If you thought Kendrick Lamar was done releasing music for the year, think again. Lamar released a new track, his first since “Not Like Us” settled his feud with Drake for good, on Wednesday night.
The song doesn’t have an official title (fans have taken to calling it “Watch The Party Die”), but Lamar uploaded the track to Instagram with artwork showing a pair of dirty Nike Air Force Ones. It didn’t take long for internet sleuths to track down where the image seemingly came from: an eBay listing for “Vintage Nike Air Force 1 ‘82’ Low ‘Black Black 315122-001 Men’s Size 12.”
The Nike Air Force Ones, the “universal symbol of true goon-like activity,” cost $70 (plus $9 in shipping) and were located in North Little Rock, Arkansas from seller Good2BYou. The past tense is intentional, because they sold to someone in area code 94118 (San Francisco) on Wednesday, September 11, the day the song dropped. It’s unknown who the buyer is, but they made a wise investment. Meanwhile, “Good2BYou” must be kicking themselves over how much they could have sold the shoes for now.
But why shoes? One theory is that it’s Lamar retaliation for Drake mocking shoe size on “Push Ups.” You can see the listing for yourself here.
The Super Bowl halftime show is causing a stir as some segments of Hip-Hop and its fans think Lil Wayne should take the stage instead of Kendrick Lamar in Wayne’s hometown of New Orleans.
With some pointing the finger at JAY-Z, Fat Joe offers a different take.
“Years ago the beef with the NFL was Black people weren’t represented,” Fat Joe said. “”They brought out Dr. Dre, Eminem, everybody, number one ratings. Yeah JAY-Z’s a big voice but he has to go through the NFL ranks, Roger Goodell, and all that. It ain’t just one man’s decision.
“How about if he wasn’t doing these shows it would be no Hip-Hop. It never was Hip-Hop.”
With widespread support that Lil Wayne should have the Super Bowl stage in NOLA, Drake posted images online. It is worth noting that Drake’s current foe, Kendrick Lamar, has the Super Bowl spot.
Kendrick Lamar’s selection as the Super Bowl halftime performer has rubbed members of the Hip-Hop community the wrong way. Many, including Wayne’s engineer, Marasciullo, believe it should have been Lil Wayne.
“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all, inspired,” Marasciullo wrote. “Will never again be in a position or have the in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
Kendrick Lamar will take center stage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL made the announcement today, sparking excitement for the globally anticipated performance.
Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, founder of Roc Nation, praised Lamar’s influence: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision… His impact will be felt for years to come.”
Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar… Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop.”
Apple Music’s Oliver Schusser emphasized the excitement: “Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry-leading Spatial Audio quality.”
Lamar, a Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and co-founder of pgLang, continues to redefine hip-hop, earning accolades like a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN. and his chart-topping collaborations earlier this year.
PgLang will creatively direct Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, which will be produced by DPS. Roc Nation’s Jesse Collins will serve as executive producer, and Hamish Hamilton will serve as director.
Apple Music’s ongoing partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation has already produced record-breaking halftime shows. With Kendrick Lamar at the helm, this year’s performance is set to be another groundbreaking moment in Super Bowl history.
Kendrick Lamar like to do things in one fell swoop. Drake, his enemy throughout 2024, likes to do a lot. Memes, IG Stories, AI diss songs, etc. Lamar will go silent for weeks, maybe even months, then drop an absolutely devastating track. He did it again on September 11. The rapper came out of his “Not Like Us” hiatus and dropped a five minute epic on his Instagram. There’s no title or mention of Drake’s name, but there are plenty of bars that are clearly aimed at the 6 God throughout. Let’s unpack them.
Let’s start with the opening verse. The first line Kendrick Lamar utters is “I think it’s time to watch the party die.” This is a direct reference to a line in Lamar’s scathing “Meet the Grahams” diss. Towards the end of the song, he mentions crashing Drake’s “party” by uncovering all of the rapper’s flaws. The next few bars also seem squarely aimed at Drizzy. “This sh*t done got too wicked to apologize,” Lamar raps. “It’s different, get him whacked and disqualified.” The first part seemingly references the fact that kids and significant others were dragged into the Drake battle. The second part doubles down on the idea that Drake shouldn’t have a seat at the table when it comes to the all time greats.
