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Euphoria (Kendrick Lamar song)

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"Euphoria"
Single by Kendrick Lamar
ReleasedApril 30, 2024 (2024-04-30)
RecordedApril 2024
Genre
Length6:24
Label
Songwriter(s)Kendrick Duckworth
Producer(s)
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Like That"
(2024) 		"Euphoria"
(2024) 		"6:16 in LA"
(2024)
Official audio
"Euphoria" on YouTube

"Euphoria" is a diss track written and recorded by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, in response to Canadian rapper Drake's single "Push Ups" and his independently released song "Taylor Made". It was unexpectedly released on April 30, 2024, via Interscope Records, initially as a YouTube exclusive before being serviced to streaming platforms hours later.

The song was produced by Cardo and Kyuro, with additional work from Johnny Juliano, Sounwave, and Yung Exclusive. Its extended introduction contains a sample of Teddy Pendergrass's 1981 song "You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration". "Euphoria" was met with generally positive reviews from music critics, who praised its humorous yet hateful tone, Lamar's versatile performance, and complex entendres. However, criticism was directed at the production and a few punchlines that some considered objectionable.

Background

Main article: Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud

On March 22, 2024, Kendrick Lamar made a surprise appearance on Future and Metro Boomin's collaborative studio album We Don't Trust You on the single "Like That". His featured verse was a diss against Drake and J. Cole in response to their single "First Person Shooter". Cole rebutted "Like That" first with the polarizing "7 Minute Drill",[1] which he later retracted and removed from streaming services.[2][3]

Drake offered two responses to "Like That". His first, "Push Ups", was premiered by media personality DJ Akademiks after a low quality demo version that sampled "Get Money" by Junior M.A.F.I.A. was leaked.[4] Throughout the song, Drake mocks Lamar's short stature and musical authenticity, all the while generating rumors of him being extorted by his former label, Top Dawg Entertainment.[5]

The second response, "Taylor Made", was released on Drake's social media accounts immediately after "Push Ups" was serviced to streaming platforms.[6] The song used vocals generated from artificial intelligence of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, two of Lamar's musical idols, to entice him to release his own response.[7] He also questioned his friendship with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift, whom the freestyle is named after.[8] Shakur's estate sent Drake a cease and desist letter accusing him of violating the rapper's personality rights and abusing his legacy. They further claimed that the AI-generated vocals being used against Lamar, a "good friend" of the estate who respected Shakur publicly and privately, compounded the disrespect.[9] Drake was ordered to remove the song from his social media accounts or face litigation; he obliged to the former demand.[10]

Composition

The song begins with an audio sample, which was revealed to be a reversed audio clip from The Wiz, a 1978 remake of The Wizard of Oz starring Michael Jackson (who Drake has often compared himself to), in which Richard Pryor, who plays the titular 'Wiz', states "Everything they say about me is true. I'm a phony."[11] After this, the song starts out "softly" with Lamar waiting until the final line of the first verse to directly address Drake. The song's intro builds around a sample of Teddy Pendergrass's song "You’re My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration". Lamar talks about a "paranoid", "pathetic", and "spiraling" master manipulator "fabricating stories on the family front".[12] The beat then picks up as the delivery gets "sharper", while the rapper makes references to Drake's name ("Draco Pistol"), as well as the previous diss track "Taylor Made".[13]

Lamar later mentions Drake and Cole by name and references "The Story of Adidon", a 2018 diss track by Pusha T aimed against Drake, in the context of fatherhood.[13] In other instances, he accuses Drake of being a "scam artist" and namedrops artists such as YNW Melly, Gunna, Daft Punk, Lil Yachty, and Sexyy Red.[14] Lamar also accuses Drake of sending a cease and desist letter to prevent the release of "Like That": "Try cease and desist on the 'Like That' record / Oh, what? You ain't like that record?" Further references in the song include Drake's Meek Mill diss track "Back to Back".[15]

