Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” video celebrates the beloved rapper’s hometown of Compton, but several local business owners claim the video’s making brought them economic losses.
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’ video costs local businesses revenue
Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” music video generated thousands of dollars in revenue for several local businesses in Compton, California, the Los Angeles Times reported Saturday (September 14) loss.
Corina Pleasant, owner of soul food restaurant Alma’s Place, told the Los Angeles Times that no customers entered her restaurant the day the music video was filmed because the parking lot was packed with people looking for video footage. She estimates she lost $1,800 to $2,200 on the day of the filming. Other business owners in the area are also affected.
Adelfo Antonio Garcia, a co-owner of Sunny Express Gourmet Fast Food, told the newspaper he also lost about $2,000. Customers still mistakenly believe his restaurant is closed on Saturdays.
The business owners are now asking K-Dot, his production company pgLang or the city to compensate them for lost revenue.
“It’s so frustrating not having electricity and gas,” Pleasant told the Los Angeles Times. “I was just running everything and not making any money. I was literally doing it for nothing because the little money I made, I had to use It pays my staff.”
Local businesses also criticized the city’s lack of communication, claiming they were not informed in advance that Kendrick was filming near their businesses.
A spokesperson for the city of Compton told the Los Angeles Times in a statement that the city will look for “opportunities to communicate more effectively with our community about film licensing in the future.”
“Compton’s businesses, especially small businesses, are the backbone of our city. We want to continue to keep open lines of communication and do everything we can to support economic growth,” the statement read.
XXL has contacted the Compton Chamber of Commerce seeking a statement.
Read more: Kendrick Lamar to headline 2025 Super Bowl halftime show
Tam’s Burgers sales surge
Some businesses have seen an increase in sales thanks to Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” video. Tam’s Burgers, a popular local restaurant where Kenny filmed some of his videos, reportedly saw a spike in sales after the video was released.
In an interview with TMZ (see below), a manager at Tam’s Burgers at the Compton location on Rosecrans Ave. saw a steady stream of customers in the days after the “Not Like Us” video was released on July 4.
Manager Lauro Hernandez told the outlet that customers have been ordering bacon cheeseburgers, which is what K-Dot ordered. Compton Rhyme has reportedly been frequenting the store since she was a teenager. Hernandez added that they didn’t ask for money to film in the restaurant, but Kendrick agreed to display the store’s logo in the film for publicity.
Read more: People are tired of “not like us” and don’t want to hear it
Watch the Tam’s Burger owner talk about Kendrick Lamar filming his “Not Like Us” video at his restaurant below.
