Photo by Lester Cohen/WireImage
Back in January, Kendrick Lamar and SZA linked up for “All the Stars,” the lead single from the upcoming Black Panther soundtrack. Since then, the Al Shux and Sounwave-produced track has become a minor hit, peaking at No. 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, fans may not have noticed that they’ve been listening to different versions of the song this whole time.
As Reddit user SecretBasu first discovered (and Genius contributor KillerSnowTiger later pointed out), the version of the song on Apple Music features entirely different lyrics on SZA’s verse than Spotify and TIDAL’s. On the latter version, SZA sings:
No control, no off switch
And the way that you bringin' me down
It’s a turn on, get it away from me
Know you mean wrong, keep away from me
And it’s all wrong, get it away from me, yeah
I, I just cry for no reason
I just pray for no reason
I just thank for the life, for the day
For the hours and another life breathin'
I did it all ‘cause it feel good
You could live it all if you feel bad
Better live your life, we were runnin’ out of time
You can hear this version below:
Meanwhile, the Apple Music version is entirely different except for the first two lines:
Got no end game, got no reason
Got to stay down, it’s the way that you making me feel
Like nobody ever loved me like you do, you do
You kinda feeling like you’re tryna get away from me
If you do, I won’t move
I ain’t just crying for no reason
I ain’t just praying for no reason
I give thanks for the days, for the hours
And another way, another life breathin'
How did it all go to feel good?
I wouldn’t do it at all if you feel bad
Better live your life, we’re runnin' out of time
This version can be heard below:
Thus far, it’s unclear why the versions are different, and the disparity hasn’t been officially acknowledged by anyone at TDE. Some Genius users have pointed to February 2—the day the Black Panther soundtrack became available to pre-order—as the date the Apple Music version changed. Curiously, the lyrics available on Apple Music still match the Spotify and TIDAL version of the song. It’s possibly the result of an uploading error, similar to the lost third verse of G-Eazy’s “No Limit” that disappeared and then returned to streaming services last year.
“All the Stars” will appear on the official Black Panther soundtrack, which drops on Friday, Feb. 9. The soundtrack will also include contributions from Vince Staples, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q, Travis Scott, The Weeknd, Swae Lee, Khalid, 2 Chainz, and more.
Listen to both versions of the song above and read all the lyrics to the Apple Music and Spotify/TIDAL versions of SZA and Kendrick Lamar’s “All the Stars” on Genius now.
