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5 Shocking Details About Will Ferrell And Ana Gasteyer's Viral Kendrick Lamar Cover At SNL 50

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The worlds of comedy and hip-hop collided in an unforgettable, viral moment in late 2025, solidifying a bizarre cultural footnote that no one saw coming. On the grand stage of the SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert, comedy titans Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer resurrected their iconic characters, the quirky music teachers Marty Culp and Bobbie Mohan-Culp, to deliver a truly unexpected performance: a cover of Kendrick Lamar’s chart-topping, venomous diss track, "Not Like Us." This bold choice not only generated massive buzz but also injected the high-stakes Drake-Kendrick beef into the mainstream comedy lexicon, proving that the cultural reach of a great diss record knows no bounds. The segment, which aired on February 14, 2025, quickly became one of the most talked-about highlights of the star-studded anniversary event, prompting a fresh look at the enduring legacy of Saturday Night Live's most beloved recurring characters.

This deep dive explores the five most shocking and fascinating details surrounding this unlikely collaboration, from the behind-the-scenes debate over the song choice to the cultural significance of two middle-aged, out-of-touch suburban teachers performing a track steeped in West Coast hip-hop rivalry. The performance was a masterclass in comedic timing, leveraging the Culps' signature style of hilariously misinterpreting contemporary pop culture, making them the perfect, if completely absurd, vehicle to comment on the biggest rap feud of the decade.

The Unexpected Resurgence of Marty and Bobbie Culp

The decision to have Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer perform at the SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert immediately sparked curiosity, but the choice of material—Kendrick Lamar’s "Not Like Us"—was a genuine shocker. The duo reprised their roles as the Culps, a pair of hyper-earnest, slightly out-of-touch public school music teachers from the fictional fictional Needham, Massachusetts.

  • Marty Culp (Will Ferrell): Known for his tight, ill-fitting suits, wide-eyed enthusiasm, and often distracting keyboard solos.
  • Bobbie Mohan-Culp (Ana Gasteyer): Characterized by her severe bob hairstyle, dramatic vocal phrasing, and unwavering commitment to the bit.

The Culps were a staple of Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002, famous for their awkward, lounge-style covers of pop songs, including hits by *NSYNC, Destiny’s Child, and the Spice Girls. Their return for the 50th anniversary was a nostalgic treat, but their tackling of a complex, politically charged diss track was a comedic risk that paid off handsomely. The humor stemmed from the sheer absurdity of their white, suburban, middle-class aesthetic being applied to a song about gang affiliations and cultural authenticity.

The Behind-the-Scenes Debate Over Kendrick’s Diss Track

One of the most surprising revelations about the performance was the internal debate over whether to cover "Not Like Us" at all. Ana Gasteyer revealed in an interview that she and Will Ferrell "went back and forth" on the choice. The song, a blistering response to Drake during their highly publicized 2024 beef, is notoriously explicit and aggressive. Gasteyer felt a hesitation about performing such a raw, culturally specific track, especially as a comedic cover.

The decision ultimately came down to the song's massive cultural saturation and undeniable catchiness. "Not Like Us" had become a phenomenon, transcending the rap battle to become a universal party anthem. Ferrell and Gasteyer recognized that the song's ubiquity made it the perfect, most topical choice for the Culps to hilariously misunderstand and sanitize for their family-friendly, public-school audience. Their performance included a plea for Drake and Kendrick Lamar to "hug it out" in the name of "love and music," a classic Culpian move to de-escalate a serious feud with saccharine sentimentality.

The Questlove Connection and Viral Memorization

The dedication of Will Ferrell to the performance was highlighted by an anecdote shared by Questlove, the legendary musician and drummer for The Roots. Questlove, who was present at the concert, was reportedly "blown away" by Ferrell's commitment to the material.

The story goes that Ferrell, known for his meticulous preparation and commitment to his characters, fully memorized the intricate, rapid-fire verses of "Not Like Us." This is a feat in itself, as the track is known for its dense lyrical structure and complex flow. The fact that a comedic actor, whose primary goal was parody, took the time to master the technical aspects of Kendrick Lamar's artistry speaks volumes about the respect for the material and the commitment to the bit. This attention to detail ensured the cover was not just a simple parody but a highly polished, albeit absurd, musical performance.

The segment was further elevated by the inclusion of modern artists Doechii and Chappell Roan, who reportedly joined the Culps on stage. This blending of classic SNL characters with contemporary musical acts underscored the concert's theme of celebrating the show's past while acknowledging its influence on the present cultural landscape.

Topical Authority: The Cultural Weight of "Not Like Us"

To fully appreciate the comedic genius of the Culp's performance, one must understand the cultural weight of Kendrick Lamar's "Not Like Us." The song was the final, devastating blow in the highly publicized 2024 rap battle between Kendrick Lamar and Drake. It was more than a diss track; it was a cultural moment.

  • West Coast Anthem: The beat, produced by DJ Mustard, has a distinct West Coast G-funk sound, making it a powerful statement about regional authenticity in hip-hop.
  • Lyrical Content: The lyrics are a brutal, personal attack on Drake, accusing him of various misdeeds and cultural appropriation, encapsulated by the repeating refrain, "They not like us."
  • Chart Success: The song dominated charts globally, becoming a massive hit that resonated far beyond the core hip-hop audience.

By choosing this track, Ferrell and Gasteyer were not just covering a popular song; they were satirizing the idea of cultural gatekeeping and the often-silly nature of celebrity feuds. The Culps, with their wholesome, suburban lens, completely stripped the song of its aggression and cultural context, turning a West Coast declaration of war into a plea for unity, which is the ultimate, hilarious antithesis. The inclusion of the song cemented the Drake-Kendrick beef as a piece of pop culture history ripe for mainstream parody, proving that the most impactful cultural moments eventually find their way to the Saturday Night Live stage.

The Enduring Legacy of SNL's Musical Parody

The Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer cover of the Kendrick Lamar track is a perfect example of Saturday Night Live's enduring legacy of musical parody. From the Blues Brothers to Garth and Kat, the show has always used music to satirize popular culture and celebrity. The Culps, in particular, specialized in taking the edgy, the controversial, or the hyper-sexualized in pop music and filtering it through a lens of wholesome, tone-deaf suburban innocence.

The performance at the SNL 50: The Homecoming Concert demonstrated that this formula is as potent as ever. The sight of Marty Culp earnestly singing about "certified lover boy" while Bobbie Mohan-Culp dramatically emphasized the phrase "they not like us" was a masterclass in juxtaposition. It was a fresh, unique, and deeply funny way to celebrate the show's history while acknowledging the most current events in the music world. It's a moment that will be discussed for years to come, confirming that Will Ferrell and Ana Gasteyer's musical teachers are still the gold standard for awkward, hilarious pop culture commentary.

will ferrell kendrick lamar
will ferrell kendrick lamar

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