Watch The Party Die - Kendrick Lamar

The rap beef between Kendrick Lamar and Drake held me in a chokehold for nearly two months. I was constantly checking and refreshing social media and Youtube, waiting for the next drop, the next diss, the next "oh shit" moment. It consumed my attention in a way that few things have. I still often feel like an outsider, but I love learning more about hip-hop culture, its history, and how it reflects the world that we live in. Kendrick Lamar has been the diving point for me to go deeper into rap - his music connects me to other important artists that help me see the bigger picture, but his music contains so much to uncover. Listening to Kendrick reminds me a lot of studying Scripture, especially when I was in college. Doing exegetical papers on specific verses and chapters from the Word to better understand the layers and deeper meanings is very similar to how I feel when I listen to any Kendrick Lamar song.

Thanks to the recent Linkin Park online chatter (you can see my other post here about it), I've gotten off Reddit and am only on Instagram in a fairly limited capacity. I was already noticing how much better I was feeling without constantly checking social media, and it was starting to feel more enjoyable to use without feeling like a need. So imagine my surprise the other night when I decide to do a quick check on Instagram and open it to find a new post from Kendrick. It's a photo of some very worn out Black Air Force Ones. No caption, no text in the photo. Just the photo and audio. I turned the audio on and heard a soulful and minimal instrumental begin playing, and I felt that same rush, that same adrenaline that I had felt the fateful weekend where Kendrick dropped three diss tracks within the span of 48 hours.

I immediately had to listen, and was captivated by what I heard. Hot off a summer of having the best performing diss track that also doubled as a banger, Kendrick had many routes he could have taken. At least, that’s what people seem to think. If you listened to the diss tracks from earlier this year, then “Watch The Party Die” (as it’s been unofficially termed) makes perfect sense. Despite a more upbeat instrumental than “Meet The Grahams”, this new song still embodies a sense of foreboding , of uneasiness. Kendrick isn’t just interested in calling out Drake for his alleged actions. He appears to believe that the whole industry is crooked and corrupted, and he’s taking it on himself to be the voice of light, of hope, of reason.

I’ve listened to this many times by now, and I’m starting to understand the different layers, but one of the most striking things from the first listen was the “chorus”.

God, give me life, dear God, please give me peace. Dear God, please keep these lame niggas away from me. Dear God, keep me shinin', the fuck do they really think? Pocket-watching, you must be the police. God, bless these words. Dear God, bless how I think. Dear God, draw the line, they tryna confuse 'em with me. Dear God, please forgive me, you knowin' how hard I tried. I think it's time for me to watch the party die

There are some elements of this “prayer” that will certainly ruffle some feathers. Some people will claim he’s hypocritical or that his words can’t be part of a true prayer if he’s swearing or wishing ill on others. I’d invite those who feel this way to spend some time in scripture. You’ll see that the "heroes" of the Bible are people, who make mistakes and are imperfect. There are many psalms where the writer asks God to destroy their enemies, to punish the wicked and smite them. I would ask - how is that any different from what Kendrick is doing here? He is being vulnerable and asking the Lord for guidance, for protection, and for justice.

Sometimes I wonder what Lecrae would do

Fuck these niggas up or show 'em just what prayer do?

This line is one of my favorites from track that grows in appreciation with each listen. By mentioning Lecrae, one of the biggest Christian rappers, he shows the mindset that he's trying to put himself in while being realistic in the kinds of thoughts that we deal with, even those who choose to live a life of faith. We are called to pray, to turn to the Lord and seek wisdom and resolution from Him. But that doesn't mean that the idea of taking matters into your own hands doesn't linger at the back of your mind. It’s celebrated - giving justice to those we have deemed worthy of it. So the temptation is there, and it’s difficult to resist.

This song very much feels like Kendrick’s “The Heart” series, which he always releases a new one in anticipation of his next album. Even though this isn’t officially titled and therefore it’s impossible to know at this point, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what this track is. It feels like a wrapping up of the beef and the start of a new chapter, a new sight Kendrick is set on - taking on the industry. Note that it’s only available on Instagram. Note that he released it at the exact same time that the VMA’s were televised on the 11th. He is sending a message; y’all better be prepared for what’s to come.