Backseat Freestyle

Last updated
"Backseat Freestyle"
Single by Kendrick Lamar
from the album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City
ReleasedOctober 22, 2012 (2012-10-22)
Recorded2012
Genre
Length3:32
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Hit-Boy
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Fuckin' Problems"
(2012)
"Backseat Freestyle"
(2012)
"Poetic Justice"
(2013)
Music video
"Backseat Freestyle" on YouTube

"Backseat Freestyle" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It debuted on October 15, 2012 in the United Kingdom as the third single from Lamar's second studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). It was released in the United States with the album's release on October 22, 2012. "Backseat Freestyle" was written by Lamar and Chauncey Hollis and produced by Hollis under his stage name Hit-Boy.

Contents

The song was given critical acclaim, with many critics commending Lamar for his technical ability. The song peaked at number six on the US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 and at 79 on the UK Singles Chart. It also made appearances on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rap Songs charts, as well as the Belgian Ultratip chart. It was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in the US and silver by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) in the UK. Since its release, it has been placed on multiple lists as one of Lamar's best songs.

Lamar, Jerome D, and Dave Free directed the video for "Backseat Freestyle", which shows a young Lamar lip sync to the lyrics while the video cuts between black and white scenes of Compton and Paris. The song has been on the set lists for several concert tours and has appeared in popular culture.

Background

Hit-Boy met Kendrick Lamar a couple years before the creation of "Backseat Freestyle". After Lamar signed to Interscope Records, Hit-boy was encouraged by those he knew at Interscope to work with him. [1] The two did several studio sessions in Las Vegas for a few days, though none of the songs created would appear on the final mix of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City . [2] According to Hit-Boy, with one of the records they created, Lamar "couldn’t get the hook right in his mind, so that song got deaded." [1] Lamar subsequently requested more beats. [2] When he heard the new beat that would be eventually chosen, Lamar stated "That’s the one! This is going on my album". While on tour, he recorded his vocals and altered parts of the beat towards more of his liking. [1] The track was originally produced for singer Ciara for an R&B song called "Hit Boy", [2] though "the situation fell apart". [3] When producing the song, Hit-Boy sampled The Chakachas' 1970 song “Yo Soy Cubano,” as well as an episode from the Cartoon Network series The Powerpuff Girls. [4]

Speaking on his delivery of his vocals, Lamar remarked how rapper Eminem influenced his "aggression" on the song. [5]

Composition

The song follows Lamar's album concept, which is a day in the life of a teenage Kendrick Lamar. The song is preceded by a short skit at the end of the previous track "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", in which Lamar's friend tells him "K-Dot, get in the car, nigga, we finna roll out. Nigga, I got a pack of blacks and a beat CD; get your freestyles ready."

Critical reception

The song received critical acclaim from music critics, with many focusing on Lamar's technical ability. Consequence writer Michael Madden described how Lamar uses "his technical gifts" to approach "Minaj-ian levels of animation" on the song. [6] Jonah Bromwich of Pitchfork noted the song as a "technical showcase" with a "particularly clever" structure. [7] Kyle Ellison of The Quietus called the song's lyrics "preposterous and brilliant". [8] Writing for Slant Magazine , Mark Collett described it as a "scuzzy, sleazy delight" part of a "larger narrative". [9] Martyn Young for musicOMH viewed the song as a "breathlessly exciting hard-edged cut" and complimented Hit-Boy's production as having "juddering bone shaking power" that creates "an intensely thrilling four minutes". [10] Jaeki Cho of XXL praised how Lamar "channels multiple voices and executes crisp-clean double- and triple-time bonanza with ease." [11] Eric Diep of Complex complimented the song's "infectious voice sample" [12] while Anupa Mistry of NOW Magazine appreciated the "grizzled lyricism". [13]

Though, not all reviews from critics were positive. Kia Makarechi, writing for The Huffington Post , called it "perhaps the least introspective song" on the album and lamented it getting a video before other songs. [14] While Jakob Dorof of Tiny Mix Tapes complimented the song's "demonically raw-throated" third verse, he opined that the song's beat gets "beyond [Lamar's] better judgment." [15]