The song functions as a broader take on what Kendrick Lamar was rapping about on “Euphoria” and “Not Like Us.” He’s effectively taking the rap game to task for allowing Drake to take over. He hates what the genre has become, and wants to start over. In this sense, the song is both a Drake diss and a diss to the industry (i.e. the “party”) that made Drake. The rest of the first verse makes this abundantly clear. “Why argue with these clowns if the circus is well at work,” he asks. “Just walk that man down, that’ll do everyone a solid. It’s love but tough love, sometimes gotta result in violence.”
A full breakdown of the song would balloon this article to dissertation length. Kendrick Lamar seemingly throws digs at Drake’s past courtesy of a “Star67” reference. He also asks Drake where his soldiers are at, after the Toronto rapper made reference to being a general in the song “The Heart Part 6.” Kendrick is taking a different approach here, but it’s no less cutting. He’s got a lot more to get off his chest when it comes to Drake, and this new song proves it.
Nobody knows how to break the internet like Kendrick Lamar. The rapper was historically pretty normal when it came to new album releases. 2024 has brought out a different side of him, though. Lamar has been in stealth mode, popping up to drop a devastating song and then retreating. It’s a game plan that helped him clinch a win in the battle against Drake. The battle is seemingly over, but Kendrick Lamar has decided to keep the game plan intact. The rapper dropped a song on Instagram Wednesday night, and the internet promptly broke.
One could argue the new song is the most cryptic release of Lamar’s career thus far. At least the Drake disses had proper title. The new one is still untitled, and is only available to stream on Instagram. There have been frantic attempts on the part of fans to cram all the new bars and determine who each of them are intended for. Kendrick Lamar has become the hip hop equivalent of Taylor Swift, in that every single thing he says gets dissected and praised for quadruple meanings. That said, the song is excellent, and fans everywhere seem to agree.
The creepy vibe of the song had Twitter users comparing Kendrick Lamar to Omar from The Wire. One user even included a clip of the fictional gangster strolling with a fan, and wrote: “This how it feels when Kendrick Lamar drops anything right now.” Others struggled to come up with a comparison, and simply marveled at the rapper’s planning. “Kendrick Lamar is perhaps the most calculated, art of war moving a*s n**ga we’ve ever seen in Rap,” another user tweeted.
Then there were fans who tried to break down the significance of Lamar dropping on September 11th. Surely, there must be a deeper meaning there, right? Keep scrolling to read more social media reactions to the track. Do you think Lamar will eventually drop his album? Let us know in the comments, and check back later for more music/pop culture news updates.
Kendrick Lamar and DJ Akademiks could not be further apart when it comes to their feelings on Drake. The former is the self-proclaimed “biggest hater.” The latter has been described by many as the biggest Drake fan there is. DJ Akademiks let his bias shine through all throughout the Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar beef, and it looks like the Candyman took note. Lamar just dropped off an untitled song, and in it he seemingly takes shots at the internet personality. It didn’t take long for Ak to panic.
There are lots of dense bars to get through on Lamar’s latest. The ones that seem most clear, though, are the ones fans have interpreted as being about DJ Akademiks. “Influencers talk down ’cause I’m not with the basic sh*t,” Lamar raps. “But they don’t hate me, they hate the man that I represent / The type of man that never d*ck ride ’cause I want a favor.” Ak is definitely an influencer, and has been accused of riding a little too hard for Drake over the years. The subliminals continue. “The radio personality pushing propaganda for salary,” he adds. “Let me know when they turn up as a casualty.”
