Kendrick Lamar has surprised fans by releasing a new song on his Instagram account, reportedly titled “Watch the Party Die.”
The five-minute track features references to Christian rapper Lecrae, Terrace Martin, and seemingly points towards DJ Akademiks. Lamar raps, “The radio personality pushing propaganda for salary / Let me know when they turn up as a casualty.”
Additionally, the lyrics hint that the tensions with Drake might still persist: “Just walked that man down, that’ll do everyone a solid / It’s love but tough love, sometimes you gotta result in violence.” The cover art for the song showcases a pair of worn sneakers, which may be a jab at Drake’s single cover for “Push Ups,” that poked fun at Lamar’s shoe size.
This release marks Lamar’s first new music since his hit single “Not Like Us,” which was a significant part of his ongoing exchanges with Drake earlier this year. “Not Like Us” scored big, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in May and later topping several charts including Hot Rap Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
The timing of Lamar’s latest song coincides with the announcement of his performance at the 2025 Apple Music Super Bowl LIX Halftime show, making it his second appearance after participating in the star-studded 2022 performance with Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent.
In relation to the halftime performance, Lamar stated, “Rap music is still the most impactful genre to date. And I’ll be there to remind the world why. They got the right one.”