Accolades

"Backseat Freestyle" has been widely regarded as one of Lamar's best songs and has been ranked high by critics. In 2018, Bianca Alysse of Billboard ranked the song number six on their list of the 20 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs. [16] Stereogum placed the song as number eight on their 2020 list, [17] and in 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song number three on their list of the 50 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs. [18] In 2022, Alex Petridis of The Guardian ranked it second in his list of Lamar's greatest songs. [19]

Release and commercial performance

"Backseat Freestyle" was released as the third single from Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, debuting in the United Kingdom on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on October 15, 2012. [20] The song was posted on Hit-Boy's Twitter the same day. [21] Following its single release, it entered and peaked at number 79 on the UK Singles Chart, dropping off the chart after one week. [22] In the United States, "Backseat Freestyle" peaked at number six on the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 singles chart following the release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City on October 22, 2012. [23] It also peaked at numbers 29 and 22 respectively on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Rap Songs charts. [24] [25] Beyond the Anglosphere, the single peaked at number 81 on the Belgian Ultratip chart. [26]

On June 8, 2018, "Backseat Freestyle" was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with a 1,000,000 certified units in the US. [27] On August 2, 2019, it was awarded a silver certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for 200,000 certified units in the UK. [28]

Music video

The music video for the song was released on January 2, 2013 [14] and was directed by Kendrick Lamar, Jerome D, and Dave Free. [29] Lamar stated it took "probably two months" to film because of the large amount of travel and him having "too many ideas". [30] The black and white video shows Lamar rapping along to the lyrics while switching between footage of his hometown Compton, California and Paris, France, the latter a reference to the song's chorus. [31] [32] Several characters referenced in the album appear. Lamar's father is featured in a skit smoking marijuana and asking his son for his domino set, as well an appearance of recurring character "Sherane", who is seen leaning against Lamar's car twerking. [14] [33] Lamar explained how he just wanted "to have fun" with making the video by including skits and his father [34] and wanted to give the audience something they wouldn't expect. [30]

Live performances and pop culture

Lamar performed "Backseat Freestyle" during The Damn Tour Kendrick Lamar The DAMN. Tour @ TD Garden (Boston, MA) (36100904785).jpg
Lamar performed "Backseat Freestyle" during The Damn Tour

Lamar has frequently performed the song for concert tours. It was part of the set list for the Good Kid, M.A.A.D City World Tour, [35] [36] Kunta Groove Sessions Tour, [37] The Damn Tour, [38] and for The Big Steppers Tour. [39] It was also performed during The Championship Tour [40] and as part of Lamar's opener for The Yeezus Tour. [41]

The song has appeared in pop culture on occasion. In 2014, a video of Taylor Swift lip-syncing to "Backseat Freestyle" went viral and attracted considerable attention. [42] [43] In 2019, the song was used in the film Waves during a bonfire scene with a group of teenagers. The use of the song, along with tracks from several other high-profile artists, received media attention because of the indie nature of the film. [44] [45]

Credits and personnel

Recording

Personnel

Credits are adapted from the Good Kid, M.A.A.D City album liner notes. [46]

Charts

Chart (2012–13)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [26] 81
UK Singles (OCC) [22] 79
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles ( Billboard ) [23] 6
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [24] 29
US Hot Rap Songs ( Billboard ) [25] 22

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [47] Platinum70,000
United Kingdom (BPI) [28] Silver200,000
United States (RIAA) [27] Platinum1,000,000

Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jay Rock</span> American rapper

Johnny Reed McKinzie Jr., better known by his stage name Jay Rock, is an American rapper from Los Angeles, California. Rock signed with local independent label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005. He secured a major label joint venture deal with Warner Bros. Records and Asylum Records to release his 2008 debut single, "All My Life ". Failing to chart, the mergers fell through and Rock departed from both of the latter labels shortly after. He then signed with Missouri rapper Tech N9ne's label Strange Music in a joint venture deal with TDE in 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendrick Lamar</span> American rapper and songwriter (born 1987)

Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is an American rapper and songwriter. Regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, and one of the greatest rappers of all time, he is known for his technical artistry and complex songwriting. He was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to receive the honor.