DJ Akademiks makes a living off being first to these surprise drops, so it wasn’t going to take long for him to hear it. He didn’t take it well. The internet personality dropped a comment on Lamar’s Instagram that made his discomfort with the situation crystal clear. “No no noooo,” he wrote. We get it. Being the target of a Kendrick Lamar diss has to be horrifying. That said, DJ Akademiks has been in this situation before. Lamar called out Ak by name on “6:16 In LA,” which dropped at the height of the Drake diss.
DJ Akademiks elaborated on his thoughts via during his Wednesday night live stream. The internet personality claimed that Kendrick Lamar’s decision to take shots at him was a mistake. “You can’t say there isn’t a game 2, then immediately drop a track seemingly baiting game 2,” he opined. He also fired shots back at K. Dot by mocking the rapper’s tendency for dropping on notable dates. “Drop a single,” he wrote. “No Round 2s. Just drop em hits.”
There’s beating a dead horse, and then there’s whatever the heck Kendrick Lamar is doing. The man is clearly on a mission to make Drake dig a hole, jump in, and pull it in after himself. Just when you thought five performances of “Not Like Us” back-to-back was overkill, Dot follows up with yet another Drake diss song — this one untitled and shared via his Instagram with a photo of black Nike Air Force Ones, the universal symbol of true goon-like activity.
In the song, Dot wonders what Lecrae would do (not this, Kenny! although here’s what he said) and shouts out a number of notable fellow Angelenos, including jazz musician Terrace Martin and NBA trainer Jay Estrada. He also shuts down any possibility of reconciliation with Drake, acknowledging just how acrimonious the battle became after the release of “Meet The Grahams,” while essentially shrugging that there’s no going back after all that. Would anyone even respect Drake if he did want to reconcile with that man after all this?
The song arrives just days after Kendrick was announced as the headliner of the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show to a great degree of controversy, but as he said in his new song… so be it.
Kendrick Lamar did it again. The rapper who proclaims himself Candyman has come out of nowhere and dropped off a five minute song. No context, no rollout. Not even a title. The rapper just put the song up on Instagram. It’s the first Lamar song that hasn’t been a direct Drake diss in over seven months. That said, there are plenty of bars littered throughout the song that suggest he still has a bone to pick with the 6 God.
Lamar’s timing is fascinating. The rapper has become centered in a controversy involving the Super Bowl Halftime Show after it was announced he would headline the event in 2025. After pleasing virtually every listener that wasn’t a Drake fan, Lamar found himself on the wrong side of a media narrative. It’s difficult to tell whether the Halftime Show led to the release of this new song, but it definitely feels connected. K. Dot sounds weary as he raps over a wailing vocal sample. There’s barely a chorus, and instead he goes off on a series of unnamed targets.
Kendrick Lamar has no problem calling other people out by name. “Control,” the 2013 song that basically kickstarted the Drake feud, named over a dozen rappers. It then feels intentional that Lamar chose not to go the direct route on the new song. He takes a more subtle approach, and lets the listener put together the clues. There’s a lot of bars to sift through here. That said, we’d be shocked if there weren’t at least a few that could apply to Drake. Eagle-eyed fans might even find a few targeted at Nicki Minaj and the rest of Young Money. Let’s all get to listening.
Do you like Kendrick Lamar’s new song? Did he sneak in a few more digs at Drake? Let us know what you think of this brand-new track, in the comments section down below. Additionally, stay tuned to HNHH for the latest news and updates from around the music world. We will continue to keep you informed on all of your favorite artists and their upcoming projects.
Pulitzer Prize winner Kendrick Lamar is embarking on yet another milestone as the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime show for Apple Music. The announcement arrived last weekend in a commanding video showing Lamar in front of a large American flag. Of course, this isn’t the first time K.Dot has taken to the Halftime stage, as he previously joined the ranks of Dr. Dre, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Snoop Dogg back in 2022. For fans, the powers that be made the perfect pick for the February 9, Black History Month performance. However, with the big game being hosted in New Orleans, the report of Lamar being chosen over hometown hero Lil Wayne ruffled a few feathers.