Release and promotion

"Euphoria" was first released to YouTube on April 30, 2024, with no prior announcement. It was published on the platform at approximately 8:24 a.m. PT, which many alluded was a nod to the basketball player Kobe Bryant; he was a shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers under the jersey numbers 8 and 24.[16] Hours after its YouTube launch, "Euphoria" was made available on music streaming services through Interscope Records. Brian Zisook, co-founder of Audiomack, noted that the song is Lamar's first release under a new direct licensing agreement with Interscope following his departure from Top Dawg Entertainment (under a joint deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope); Lamar's own creative communications company, PGLang, is reportedly not involved in the deal.[17]

The song's cover art is a screenshot of Merriam-Webster's definition of the word "euphoria", but journalists believe that its title is also a reference to the American television series of the same name.[18] Drake is one of the series' executive producers, which has been a subject of controversy for its use of mature content, including sexual material, amongst its teenage characters.[19]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Complex42/50[20]

Per a Complex assessment, which graded the song's lyrics, presentation, quality and overall effectiveness, "Euphoria" received a score of 42 out of 50 (84%). Its examiner, Peter A. Berry, concluded that the song is a "bit too sprawling" for its own good, and the production is "kinda mid," but it ultimately offers a "potent mix of skill, viciousness, and humor that would be hard for anyone to overcome."[20]

Vivian Medithi of The Fader described "Euphoria" as a standout rap song and a "dynamic study in hating."[21] Rolling Stone's Andre Gee was impressed at how Lamar sounded like a "seasoned vet" despite the song being his first official diss record.[22] Angel Diaz, writing for Billboard, felt that his response was "worth the wait" and praised its dense lyricism.[23]

In less favorable reviews, Pitchfork's Alphonse Pierre felt that "Euphoria" lacked a "knockout blow" that could have pushed Lamar's feud with Drake past "fleeting spectacle". Pierre felt that the track was substandard to other disses like Nas' "Ether", especially on the matter of what Pierre perceived as "gay jokes"[a] in Euphoria. Pierre also commented negatively on the song's production, especially believing that the track has "the worst beat switch-ups you’ll hear all year."[24] Ben Beaumont-Thomas for The Guardian similarly wrote that for someone whose artistry "rests on his self-presentation as flawed but enlightened", Lamar demeaned himself with the usage of "outright" misogynistic and homophobic lyrics; particularly the usage of the term dickrider to describe Drake's OVO labelmates. Beaumont-Thomas also criticized the production, describing the beat as "blah even if Lamar does ride it with skill and animation".[25]

Impact

"Euphoria" was the subject of extensive press attention following its release. Merriam-Webster asked MTV if it could "humbly nominate" the song for a Video Music Award.[26] New Ho King, a Chinese restaurant located in Toronto's Chinatown neighborhood, was flooded with five-star reviews on Google Maps after it was mentioned in the track.[27][28]

Personnel

  • Kendrick Lamar – vocals, songwriter
  • Cardo – producer
  • Kyuro – producer
  • Johnny Juliano – producer
  • Sounwave – producer
  • Yung Exclusive – producer
  • Matthew Bernard – additional keyboards, associated performer
  • Jonathan Turner – mixing
  • Ray Charles Brown Jr. – recording engineer
  • Nicolas De Porcel – mastering

Charts

Chart performance for "Euphoria"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[29] 51
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[30] 4
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 50

Notes

  1. ^ "Ether" has also been criticized for homophobia, although that was due to the track featuring homophobic insults: Nas refers to his target Jay-Z as "Gay-Z", and describes him as "a dick-riding faggot" with "dick-sucking lips". The line that Alphonse Pierre took issue with in Euphoria is "I believe you don’t like women, that’s real competition, you might pop ass with ’em."

