Image via Mr. World Premiere
Former Coachella headliner Kendrick Lamar wasn’t scheduled to appear at this year’s festivities, but that didn’t stop him from making a splash. On Friday, he surprised audiences by stepping on stage during Vince Staples and SZA’s sets.
During Vince’s performance, Kendrick spit his verse from their first collaboration “Yeah Right.”
On the Big Fish Theory track, which is co-produced by SOPHIE and Flume, Kendrick acknowledges how his name has become a popular topic of conversation and references slang on both coasts:
Popular demand, I understand my name is only for conversation
New York nigga be like “deadass”
L.A. nigga be like “on the dead homies”
Meanwhile, Kendrick joined his TDE labelmate SZA to perform a medley of their collaborations “Doves in the Wind” and “All the Stars.”
“Doves in the Wind” is produced by Cam O'bi and comes from SZA’s debut album Ctrl. Throughout the song, both she and Kendrick address the role of sex in a relationship. On his verse, Kendrick schools men on what not to do:
You overcompensate too much for the pussy
You like to throw all kinda shade for the pussy
See, that’s what pussy niggas do
I know the ways of a pussy, I see pussy lookin' at you
Produced by Al Shux and Sounwave, “All the Stars” is the lead single from the Kendrick Lamar-curated Black Panther soundtrack. It features Kendrick rapping from the perspective of King T'Challa/Black Panther, stating he owes nothing to The Avengers:
I hate people that feel entitled
Look at me crazy ‘cause I ain’t invite you
Oh, you important?
You the moral to the story? You endorsin’?
Mothafucka, I don’t even like you
Watch the performances above and check out all of the lyrics to Vince Staples' “Yeah Right” featuring Kendrick Lamar, SZA’s “Doves in the Wind” featuring Kendrick Lamar, and Kendrick Lamar & SZA’s “All the Stars” on Genius now.
