In a surprising move on May 11, 2026, Kendrick Lamar's acclaimed album GNX and the single "euphoria" were abruptly removed from major streaming platforms, including Apple Music and TIDAL. Simultaneously, the official music videos for "Not Like Us" and "Luther" disappeared from Lamar's verified YouTube channel, displaying a "removed by the uploader" message. (hiphop-n-more.com)
The sudden removal of these works has sparked widespread speculation among fans and industry observers. Notably, the timing coincides with the impending release of Drake's ninth studio album, Iceman, scheduled for May 15, 2026. Given the history of public feuds between Lamar and Drake, some speculate that the deletions may be strategically related. (ibtimes.co.uk)
Adding to the intrigue, the deletions occurred amid ongoing legal proceedings. In January 2026, Drake filed a legal appeal concerning Lamar's lyrical content, following a previous dismissal of a defamation lawsuit against Universal Music Group. The current status of this appeal remains unclear, and no official statements have been issued by Lamar's creative agency, PGLang, or his record label, Interscope Records. (harianbasis.co)
While some of the removed content has since been restored, the reasons behind the initial deletions remain undisclosed. This series of events has left fans and industry insiders eagerly awaiting further developments and official explanations.