“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” Lamar stated in a press release. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.” It’s a confident statement coming from an artist whose career only continues to rise. The rapper has had a monumental 2024 with the “Not Like Us” Drake diss takeover that rocked the boat of Drizzy’s career. The Pop-Out concert in Lamar’s L.A. stomping grounds broke records and became the talk of the internet for weeks. Additionally, with 17 Grammys under his belt and respect as a culturally conscious rapper who sold out his The Big Steppers Tour, one would think that choosing him for the Super Bowl would make sense. Yet, Young Money came out on social media swinging with allegations that Weezy F. Baby was snubbed.
Do Hometown Artists Deserve Priority?
A quick look at the list of Super Bowl Halftime performances will show you that, more often than not, the artist isn’t from the hosted city. Sure, Dr. Dre was able to coordinate a tribute to his career at Super Bowl LVI in L.A., but that isn’t consistent in its history. It is true that Lil Wayne helped put Lousiana Rap on the map, carving out one of the most successful Hip Hop careers to date. His Tha Carter series have been hailed as untouchable classics, with millions of units moved, and one can’t forget his 27 Grammy nominations and five wins. However, there didn’t seem to be the same uproar in 2019, when Maroon 5 headlined Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta, leaving local Hip Hop artists in the dust.
Can we wrap this Jay-Z Lil Wayne, Kendrick Lamar Debate up by midnight.
It’s been 58 mf Super Bowl performances and like 2 of them were in their home towns.
“Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer,” said Jay-Z. Five years ago, Roc Nation and Hov partnered with the NFL to enhance their social justice efforts and live experiences. For many, this means that Jay-Z has been calling the Halftime shots. “His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision. He has an unparalleled ability to define and influence culture globally. Kendrick’s work transcends music, and his impact will be felt for years to come.” It may be a sentiment that New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell aggrees with, considering she was born and raised in Los Angeles, herself.
The Young Money Meltdown
Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego. Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out.…
It didn’t take long after Kendrick Lamar’s news was shared that Hip Hop fans stormed social media with hot takes. Lil Wayne’s admirers swiftly defended the rapper and accused Jay-Z and Roc Nation of foiling his Nola Halftime opportunity. Then, Birdman chimed in with a message on X. “These n-ggaz Pussi @NICKIMINAJ @Drake @LilTunechi YMCMB. I’m make these n-ggaz respek us on Gladys.” He followed up with, “Hatin sh*t 4real.” It’s clear that he believes Wayne was pushed out of the running by nefarious higher-ups, and Nicki Minaj echoed those points of view in a lengthy rant of her own.
“Denying a young black man what he rightfully put into this game for no other reason but your ego,” The Pink Friday icon wrote. “Your hatred for BIRDMAN, Drake & Nicki got you punishing Lil Wayne?!?!!! LIL WAYNE!!!!!!!!!! THE GOAT?!!!!!!!!!!! Nola what’s good?!!!!!! Eminem stood firm on having 50Cent come out.” Amplifying her position, Minaj also referenced Colin Kaepernick, stating, “One n*gga took a knee The other n*gga took the bag. He gon get you ‘n*ggers’ in line every fkng time.” She also seemed to target Hov or Roc Nation by calling them “spiteful and evil.” It was a tirade that was shared near and far.
Amid fans pointing out Weezy’s Rap GOAT status, his peers surfaced with support, as well. Master P is an icon from The Big Easy, and while he gave Lamar a “salute,” he suggested that Lil Wayne be a part of the Halftime show, too. “Well deserved, he’s one of the hottest music artists in the world and has one of the biggest songs right now,” Percy Miller said of Kendrick. “As Ambassador of Entertainment in the City of New Orleans I have to agree with the fans that @liltunechi #LilWayne should be a part of this celebration as well.” He added, “He’s one of the greatest Hop Hop artists alive, still relevant and he’s a New Orleans native. Let’s not miss this cultural moment in the South. Life is too short! We have to give our legends their flowers while they are here.” Social media users have debated the concept of Wayne’s recent relevance as opposed to his overall status in Hip Hop. The arguments have become heated as Hip Hop heads go toe-to-toe.
