Kendrick Lamar Drops First New Song Since ‘Not Like Us’

Kendrick Lamar has released a surprise song on his Instagram page, supposedly titled “Watch the Party Die.”

On the five-minute song, he references Christian rapper Lecrae, Terrace Martin and what appears to be a reference to DJ Akademiks. “The radio personality pushing propaganda for salary / Let me know when they turn up as a casualty,” he states.

He also drops bars that could suggest that the beef with Drake isn’t entirely over: “Just walked that man down, that’ll do everyone a solid / It’s love but tough love, sometimes you gotta result in violence.” Add to injury that the cover art for the song features a pair of beat-up sneakers, potentially a reference to the single cover for Drake’s “Push Ups” that made fun of Lamar’s shoe size.

The track is the first new music from Lamar since he released his smash single “Not Like Us,” the most successful release amid his back-and-forth with Drake earlier this year. “Not Like Us” became one of Lamar’s biggest hits to date, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May. In the time since, the diss track topped the Hot Rap Songs, Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Streaming Songs charts. It also peaked at No. 2 on the publication’s Song of the Summer chart.

His latest song comes on the heels of the announcement of Lamar as the performer for the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime show. It will be his second during the halftime show, following his featured spot during Dr. Dre’s 2022 all-star tag team of himself, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem and 50 Cent.

“Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date,” said Lamar of the Halftime gig. “And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”