s rendition was unapologetically raw.
- The Meryl Streep Cameo: While this was happening, the camera panned to Meryl Streep in the audience. She actually flipped the bird (playfully) at the stage while Martin Short laughed next to her.
Why This Specific Cover Matters
People keep searching for Not Like Us Will Ferrell because it represents a weird shift in how we consume beef. Usually, a rap feud stays in the rap world. But Kendrick Lamar’s track was so dominant that it leaked into every corner of the planet. When Will Ferrell does it, the song officially moves from "club anthem" to "universal folk song."
It’s about the absurdity of the "Get off the shed!" guy singing a song about "ov-hoe."
Gasteyer mentioned that the Culps are always trying to "reach their students where they are." In their fictional world, Kendrick is just "Song of the Year," a catchy tune for the kids. In the real world, it was a moment where comedy legends showed they still have their fingers on the pulse. They weren't just making fun of the song; they were celebrating how inescapable it had become.
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Behind the Scenes: The Closet Rehearsal
Questlove, who was the Music Director for the concert, revealed on Score: The Podcast that watching Ferrell memorize the verses was his favorite part of the entire gig. Imagine being a legendary drummer and watching Ron Burgundy mutter Kendrick Lamar lyrics in a broom closet so he doesn't mess up the rhythm. That’s the kind of dedication Ferrell brings to a bit.
He didn't just wing it. He studied the cadence.
Addressing the Rumors
There was a lot of chatter online about whether Kendrick Lamar actually liked the cover. While Kendrick hasn't released a formal "review" of the Culps' performance, the general consensus in the industry is that it was the ultimate sign of "arrival." If the Culps cover you, you’ve won. You are the zeitgeist.
On the flip side, people joked about Drake’s reaction. Social media was flooded with comments like, "Drake definitely turned the TV off at this point." Whether he did or didn't, the performance solidified the song as a historical marker for 2024 and 2025.
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Actionable Takeaways for the Curious
If you're looking to dive deeper into this specific moment of pop culture history, here is how you can find the best of it:
- Watch the Peacock Stream: The full SNL 50: Homecoming Concert is available on Peacock. Don't just look for clips on TikTok; the full medley is much better because it transitions from "Do That To Me One More Time" into Britney Spears and then finally hits the Kendrick payoff.
- Check the Questlove Interview: If you're a process nerd, find the Score: The Podcast episode where Questlove talks about the 11th-hour writing session. It gives a lot of respect to how hard these comedians work.
- Look for the Doechii Connection: During that same sketch, they also covered Doechii's "Denial is a River." It’s a great example of Gasteyer’s operatic range and her ability to keep up with modern hip-hop flows.
Basically, the "Not Like Us Will Ferrell" moment wasn't just a lucky joke. It was a calculated, high-risk comedy move that paid off because Ferrell and Gasteyer aren't afraid to look like idiots while honoring the most intense music of our time. It’s why Ferrell stays relevant. He knows exactly when to lean into the chaos.
If you want to see more of Ferrell's musical history, you should check out his legendary drum-off with Chad Smith or his countless other SNL musical sketches like "More Cowbell," which, according to Christopher Walken, "ruined his life" in the best way possible.