'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On September 11, 2024, Kendrick Lamar dropped a new track loosely titled Watch the Party Die. The record was exclusively uploaded on Instagram, similar to how K-Dot delivered diss tracks like 6:16 in LA and Meet The Grahams, back in May, during his iconic back and forth with Drake.
The new record officially follows up on the commercially successful Not Like Us diss track, which has garnered over 740 million streams on Spotify since it was delivered to DSPs (Digital Streaming Platforms) on May 04, 2024.
Trending
The track's surprise release coincided with the 2024 MTV VMAs 40th Anniversary at the UBS Arena, which several individuals online appeared to claim was a targetted shot at the music and hip-hop industry.
Kendrick's Watch the Party Die dropped a day after his headlining announcement for the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show, which is set to be held in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Bar-for-Bar: Dissecting Kendrick Lamar's new single 'Watch the Party Die'
Kendrick teamed up with producers Sounwave, Jack Antonoff, Pasqué, and Anca Trio Plus One, to deliver a five-minute track titled Watch the Party Die, which finds the rapper speaking on the current state of the music industry and hip-hop culture.
The track is interesting as several moments within Watch the Party Die find Kendrick Lamar specifically targetting commercial artists, like Drake, to critique their representation of materialistic ideals in their music. Notable themes this record delves deeper into include:
- Hip-Hop Culture
- Music Industry
- Awards and Recognition
- Hedonism
- Materialism
- Excess
- Philandering
- Wealth
- Luxury
- Religion
- Faith
- Spirituality
- Self Destruction
- Influence
- Fame
Disclaimer: This review is rated explicit. Reader discretion is advised.
(Verse 1)
"I think it's time to watch the party die / This s--t done got too wicked to apologize / It's different, get him whacked and disqualified / We even kill the killers 'cause they like taking innocent lives / Burn a whole village, we start over, it's really that time / Why reason with these n----s if they can't see the future first?"
Kendrick Lamar introduces Watch The Party Die with bars that collectively target and criticize the hip-hop and music industry. A move that was highly discussed given the track was released at the start of the 2024 MTV VMAs.
Lamar delves deeper into these themes, urging listeners to follow the guidings of spirituality, rather than a longing for a materialistic identity like the "shallowness of fame".
"Why argue with these clowns if the circus is well at work? Just walk that man down, that'll do everyone a solid / It's love, but tough love sometimes gotta result in violence / If you parade in gluttony without givin' truth to the youth / The graveyard is company, just tell us what casket to choose"
Kendrick then addresses his beef with Drake comparing the OVO Collective to a fully functioning circus, putting on an "act" for their audience. He explains why his intentions may have been perceived as aggressive, highlighting how his version of "tough love" sometimes results in violence.
The symbolism behind "The Graveyard" seemingly hints at a symbolic warning to those whose life centers around metaphorical pleasures like excess, philandering, and more. Kendrick cites how exploring these themes in music, does less to educate the youth and instead leads them toward self-destruction and hedonism.
"They party more than b---hes, tell me, what are you working for? They glorify scamming, you get chipped over this credit card / Influencers talked down 'cause I'm not with the basic s--t / But they don't hate me, they hate the man that I represent"
He continues to allude to Drake's lifestyle as an outlook that leads people to lose their integrity and standing within the industry.
The deeper meaning behind several metaphors used in this bar seemingly highlights how a majority of today's culture chooses to "clout chase," whereas he still wishes to work toward ideals like legacy and truth.
Kenny ends the bar by highlighting how his "way of life" is one of the main reasons why rappers and critics dislike him.
"The type of man that never d--kride 'cause I want a favor / The man that resides in patience, so where the soldiers at? The one's that lost it all and learnt to learn from that / A thirst for life, head inside a book 'cause he concerned with that / Information that'll change his life because he yearns for that"
Kendrick Lamar proceeds to list out various decisions he's made, that've contributed toward him being the "man" he represents via his music.
The rapper highlights how he doesn't ask for favors, always remains patient and truthful to where he came from, and has a deep yearning for education and information that could help change his life for the better.
"Dedication, findin' out what's right 'cause he can earn from that / I feel for the women that deal with the clown and nerd s--t / Can't blame them, today they ain't really got much to work with / How many bitches harder than a lot of you n----s? Would trade all of y'all for Nip, I can't be proud of you n----s"
Kendrick Lamar then references his collaboration with Nipsey Hussle, who is later referenced at the end of this verse, titled Dedication. Ideals of "discipline" and "integrity" have become recurring themes in Kendrick's music off-late, with the rapper highlighting the pitfalls of living an excessive lifestyle.
He ends the bar by citing how he would trade the entire music industry just to have Nipsey Hussle back, explaining that he's proud of what "Nip" had represented.
(Chorus)
"God, give me life, dear God, please give me peace / Dear God, please keep these lame n----s away from me / Dear God, keep me shinin', the f--k do they really think? Pocket-watching, you must be the police / God, bless these words, dear God, bless how I think"
Kendrick Lamar, who is known to practice "Christian Beliefs," expresses this spiritualism by directing the song's hook as a prayer to god. This chorus does a lot to differentiate the rapper from the implied hedonistic values of the music industry.
"Dear God, draw the line, they tryna confuse 'em with me / Dear God, please forgive me, you knowin' how hard I tried / I think it's time for me to watch the party die (Uh-huh, huh) / Get 'em gone, we gon' watch the party die (Uh-huh) / Send 'em home, we gon' watch the party die"
Although the hook finds Kendrick Lamar asking God to bless and secure his life, ultimately the lines brought forward here seemingly highlight the rapper grappling with his desire for change, while facing scrutiny and judgment from those around him.