References

  1. ^ Zemler, Emily (April 5, 2024). "J. Cole Responds to Kendrick Lamar Diss on Hard-Hitting '7 Minute Drill'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 5, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  2. ^ Saponara, Michael (April 8, 2024). "J. Cole Regrets His Kendrick Lamar Diss & Calls It 'the Lamest S–t' During Dreamville Fest: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  3. ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (April 12, 2024). "J. Cole Removes Kendrick Lamar Diss '7 Minute Drill' From Streaming Services". Variety. Archived from the original on April 22, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Saponara, Michael (April 14, 2024). "DJ Akademiks Premieres Alleged Diss Tracks From Drake and Rick Ross". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  5. ^ Rose, Jordan (April 13, 2024). "Breaking Down All of Drake's Shots at Kendrick (and Half the Rap Game)". Complex. Archived from the original on April 15, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  6. ^ Ech, Joey (April 20, 2024). "Drake Uses A.I. Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg Voices to Press Kendrick Lamar on New 'Taylor Made Freestyle'". XXL. Archived from the original on April 20, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Peters, Mitchell (April 20, 2024). "Drake Takes Aim at Kendrick Lamar With AI Tupac & Snoop Dogg Vocals on "Taylor Made Freestyle" Diss Track". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  8. ^ McGahan, Michelle (April 22, 2024). "Taylor Swift somehow entered the Drake and Kendrick Lamar feud". Newsweek. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  9. ^ Donahue, Bill (April 24, 2024). "Tupac Shakur's Estate Threatens to Sue Drake Over Diss Track Featuring AI-Generated Tupac Voice". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 24, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  10. ^ Yang, Angela; Hamedy, Saba (April 26, 2024). "Drake pulls 'Taylor Made Freestyle' after Tupac estate threatens action for apparent use of AI voice". NBC News. Archived from the original on May 2, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  11. ^ Mahadevan, Tara (April 30, 2024). "Reversed Audio on Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Drake Diss Features Richard Pryor's 'I'm a Phony' Line From 'The Wiz'". Complex. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  12. ^ Schube, Will (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Added An Easter Egg At The Beginning Of His Drake Diss 'Euphoria'". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  13. ^ a b Strauss, Matthew (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Responds to Drake Disses With New Song "Euphoria": Listen". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  14. ^ Cole, Alexander (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Calls Drake A "Scam Artist" On Scathing New Track "Euphoria"". HotNewHipHop. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  15. ^ Mahadevan, Tara (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Claims Drake Sent a Cease and Desist to Stop "Like That" From Dropping". Complex. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  16. ^ Singh, Karan (May 1, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar Fans Believe There's A Kobe Bryant Connection To 'Euphoria' Drake Diss". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  17. ^ Zisook, Brian [@BrianZisook] (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's "euphoria" is now available on DSPs. It is his first release under a new DIRECT licensing agreement with Interscope. (His pgLang firm is not involved.) His previous deal with TDE and Aftermath ended upon the release of 2022's Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers" (Tweet). Retrieved May 2, 2024 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ Okon, Wongo (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's 'Euphoria' And All The Drake Disses: An Explanation". UPROXX. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  19. ^ Cooper, Leonie (February 27, 2022). "Is Euphoria's sex and nudity titillating or just plain creepy?". The Independent. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  20. ^ a b Berry, Peter A. (May 1, 2024). "Grading Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Drake Diss". Complex. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  21. ^ Medithi, Vivian (May 1, 2024). "Rap Blog: Kendrick Lamar has some advice for Drake". The Fader. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Gee, Andre (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Did Everything He Needed to on 'Euphoria'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  23. ^ Diaz, Angel (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's Response Was Worth the Wait". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  24. ^ Pierre, Alphonse (April 30, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar: "euphoria"". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
  25. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (May 1, 2024). "'You a scam artist': the most brutal moments in Kendrick Lamar's Drake diss track". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on May 1, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  26. ^ @MerriamWebster (April 30, 2024). "Dear @MTV. We humbly nominate 'euphoria' by @kendricklamar for a Video Music Award for "Best Video Ever."" (Tweet). Retrieved May 1, 2024 – via Twitter.
  27. ^ Rettig, James (May 2, 2024). "Toronto Restaurant New Ho King Flooded With Attention After Kendrick Lamar's Drake Diss Track". Stereogum. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  28. ^ Marc Griffin (May 2, 2024). "Kendrick Lamar's "Euphoria" Sends Toronto Chinese Restaraunt [sic] Into A Frenzy". Yahoo! News.
  29. ^ "IRMA – Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 4, 2024.
  30. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. May 6, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2024.


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