Kendrick raps about a partner who is fixated on money—"the tallest 'fetti"—and overlookin' the person who was there before the fame. He contrasts his own artistic journey with a partner’s superficial demands.
Built upon a distinctive sample of Brazilian guitarist Luiz Bonfá's 1967 instrumental track "Seville," the song combined a xylophone-driven hook with raw acoustic textures.
"Memories Back Then" was initially released as a single by Hustle Gang on April 22, 2013. While it had a brief run on the Billboard Hot 100, the track was more notable for its high-profile collaboration and the story behind its sample than for blockbuster chart success. Nevertheless, the song has endured as a deep cut for fans of all three artists, representing a moment where the brooding indie-pop of Gotye briefly intersected with mainstream hip-hop.
"Somebody That I Used to Know" is a popular song by Australian singer-songwriter Gotye, featuring New Zealand singer Kimbra. The song was released in 2012 as a single from Gotye's third studio album, Making Mirrors. The song became a huge commercial success, topping the charts in many countries, including the US, UK, and Australia. Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used To Know -...
These songs showcase Kendrick Lamar's lyrical dexterity, musical experimentation, and socially conscious themes, which have earned him widespread critical acclaim and a devoted fan base.
A critical element of this specific performance is the inclusion of a feature from his then-label mate, Jay Rock (of TDE). This addition shifts the song from a solo cover to a collaborative effort, aligning it with the posse-cut structure often found in West Coast hip-hop.
In contrast, the song "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye, featuring Kimbra, was a huge commercial success, peaking at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Drake, on the other hand, has collaborated with Kendrick Lamar on several occasions, including the hit song "DNA." from Kendrick's album "DAMN." Kendrick raps about a partner who is fixated
Phrases like "You didn't have to cut me off" are delivered with a percussive force that changes the subtext. In the original, these lines sound like a plea. In Lamar’s version, they sound like an indictment. He bridges the gap between singing and rapping, utilizing his signature vocal elasticity—bending notes, chopping syllables, and altering his pitch to convey frustration rather than sadness.
Much like the Gotye track, this song explores a vicious, toxic relationship through a back-and-forth argument, showing how two people can love and hate each other simultaneously until they become strangers.
The search for "Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used to Know" endures because it represents a perfect storm of fan imagination. "Memories Back Then" was initially released as a
In the early 2010s, Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” was inescapable. But while the world was humming that xylophone hook, was busy transforming it into something entirely different. Whether through official remixes or unreleased leaks, the DNA of this track has haunted Kendrick’s discography for over a decade. 1. The Official Remix (2012)
However, the search volume for this phrase suggests something deeper. Fans often conflate the theme of Gotye’s hit with several of Kendrick’s tracks—specifically, the gut-wrenching feeling of outgrowing a former version of yourself, or cutting ties with a toxic friend/lover. So, while the song doesn’t exist, the sentiment is central to Kendrick’s discography.
Each verse ends with the refrain: "I'll never forget your song." But the subtext is grief-stricken amnesia. He is trying to remember the people he used to know before the violence erased them. The melancholic guitar loop of that track is the hip-hop equivalent of Gotye’s xylophone—sparse, circular, entrapping.
It was an unlikely candidate for a hip-hop remix, yet Kendrick Lamar—riding the momentum of his breakout Section.80 —saw an opportunity to dissect the song’s emotional landscape through a rapping lens. Kendrick Lamar’s Lyrical Re-interpretation
In the leaked version featuring the actual Gotye sample, Kendrick Lamar delivers a masterclass in narrative storytelling that completely subverts the indie-pop theme of the original track. While Gotye sings about the pain of post-breakup alienation, Kendrick anchors his verse in the reality of evolving past childhood acquaintances and coping with the superficiality of newfound fame.