Hey Now (Kendrick Lamar song)

Last updated

"Hey Now"
Song by Kendrick Lamar featuring Dody6
from the album GNX
ReleasedNovember 22, 2024 (2024-11-22)
Length3:37
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)

"Hey Now" (stylized in all lowercase) is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar featuring fellow American rapper Dody6. [1] It is the fifth track on Lamar's sixth studio album, GNX, which was surprise released under PGLang and Interscope Records on November 22, 2024. [2] The song was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, and Mustard and interpolates the song "Scotty" (2005) by D4L. [3] [4]

Contents

Background

The instrumental for "Hey Now" was first created by Mustard in 2019. In an interview with People , he stated that he wanted the song to be the "West Coast version" of the single "Grindin'" by American hip-hop duo Clipse, which inspired the track's minimalist approach. He shopped the song around to multiple different artists, such as YG and Quavo, who both turned it down. The only artist who ended up recording for the song was singer Ty Dolla Sign, though he would never release his version. [5] In an interview with BagFuel, Ty Dolla Sign revealed that his version was recorded as part of a collaborative album between him and Mustard, but failed to drop because his label didn't think Mustard was popular enough at the time. [6]

Critical reception

Passion of the Weiss wrote that the song was "Kendrick at his best. He snarls throughout the hook and his verses, the delivery is scathing, and he realizes the ultra-dark whispers of Bris and Young Slo-Be while maintaining their bite and love for blue strips." [7]

Hits Daily Double stated that the song was riddled with "subliminal Drake digs" and "haymakers about strangling goats". [8] Forte similarly speculated the song to be a subtle reflection on the Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud. [9]

Tyler, the Creator remix

On Christmas 2024, Tyler, the Creator released a freestyle remix and music video of "Hey Now" titled "That Guy". Lyrically, the freestyle remix discusses Tyler's riches and possessions, as well as his guest appearance at Lamar's event, The Pop Out: Ken & Friends; he also hints at the possibility of a deluxe version of Chromakopia . [10] [11] The music video features Tyler in Los Angeles with several Odd Future alumni including Jasper Dolphin, Travis Bennett, and Lionel Boyce. [12]

Charts

Chart performance for "Hey Now"
Chart (2024)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA) [13] 26
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA) [14] 7
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [15] 18
Lithuania (AGATA) [16] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ) [17] 22
UK Streaming (OCC) [18] 46
US Billboard Hot 100 [19] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [20] 5

References

  1. ↑ Saponara, Michael (November 27, 2024). "Meet the Emerging California Rappers Who Appeared on Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' Album". Billboard . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  2. ↑ Sisario, Ben (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Releases a Surprise Album, 'GNX'". The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 22, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  3. ↑ Okusanya, Emanuel. "Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album 'GNX'". EBONY. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  4. ↑ Sutgrey, DeAsia; Godfrey, Gavin; Daniel, Christopher; Jordan, Mike; Wilson, Joycelyn. "AJC's Black culture team reacts to Kendrick Lamar's surprise 'GNX' album". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. ISSN   1539-7459. Archived from the original on November 28, 2024. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
  5. ↑ Blanchet, Brenton (January 7, 2025). "Mustard Details Stories Behind GNX, Grammy Nods and What Happens After Kendrick Lamar Screams Your Name (Exclusive)". People . Retrieved July 4, 2025.
  6. ↑ BagFuel (June 16, 2025). Ty Dolla $ign Reveals How Kendrick Lamar Took One of His Beats . Retrieved July 4, 2025– via YouTube.
  7. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Puts On for LA on 'GNX' But The Truth Remains Unsaid". Passion of the Weiss. November 27, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  8. ↑ Lewis, Miles Marshall. "KENDRICK'S GNX: SONG BY SONG". Hits Daily Double . Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  9. ↑ Walters, Tammy (December 20, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar makes a statement with GNX". Forte Magazine. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  10. ↑ Elibert, Mark (December 25, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Freestyles Over Kendrick's "Hey Now"". Complex. Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  11. ↑ Chelosky, Danielle (December 25, 2024). "Tyler, The Creator Freestyles Over Kendrick Lamar's "Hey Now," Reflects On 'Bastard' 15th Anniversary". Stereogum . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  12. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (December 25, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Raps Over Kendrick Lamar's "Hey Now" in New "That Guy" Video". Pitchfork . Retrieved December 25, 2024.
  13. ↑ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  14. ↑ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved January 13, 2025.
  16. ↑ "2024 48-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 29, 2024. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 29, 2024. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company . Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
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