Kendrick Lamar honored with mural at Tam’s Burgers after ‘Not Like Us’ video release | The Express Tribune

Kendrick Lamar’s latest music video, “Not Like Us,” has not only garnered over 45 million views but also boosted business for a local Compton eatery, Tam’s Burgers. The video, filmed partly at the restaurant located at Rosecrans and Central Avenues, has attracted fans worldwide, leading to the creation of a mural honoring the Grammy-winning rapper.

Since the video’s release, Tam’s Burgers has seen a surge in visitors stopping by for food and photos. Richard Oliveira, a local, commented on the cultural significance, stating, “People don’t realize the impact that hip-hop and our culture has, but clearly you can see that it’s a big thing.” Another fan, Blair Imani, highlighted Lamar’s dedication to his roots: “He could have gotten a partnership with any number of huge chain businesses and probably gotten a huge paycheck to do that, but that’s not what he’s about. He’s about the people, he’s about the culture.”

Among the visitors was Rita Wakefield from Australia, who emphasized the global influence of Black American culture. “It was just really an amazing reminder of the work that Kendrick is doing in the community and inspirational for us,” she said.

To commemorate the video shoot, muralist Mike Norice created a mural depicting Lamar. “This stamps the landmark that Kendrick did the video at,” Norice explained. He described the demanding process, working long hours with little rest. “This is God’s gift to me and I’m just doing what he set me to do,” he added.

Norice expressed his admiration for Lamar’s loyalty to Compton. “A lot of times, people blow up and they don’t ever come back. Kendrick has done that. He has shown love his entire career,” Norice noted. The mural, he hopes, will honor Lamar’s contributions to the community.

Fan Blair Imani remarked on the significance of celebrating Lamar while he is still alive: “It’s really beautiful to see Kendrick being celebrated while he is still here to get his flowers.”