P wasn’t the only Louisiana artist to speak up. Boosie Badazz worked his caps lock button overtime when expressing his disdain for Lamar’s choosing. He used the hashtag “#idontrespectit” and pointed out that the Los Angeles Super Bowl’s Halftime show featured prominent artists from the city. “ALL YALL ACTING LIKE YALL COOL WITH HOW THEY PLAYING IT FOR THE SUPERBOWL SMH THE MOST CULTURAL CITY N THE USA( NEW ORLÉANS)ITS A SMACK N THE FACE TO EVERY HIP HOP LEGEND FROM LOUISIANA @MasterPMiller @BIRDMAN5STAR.” Juvenile also has a thing or two to say, even calling out NFL executives for exploiting the city without including the artists.
“I don’t see how the f*ck y’all don’t have Lil Wayne doing the halftime show,” the “Back That Azz Up” hitmaker said in a video. “Somebody that has a whole bunch of f*cking hits and somebody that really deserves it and somebody that can bring out multiple artists of all genres. Think about it.” Others like Cam’ron and Hurricane Chris have also expressed the necessity of Wayne’s inclusion.
Kendrick Vs. Wayne’s Live Performances Questioned
It’s unclear at this stage what Kendrick Lamar and Co. have in store for what is shaping to be another epoch-making moment for Hip Hop. Lamar’s live performances have been artistic, cultural staples with symbolism that causes millions to dissect the historical significances. We watched this unfold for months as every lyric of “Not Like Us” was analyzed, from podcasts to tweets to TikToks and more mainstream media. When we received the accompanying music video, it further pushed those discussions.
This point is currently being debated as people share comparisons of Kendrick’s live shows to what Wayne has to offer. The latter is dynamic as he brings favorites to the stage, hyping the crowd from beginning to end with songs imprinted in our minds and Hip Hop culture. Still, some have argued that as a headliner at the Halftime show, it wouldn’t have the same impact. While the call for some sort of Young Money reunion at the next Super Bowl rages, attendees of this year’s Essence Festival pointed out that something of the kind has already taken place. Essence Fest was hosted in New Orleans and featured a Hot Boys reunion involving Wayne, Birdman, Juvenile, B.G., and Mannie Fresh. It went off with a bang, but Kendrick Lamar’s defenders contest that Dot would highlight more of a conscious, cultural space that is needed in today’s climate. Fans also surfaced online with allegations that Wayne forgets his lyrics while performing; some saw that as a risk.
Kendrick is definitely bringing out Wayne, but why do you think wayne could do a 15 min high energy performance ?!?!?!? He’s on heavy drugs and can barely remember his words to songs
For the most part, Lil Wayne keeps himself away from the hustle and bustle of internet shenanigans. It hasn’t kept his name off of trending topics lists, obviously, but there was a moment during a 2016 interview with ABC News’ Nightline, he made eyebrow-raising statements about the Black Lives Matter movement. He was asked his thoughts on the topic, and Weezy questioned what it even was. He said the concept of BLM “just sounds weird,” and became increasingly agitated as the line of questioning continued. Even T.I. came forward to speak out against Wayne’s remarks.
“I don’t know, that you put a name on such a — that’s what it was. It’s not a name; it’s not whatever, whatever,” Lil Wayne said. “It’s somebody got shot by a policeman for a f*cked up reason. I am a young, Black, rich n*gga. If that don’t let you know that America understand Black n*ggas matter these days, I don’t what it is.” He added, “I don’t know what you mean. Now, don’t come at me with that.” Elsewhere, “I don’t think I got to express this, but it’s who you are. You get treated accordingly. I don’t know nothing about that, what they’re talking about. I’m rich ass n*gga. Man, don’t get mad ’cause I’m rich and I don’t see none of that.” He then called himself a “gangbanger” as he continued to dismiss and distance himself from the movement.