<i>Good Kid, M.A.A.D City</i> 2012 studio album by Kendrick Lamar

Good Kid, M.A.A.D City is the second studio album by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on October 22, 2012, by Interscope Records, Top Dawg Entertainment and Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment. The album features guest appearances from Drake, Dr. Dre, Jay Rock, Anna Wise and MC Eiht. It is Lamar's first major label album, after his independently released first album Section.80 in 2011 and his signing to Aftermath and Interscope the following year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black Hippy</span> American hip hop supergroup from California

Black Hippy was an American hip hop supergroup from South Los Angeles, California, formed in 2008. The group consisted of West Coast rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and ScHoolboy Q. Black Hippy was constructed after all of its members had signed to Carson-based indie record label, Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Top Dawg Entertainment</span> American record label

Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) is an American independent record label. Specializing in hip hop and R&B artists, TDE is based in Carson, California. The label was founded in 2004 by record producer Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, who is the chief executive officer. His son, Anthony "Moosa" Tiffith Jr., and Terrence "Punch" Henderson are the presidents of the label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swimming Pools (Drank)</span> 2012 single by Kendrick Lamar

"Swimming Pools (Drank)" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on July 31, 2012, as the lead single (second overall) from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), by Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Aftermath and Interscope. The song was written by Lamar and Tyler "T-Minus" Williams, the latter of whom also produced the song. The song, mixed by Dr. Dre and Top Dawg's engineer Derek "MixedByAli" Ali, propelled Lamar to mainstream popularity. The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, in its thirteenth week of charting, after gradually climbing up the chart. It debuted on the Hot 100 at number 100 and progressed from number 55 and 32 to its peak. "Swimming Pools (Drank)" also serves as Lamar's first entry on the UK Singles Chart, where it debuted at number 63.

"A.D.H.D" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar from his debut studio album, Section.80 (2011). The song was produced by frequent collaborator and Top Dawg in-house producer Sounwave, of Digi+Phonics.

"Poetic Justice" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, produced by American record producer Scoop DeVille, features a verse from Canadian rapper Drake. The song was released as the album's fourth official single, due to its positive response.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fuckin' Problems</span> 2012 single by ASAP Rocky featuring 2 Chainz, Drake and Kendrick Lamar

"Fuckin' Problems" is a song by American rapper ASAP Rocky, featuring Canadian rapper Drake and fellow American rappers 2 Chainz and Kendrick Lamar. It was released on October 24, 2012, as the second single from Rocky's debut studio album Long. Live. ASAP (2013), and was later released to radio on November 27, 2012.

"m.A.A.d city" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his second studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, which appears as the eighth track on the album, features a guest appearance from fellow Compton native and West Coast rapper MC Eiht. The song was produced by Top Dawg in-house producers THC and Sounwave for the first part of the instrumental, and Terrace Martin for the second part. The song peaked at number 75 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Oxymoron</i> (Schoolboy Q album) 2014 studio album by Schoolboy Q

Oxymoron is the third studio album by American rapper Schoolboy Q. It was released on February 25, 2014, through Top Dawg Entertainment and distributed by Interscope Records. Oxymoron was his first album released under a major record label to music retailers, whereas his previous albums were released independently to digital retailers only.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe</span> 2013 single by Kendrick Lamar

"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" edited for radio as "Trick, Don't Kill My Vibe" or simply "Don't Kill My Vibe", is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, produced by frequent collaborator Sounwave of Top Dawg Entertainment in-house production team Digi+Phonics, heavily samples "Tiden Flyver", by Danish electronic group Boom Clap Bachelors. It was originally intended to be a collaboration with American singer Lady Gaga, but her contributions were ultimately excluded from the final recording due to timing issues. A remix of "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" featuring American rapper Jay-Z was sent to radio as the album's fifth single on March 21, 2013, with the original version and another remix featuring British singer Emeli Sandé later being released.

