Who Is Kendrick Lamar’s New Track ‘Watch The Celebration Die’ About?

Kendrick Lamar threw out one other curveball on Wednesday (September 11) when he launched a combative new monitor unexpectedly.

Okay. Dot shared the untitled monitor, which followers have begun calling “Watch the Celebration Die,” completely on his rarely-used Instagram account, simply because the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards (the place Kendrick was up for 2 awards) have been kicking off.

The music is the Compton rap star’s first launch since “Not Like Us,” his chart-topping diss monitor that landed the knockout blow in his beef with Drake, and likewise arrives shortly after he was introduced as subsequent 12 months’s Tremendous Bowl halftime present headliner in New Orleans — information that has ruffled a couple of feathers.

Although the music isn’t an specific diss like his earlier 2024 releases, there are nonetheless loads of clues and Easter eggs which have left rap followers buzzing. Not least its cowl artwork: a low-res picture of overwhelmed up black Nike Air Drive 1s, which is the common code for selecting violence.

Take a look at the music beneath, and skim on to decode who precisely Kendrick Lamar could be addressing.

Drake?

“Watch the Celebration Die” is probably not an specific shot at Drake, however after Kendrick Lamar subliminally jabbed him in his Tremendous Bowl halftime present announcement video, it’d frankly be stunning if the music didn’t at the least contact on their feud.

Within the first verse, Kendrick seems to reference their current battle, rapping: “Simply stroll that man down, that’ll do everybody a strong / It’s love, however robust love generally gotta end in violence.”

“Stroll the person down” may very well be interpreted as a reference to his crushing defeat of Drizzy, whereas Kendrick actually confirmed his rival some “robust love” on “Meet the Grahams,” wherein he meticulously dismantled his total persona and life decisions whereas urging him to “strip the ego from the underside” and “take that masks off” to disclose his true self.

Within the second verse, Okay. Dot takes a shot at an unnamed enemy who’s “soiled macking bitches as a result of your spirit is insecure / The flashy n-gga with nasty choices, utilizing cash as a spine / I would like his head cracked earlier than he’s again house.”

That, too, may very well be about Drake, with “nasty choices” presumably referring to Kendrick’s earlier claims concerning the 6 God’s alleged pedophilic nature.

The Total Music Trade?

“Watch the Celebration Die” seems to be largely aimed on the rap recreation, if not the broader music trade, if not society as a complete.

The monitor is loaded with warning pictures like: “I believe it’s time to look at the celebration die / Road n-ggas and the company guys, the rappers that report the lies / I want they households mortified / We will do life with out ’em, get they our bodies organized, inform me when you obliged.”

If Kendrick have been to go after the whole music trade, what higher time to drop the music than because the MTV VMAs are about to start? If that was his goal, then he was profitable as “Watch the Celebration Die” compelled folks to tug folks away from their TV screens and hearken to his newest lyrical sermon.

One listener mentioned of the music on social media: “It doesn’t really feel like a coincidence that Kendrick dropped his new music the precise minute the VMAs began. He’s speaking about watching ‘the celebration’ die. He sounds pissed off with the route of the music trade and tradition. He talks about ‘burning it down.’ He’s upset about what business artists (like Drake) signify. Now we’re all sitting right here breaking down his lyrics as an alternative of speaking concerning the large glitzy trade celebration (VMAs).”

It doesn’t really feel like a coincidence that Kendrick dropped his new music the precise minute the VMAs began

He’s speaking about watching “the celebration” die

He sounds pissed off with the route of the music trade and tradition

He talks about “burning it down”

He’s upset about what…

— Eric Skelton (@ericskelton) September 12, 2024

Akademiks?

Whereas Kendrick seemingly has loads of targets in his crosshairs on “Watch the Celebration Die,” one particular determine who seems to catch pictures is Akademiks.

Lamar beforehand talked about the controversial media persona by title on “6:16 in LA” and he seemingly takes goal at him once more on this newest monitor, rapping: “The radio persona pushing propaganda for wage / Let me know after they flip up as a casualty.”

He additionally says: “In case you parade in gluttony with out giving reality to the youth, the graveyard is corporate […] Influencers discuss down as a result of I’m not with the fundamental shit / However they don’t hate me, they hate the person that I signify/ The kind of man that by no means dick journey as a result of I desire a favor.”

Akademiks has been a vocal Drake supporter all through the feud, even going as far as to assert that the 6 God got here out on high, opposite to fashionable opinion.

In a submit following the discharge of Kendrick’s “Not Like Us” video, he made no try to cover his allegiances by tweeting: “All u n-ggas who been appearing like Drake completed… bookmark this tweet for six months from now. We dont need u n-ggas no the place close to us……Do not forget that.”

His Tremendous Bowl Halftime Present Haters?

“Watch the Celebration Die” clocks in at exactly 5 minutes and 4 seconds, which some have urged is a delicate nod to the 504 space code of New Orleans, the place Kendrick shall be headlining the 2025 Tremendous Bowl halftime present.

Regardless of Okay. Dot’s worthy credentials, many Lil Wayne supporters have taken challenge with the choice given Weezy’s standing as a NOLA legend and the truth that he had overtly coveted the chance.

Nicki Minaj, Birdman, Cam’ron, Juvenile, Grasp P and Boosie Badazz have all voiced their disapproval with Wayne’s perceived snub, with some directing their anger in direction of JAY-Z, who together with Roc Nation has helped set up the halftime present since 2020.

Given “Watch the Celebration Die” is Kendrick’s first assertion for the reason that uproar over his Tremendous Bowl announcement, the “celebration” in query may be referring to those that have rained on his parade.

Whereas the 504 connection looks like a attain, Kendrick is not any stranger to burying such Easter eggs in his artwork. Take, as an illustration, all of the subliminal pictures fired at Drake in his Tremendous Bowl advert and “Not Like Us” video. Or how Kendrick’s To Pimp a Butterfly unfolded right into a poem addressed to 2Pac, and finally a staged dialog with the late rap legend, with the album initially being known as Tu Pimp a Caterpillar (or Tupac, for brief).

Lamar additionally designed his 2018 LP DAMN. to be performed in reverse order, telling MTV Information: “It performs as a full story and even a greater rhythm. It’s one in every of my favourite rhythms and tempos throughout the album. It’s one thing that we positively premeditate whereas we’re within the studio.”

He added: “Lots of my followers know that my albums get actual intricate and there’s at all times particulars in there. For essentially the most half, they normally have a great listening ear to determine what’s occurring.”

Who the Hell Is aware of?

As at all times appears to be the case with King Kendrick, he may simply be taking part in chess whereas we’re busy taking part in checkers. The duvet artwork, a clue nobody has but to unravel, got here from an eBay itemizing that bought on the identical day the music was dropped. Why? The reply stays unclear. Realizing Kendrick Lamar, although, there’s a cause for every part.

The duvet for Kendrick Lamar’s new music comes from an eBay itemizing that bought right now 😳 pic.twitter.com/akdPrtSkaM

— Kurrco (@Kurrco) September 12, 2024