This alone wouldn’t cut someone off from being a Halftime performer. However, with Roc Nation at the helm wanting to highlight social justice efforts in the NFL to recover from the league’s ongoing allegations of racism and lack of BLM support, one can only imagine if comments such as these may thwart those efforts. Further, Lil Wayne’s pardon from former President Donald Trump and his rumored support for the 2024 candidate has also made Wayne a target. Yet, being a Hip Hop MAGA supporter in and of itself also wouldn’t keep him from the Halftime stage. Who knows, we could get a Wayne or Young Money appearance in some way at next year’s Super Bowl. Whether or not that materializes remains to be seen, but Drake is probably somewhere bracing himself for the next “Not Like Us” season, this time, with an estimated 20 million people tuned in. It’ll be a doozy, no matter who Kendrick Lamar decides to share his spotlight with—but the BeyHive is hoping for a performance of “Freedom” with Beyoncé.
The “First Person Shooter” rapper showed his support for Lil Wayne by sharing five photos of his mentor to an Instagram Story on Tuesday night, a likely reference to the controversy over the Louisiana native not being selected for the New Orleans-set game. (Nicki Minaj has a lot of thoughts.) Instead, the honor went to Lamar, who will likely perform Drake diss track “Not Like Us” for an audience of 125 million people and countless owls.
Earlier this year, Lil Wayne expressed his desire to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. “I will not lie to you, I have not got a call,” he said on YG’s 4HUNNID podcast. “But we all praying, we keeping our fingers crossed. I’m working hard. I’m going to make sure this next album and everything I do is killer, so I’m going make it very hard for them to… I want to just make it hard for them not to highlight the boy.”
Considering how well the New Orleans Saints played during a week 1 win against Carolina, maybe the Derek Carr-led team will make it to the Super Bowl and invite Lil Wayne to perform the National Anthem. Dream big!
With widespread support that Lil Wayne should have the Super Bowl stage in NOLA, Drake posted images online. It is worth noting that Drake’s current foe, Kendrick Lamar, has the Super Bowl spot.
Kendrick Lamar’s selection as the Super Bowl halftime performer has rubbed members of the Hip-Hop community the wrong way. Many, including Wayne’s engineer, Marasciullo, believe it should have been Lil Wayne.
“Confused. Disappointed. Angry. But most of all, inspired,” Marasciullo wrote. “Will never again be in a position or have the in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
Kendrick Lamar will take center stage at the Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show at The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on February 9, 2025. Roc Nation, Apple Music, and the NFL made the announcement today, sparking excitement for the globally anticipated performance.
Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, founder of Roc Nation, praised Lamar’s influence: “Kendrick Lamar is truly a once-in-a-generation artist and performer. His deep love for hip-hop and culture informs his artistic vision… His impact will be felt for years to come.”
Seth Dudowsky, Head of Music at the NFL, echoed this sentiment, saying, “Few artists have impacted music and culture as profoundly as Kendrick Lamar… Kendrick has proven his unique ability to craft moments that resonate, redefine, and ultimately shake the very foundation of hip-hop.”
Apple Music’s Oliver Schusser emphasized the excitement: “Apple is thrilled to bring this show, starring the absolutely incomparable Kendrick Lamar, to fans worldwide with Apple Music’s industry-leading Spatial Audio quality.”
Lamar, a Grammy and Emmy-winning artist and co-founder of pgLang, continues to redefine hip-hop, earning accolades like a Pulitzer Prize for his 2017 album DAMN. and his chart-topping collaborations earlier this year.
PgLang will creatively direct Lamar’s Super Bowl performance, which will be produced by DPS. Roc Nation’s Jesse Collins will serve as executive producer, and Hamish Hamilton will serve as director.
Apple Music’s ongoing partnership with the NFL and Roc Nation has already produced record-breaking halftime shows. With Kendrick Lamar at the helm, this year’s performance is set to be another groundbreaking moment in Super Bowl history.
in a position where we are at the mercy of someone else’s decision. We will make the decisions.”
(@MufasaScreams) 