(Verse 2)
"I think it's time to watch the party die / Street n----s and the corporate guys, the rappers that report the lies / I need they families mortified / We can do life without 'em, get they bodies organized, tell me if you obliged / No more pillow-talkin', jump-startin' neighborhood wars"
Kendrick Lamar then delivers the second verse of Watch The Party Die, where he starts to reference people using their platform to influence the industry.
DJ Akademiks, an OVO affiliate and radio personality who was live reporting the Drake vs Kendrick Lamar beef, appears to be one of the people targeted here. Negative values like lying, fakeness, and snitching, all become themes that are more deeply explored.
"Dirty-mackin' b---hes because your spirit is insecure / The flashy n---a with nasty decisions usin' money as a backbone / I want his head cracked before he's back home / The radio personality pushin' propaganda for salary / Let me know when they turn up as a casualty, I want agony"
Kendrick Lamar then directly takes shots at Drake and DJ Akademiks, claiming the OVO CEO is "insecure" and is the reason why he pursues women already in a committed relationship.
K-Dot then directs the ends of this bar at DJ Akademiks, claiming he's a radio personality who only pushes "propaganda" for salary and his own benefit. Kendrick appears to be wishing for their death, hoping they turn up as casualties.
"Assault, and battery, I see a new Earth / Filled with beautiful people makin' humanity work / Let's kill the followers that follow up on poppin' mollies from / The obvious degenerates that's failing to acknowledge the / Hope that we tryna spread, if I'm not his vote / Then you need to bring his f--kin' head, or film that s--t in hi-res"
Kendrick draws inspiration from Bible verses to express his desire to witness the birth of a "new earth," where people work together to build each other up.
Lamar proceeds to explain why he's unhappy with the industry and music culture, calling out "degenerates" for following trends and influence as reasons to indulge in excess and drug abuse.
The verse ends with an aggressive stance against the industry before Watch The Party Die's hook returns.
(Verse 3)
"Sometimes I wonder what Lecrae would do / F--k these n----s up or show 'em just what prayer do? I want to be empathetic, my heart like Dee-1 / But I will— / It's time to get these devils out the way, heavy metals on my sword / We settle hard disputes today, the ghetto Hollywood divorce"
Kendrick Lamar then shouts out popular Christian rappers Lecrae and Dee-1, putting himself in their shoes in the hope of understanding how they would react to the current state of the industry.
Kendrick draws comparisons between how he aggressively dealt with the criticism Drake and his followers brought forward during the beef and the idea of praying for their actions instead.
"Say hello to your future fate, the culture bred with carnivores / You let 'em snack, they eat your face, the signatures is bein' forged / They wonder why I'm not enthused to drop / The more visible you get, the more your spiritual is tried / It's cynical to say I know these artists petrified"
Kendrick Lamar then breaks down the state of music culture, claiming the industry is filled with "carnivores" or "culture vultures" plotting on "hip-hop's downfall".
This alludes to allegations from his diss tracks, earlier in the year, where he claimed Drake was colonizing other rapper's sounds and sonic direction to continue to stay relevant.
Kendrick Lamar also explains the inconsistency of his releases, referencing the 1855-day (5 years and 1 Month) gap between his 2017 LP DAMN. and 2022's Mr Morales & The Big Steppers. The rapper cites that most times, the hiatus he takes between projects is for the sake of his spiritual growth and inner peace.
"The end result, in jail by Jezebel or drugged up full of lies / Critical, I know my physical is tested all the time / I'm pitiful, sunken place soon as I'm questionin' my pride / I'm seein' ghosts, blackin' out, relapsin' one thought at a time / I spare no feelings that ain't mine, I'm in my feelings when I slide, I mean"
Kendrick Lamar then references the Queen of Israel, Jezebel, often quoted as the symbol of false idols and promiscuity, which is used in the context of representing artists who kill their careers by succumbing to greed and temptations.
The final line highlights the mental conflicts Kendrick faced during his beef with Drake, where he questioned his decision to address what Drizzy represents in hip-hop culture on the track 6:16 in LA.
The final line appears to also be a reference to the OVO CEO's discography, with Lamar interpolating popular tracks like In My Feelings and Toosie Slide, into the record's lyrics.
"A n---a wonder what Lecrae would do / Terrace Martin said I'm mentally with layers, true / I flood the market with my best regards, I paid your dues / And so it's up, if you ain't one of ours, it's bad news / My n---a Jay Estrada said I gotta burn it down to build it up"
Kendrick Lamar shouts out his relationship with renowned saxophonist Terrace Martin, who has frequently collaborated with Dot for well over a decade and has credits on the rapper's third studio album To Pimp a Butterfly which was released on March 15, 2015.
Kendrick spends this bar drawing an aggressive line between himself and those who don't share his values, explaining his desire to burn down the current hip-hop culture in hopes of inspiring a radical change in the industry.
"That confirmation real as f--k, it ain't too many real as us / Lockin' in to what I trust, lookin' outside / The kids live tomorrow 'cause today, the party just died"
Kendrick Lamars ends Watch The Party Die by reinforcing themes of creativity, individuality, and truth, as the building blocks for hip-hop's future.
The record ends with the rapper promising to stay "locked in" on what he believes, hoping to inspire the next generation of artists to embrace more spiritual values and morals.
Kendrick Lamar dropping Watch The Party Die at the same time as a high-profile cultural event like the MTV VMAs 40th Anniversary, finds the artist wishing to shift attention away from mainstream celebration of commercialized music.
Lamar's decision appears to urge listeners and the broader audience to look deeper into the issues that he claims currently plague the hip-hop industry and music culture.