"Money Trees" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, taken from his major label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). The song, which appears as the fifth track on the album, features a guest appearance from his Black Hippy cohort, fellow American rapper Jay Rock, and was produced by DJ Dahi. It entered the Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart at number 19 due to high downloads, following the album's release. The song, mixed by Top Dawg engineer Derek "MixedByAIi" Ali, features background vocals from American singer Anna Wise of Sonnymoon. Money Trees samples the Beach House song "Silver Soul", from their 2010 album Teen Dream, as well as vocals from Lamar's "Cartoon and Cereal" and interpolates lyrics from E-40's "Big Ballin' With My Homies".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendrick Lamar albums discography</span>

American rapper Kendrick Lamar has released six studio albums, one compilation album, one extended play (EP), one soundtrack album, and five mixtapes. His records have sold more than 17.9 million album-equivalent units worldwide, 7.5 million of which are certified in the United States. Throughout his career, he has earned four number-one albums on the US Billboard 200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendrick Lamar videography</span>

American rapper Kendrick Lamar has appeared in 74 music videos, 17 of which he directed with his creative partner Dave Free. He was featured in several documentaries, helmed three short films, and released one concert film.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Keem</span> American rapper and record producer (born 2000)

Hykeem Jamaal Carter Jr., known professionally as Baby Keem, is an American rapper and record producer. Raised in Las Vegas, he gained recognition in the late 2010s with his contributions to Black Panther: The Album by his cousin Kendrick Lamar, as well as Redemption by Jay Rock, Crash Talk by Schoolboy Q, and The Lion King: The Gift by Beyoncé. As a lead artist, he first became known for his 2019 sleeper hit single "Orange Soda", which was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Ties (song)</span> 2021 single by Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar

"Family Ties" is a song by American rappers Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar. The song was released on August 27, 2021, by Columbia Records and pgLang. The song serves as the fourth single from Keem's debut album, The Melodic Blue. The song also serves as Lamar’s first musical release under pgLang, a production company he co-founded in March 2020.

<i>Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour</i> 2022 American concert film

Kendrick Lamar Live: The Big Steppers Tour is a 2022 American concert film documenting The Big Steppers Tour, the 2022–2023 concert tour by rapper Kendrick Lamar. Directed by Mike Carson, Dave Free and Mark A. Ritchie, it was filmed in October 2022 at Accor Arena in Paris.

"Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter's Daughter" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Good Kid (song)</span> 2012 song by Kendrick Lamar

