Hey Now (Kendrick Lamar song)

"Hey Now"
Song by Kendrick Lamar featuring Dody6
from the album GNX
ReleasedNovember 22, 2024 (2024-11-22)
Length4:52
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Sounwave
  • Antonoff
  • Mustard

"Hey Now" is a song recorded by Kendrick Lamar with a feature verse from Dody6, a Los Angeles rapper who recently left prison.[1] It is the fifth track on Lamar's sixth studio album, GNX, which was released under PGLang and Interscope Records on November 22, 2024.[2] The song was produced by Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, and Mustard and interpolates D4L's song, "Scotty."[3][4]

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."[5]

Hits Daily Double stated that the song was riddled with "subliminal Drake digs" and "haymakers about strangling goats".[6] Forte similarly speculated the song to be a subtle reflection on the Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud.[7]

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.[8][9] The music video features Tyler in Los Angeles with several Odd Future alumni including Jasper Dolphin, Travis Bennett, and Lionel Boyce.[10]

Charts

Chart performance for "Hey Now"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[11] 26
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[12] 7
Lithuania (AGATA)[13] 25
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[14] 22
UK Streaming (OCC)[15] 46
US Billboard Hot 100[16] 5
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[17] 5

References

  1. ^ Saponara, Michael (2024-11-27). "Meet the Emerging California Rappers Who Appeared on Kendrick Lamar's 'GNX' Album". Billboard. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  2. ^ Sisario, Ben (November 22, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Releases a Surprise Album, 'GNX'". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Okusanya, Emanuel. "Kendrick Lamar Releases Surprise Album 'GNX'". EBONY. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  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. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Puts On for LA on 'GNX' But The Truth Remains Unsaid". Passion of the Weiss. 2024-11-27. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  6. ^ Lewis, Miles Marshall. "KENDRICK'S GNX: SONG BY SONG". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  7. ^ Walters, Tammy (2024-12-20). "Kendrick Lamar makes a statement with GNX". Forte Magazine. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  8. ^ Elibert, Mark (December 25, 2024). "Tyler, the Creator Freestyles Over Kendrick's "Hey Now"". Complex. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  9. ^ "Tyler, The Creator Freestyles Over Kendrick Lamar's "Hey Now," Reflects On 'Bastard' 15th Anniversary". Stereogum. 2024-12-25. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  10. ^ Strauss, Matthew (2024-12-25). "Tyler, the Creator Raps Over Kendrick Lamar's "Hey Now" in New "That Guy" Video". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-12-25.
  11. ^ "ARIA Top 50 Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  12. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  13. ^ "2024 48-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  14. ^ "Official Top 40 Singles". Recorded Music NZ. November 29, 2024. Retrieved November 29, 2024.
  15. ^ "Official Streaming Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 26, 2024.
  16. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  17. ^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2024.