"Good Kid" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his major-label debut studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012). It is the seventh track on the album and plays a crucial role in the album's narrative, contributing significantly to its overall story. Produced by Pharrell Williams, the track is known for its introspective lyrics and dramatic sound, reflecting Lamar's internal conflict and experiences growing up in Compton. The song explores the tension between Lamar's desire to maintain his integrity and the harsh realities of his environment, offering a poignant commentary on the challenges faced by young people in urban settings. "Good Kid" has been praised for its powerful narrative and its contribution to the broader discussion of social issues in hip-hop.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ahmed, Insanul (October 23, 2012). "The Making of Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city'". Complex . Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Walker, Joe (June 10, 2021). "Hit-Boy: Kendrick Lamar's 'Backseat Freestyle' Was Ciara R&B Song". HipHopDX . Archived from the original on November 1, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  3. Genius (February 12, 2020). "The Making Of Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" With Hit-Boy | Deconstructed". YouTube . Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  4. Walker, Joe (October 26, 2021). "Kendrick Lamar's 'Backseat Freestyle' Sampled 'Powerpuff Girls'". HipHopDX . Retrieved November 3, 2022.
  5. Kennedy, John (October 14, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Says 'Backseat Freestyle' Was Influenced by Eminem". Vibe . Archived from the original on April 9, 2014. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  6. Madden, Michael (October 24, 2012). "Album Review: Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city". Consequence . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  7. Bromwich, Jonah (October 16, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar: "Backseat Freestyle"". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  8. Ellison, Kyle (January 10, 2013). "The Quietus | Reviews | Kendrick Lamar". The Quietus . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  9. Collett, Mark (December 12, 2012). "Review: Kendrick Lamar, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City". Slant Magazine . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  10. Young, Martyn (October 22, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. City | Album Reviews". musicOMH . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  11. Cho, Jaeki (October 23, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar, good kid, m.A.A.d city - XXL". XXL Mag . Archived from the original on September 30, 2023. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  12. Diep, Eric (October 15, 2022). "Listen: Kendrick Lamar "Backseat Freestyle" (Prod. By Hit-Boy)". Complex . Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  13. Mistry, Anupa (2012). "Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city". NOW Magazine . Archived from the original on October 27, 2012.
  14. 1 2 3 Makarechi, Kia (January 3, 2013). "WATCH: Kendrick Lamar Stunts Around Paris". HuffPost . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  15. Dorof, Jakob (2012). "Music Review: Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city". Tiny Mix Tapes . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  16. Alysse, Bianca (February 5, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar's 20 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard . Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  17. Leas, Ryan (November 13, 2020). "The 10 Best Kendrick Lamar Songs". Stereogum . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  18. Thompson, Paul; Reeves, Mosi; Dukes, Will; Ihaza, Jeff; Buford, Jayson; Penn II, Michael (November 1, 2021). "The 50 Greatest Kendrick Lamar Songs". Rolling Stone . Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  19. Petridis, Alexis (May 5, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar's 20 greatest songs – ranked!". The Guardian . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  20. Lobenfeld, Claire (October 15, 2012). "Stream: Kendrick Lamar, "Backseat Freestyle" (Prod. by Hit-Boy)". The Fader . Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  21. Pelly, Jenn (October 15, 2012). "New Kendrick Lamar: "Backseat Freestyle"". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  22. 1 2 "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  23. 1 2 "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  24. 1 2 "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  25. 1 2 "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Kendrick Lamar – Backseat Freestyle" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved November 30, 2013.
  27. 1 2 "American single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Backseat Freestyle". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  28. 1 2 "British single certifications – Kendrick Lamar – Backseat Freestyle". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  29. Fitzmaurice, Larry (January 2, 2013). "Watch the Black-and-White Video for Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle"". Pitchfork . Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  30. 1 2 Fuse (January 15, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Explains "Backseat Freestyle" Video". YouTube . Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  31. Mlynar, Phillip (January 3, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Heads to Paris in "Backseat Freestyle" Video". MTV . Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  32. ""Backseat Freestyle" video: watch Kendrick Lamar's misunderstood track". The Denver Post . October 9, 2012. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  33. Markman, Rob (January 3, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Introduces Sherane In 'Backseat Freestyle' Video". MTV . Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  34. "Kendrick Lamar Gets Real In His 'Backseat Freestyle' Video". MTV. Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  35. Josephs, Brian (June 18, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar Announces "good kid, m.A.A.d city" World Tour". Complex . Archived from the original on December 17, 2013. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  36. Deville, Chris (May 19, 2013). "Hangout 2013 Saturday: Tom Petty, Kendrick Lamar, Public Enemy, & More". Stereogum . Archived from the original on November 4, 2022. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  37. Terry, Josh (November 6, 2015). "Kendrick Lamar's intimate 'Kunta's Groove Sessions' is one of the best shows we've seen all year". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  38. Masley, Ed (July 13, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. with triumphant one-man show of force". AZ Central. Archived from the original on November 10, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  39. Paul, Larisha (October 19, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar to Livestream Full 'The Big Steppers Tour' Paris Concert on 'Good Kid, m.A.A.d City' 10th Anniversary". Rolling Stone . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  40. Rietmulder, Michael (May 6, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar, in White River Amphitheatre show, proves he's the most vital rapper in America". The Seattle Times . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  41. "Marvel at footage of Kanye West's Yeezus tour, featuring a mountain and a Jesus impersonator". Fact . October 21, 2013. Archived from the original on August 4, 2014. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  42. Garner, Chris (September 8, 2014). "Taylor Swift Knows Every Word To Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" - XXL". XXL Mag . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  43. Block, Justin (November 10, 2014). "Listen to the Kendrick Lamar and Taylor Swift Mash-Up That the Internet Asked For". Complex . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  44. Buchanan, Kyle (December 10, 2019). "How 'Waves' Got Kanye and Kendrick on Its Soundtrack". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  45. Bitran, Tara (January 2, 2020). "How 'Waves' Secured Rights to More Than 45 Songs: It Was the "Biggest Head-Scratcher"". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  46. Lamar, Kendrick (2012). good kid, m.A.A.d city (CD liner notes). Aftermath/Interscope Records. B001753602.
  47. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved December 23, 2023.