euphoria

"euphoria" is a multi-layered diss track by Kendrick Lamar primarily aimed at the Canadian rapper Drake, escalating their long-standing feud. The song's meaning transcends a simple personal attack, functioning as a broader critique of authenticity, cultural appropriation, and the state of the hip-hop industry. Lamar deconstructs Drake's public persona, accusing him of being a "scam artist" and a "master manipulator" who manufactures his identity for commercial success. He questions Drake's racial identity and his place within Black culture, particularly criticizing his use of the N-word. A significant theme is the distinction between creating art that is "electrifying" versus music that merely "pacifies" listeners, with Lamar positioning himself as the artist of substance and integrity. The song's title is itself a sarcastic jab, referencing the HBO show "Euphoria," of which Drake is an executive producer, and which has faced criticism for its depiction of teenagers. Ultimately, "euphoria" is a declaration of Lamar's lyrical and cultural superiority, asserting his position as the authentic voice in hip-hop while dismantling the perceived artifice of his rival.

The song begins with a reversed audio clip, which, when played forward, reveals the line, "Everything they say about me is true. I'm a phony," a quote from the film 'The Wiz.' This sets a tone of exposing inauthenticity. The first section of the track is delivered in a calm, almost conversational manner over a smooth, soulful sample. Kendrick Lamar observes a prominent figure, a "famous actor," who is now paranoid and spiraling. He describes this person as a "degenerate" and a "pathetic master manipulator," suggesting his actions are calculated yet predictable. Lamar accuses this individual of fabricating stories about family, likely in response to Kendrick's own introspective album, "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers." He positions himself as an artist who creates electrifying music, while his counterpart makes music that merely pacifies the audience. He hints at knowing more damaging truths but chooses to show a "random act of kindness" by holding back for now, ending the section with a stark warning: "Don't tell no lie about me, and I won't tell truths 'bout you."

Suddenly, the beat switches to a more aggressive, up-tempo trap rhythm, and Lamar's delivery becomes more intense and confrontational. He directly addresses the ongoing feud, expressing his deep-seated animosity. He proclaims his genuine hatred for his rival's entire persona – his walk, his talk, and his style of dress. He criticizes the sneak-dissing nature of his opponent, promising that his own attacks will be direct. The lyrics delve into his rival's perceived cultural inauthenticity, questioning his identity and affiliations. He mocks his opponent's claims of street credibility and toughness, contrasting it with his own experiences. Lamar also takes aim at his rival's parenting, suggesting he knows nothing about raising a child with morals and integrity. He references specific disses from his opponent, turning them back on him with clever wordplay. The track continues with a barrage of personal insults, questioning his rival's masculinity and artistic integrity. He accuses him of using AI to generate lyrics, a jab at his opponent's recent diss track which featured AI-generated vocals of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg. He concludes the song by repeatedly stating that the hip-hop community does not want to hear his rival use the N-word anymore, a direct challenge to his cultural standing and authenticity within the genre.

"euphoria" was released unexpectedly on April 30, 2024, as a direct response to Drake's diss tracks "Push Ups" and "Taylor Made Freestyle". This release was a pivotal moment in the escalating feud between the two artists, which had been reignited by Lamar's verse on Future and Metro Boomin's song "Like That" in March 2024. Drake's "Taylor Made Freestyle" notably used AI-generated vocals of Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg, two of Lamar's idols, to taunt him into responding. "euphoria" was initially released exclusively on YouTube before being made available on streaming platforms hours later. The YouTube upload time of 8:24 a.m. PT was widely interpreted as a nod to the late basketball player Kobe Bryant's jersey numbers. The song was produced by Cardo and Kyuro, with additional production from Johnny Juliano, Sounwave, and Yung Exclusive. It also includes a sample of Teddy Pendergrass's 1981 song "You're My Latest, My Greatest Inspiration". "euphoria" marked Kendrick Lamar's first release since his departure from Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment.

"euphoria" is a masterclass in rhythmic complexity and varied rhyme schemes, which Lamar manipulates to enhance the song's emotional trajectory and lyrical attacks. The track is divided into distinct sections, each with its own rhythmic character. The initial part, over the Teddy Pendergrass sample, features a more relaxed, conversational flow with a looser rhyme scheme, allowing the narrative to unfold. Lamar's delivery is measured, emphasizing the calculated nature of his initial observations about Drake. When the beat switches to a more aggressive trap rhythm, the rhyme scheme becomes more intricate and the pacing accelerates significantly. Lamar employs multi-syllabic rhymes, internal rhymes, and complex patterns that showcase his technical prowess. His flow becomes more syncopated and percussive, hitting the beat with precision and aggression. This rhythmic shift mirrors the heightened intensity of the lyrics, moving from subtle jabs to direct, hard-hitting insults. The song's structure, with its dramatic changes in tempo and rhythm, keeps the listener engaged and underscores the multifaceted nature of Lamar's assault on Drake. The interplay between his lyrical rhythm and the underlying musical rhythm is a key element in the song's effectiveness as a diss track.

"euphoria" showcases a wide range of stylistic techniques that underscore its lyrical depth and aggressive tone.

• Beat Switches: The song is notable for its multiple beat switches, transitioning from a smooth, soulful sample of Teddy Pendergrass to a more aggressive trap beat. This musical shift mirrors the change in Lamar's vocal delivery and the escalating intensity of his disses.
• Vocal Delivery: Lamar employs a variety of vocal deliveries throughout the track. He begins with a calm, almost conversational tone, which then morphs into a more rapid-fire and confrontational flow. Towards the end of the song, he even appears to mock Drake's Toronto accent.
• Double and Triple Entendres: The lyrics are filled with multi-layered wordplay. For example, the line "Yeah, fuck all that pushin' P, let me see you push a T" is a double entendre, referencing the rapper Gunna's hit song "Pushin P" and the rapper Pusha T, who has a long-standing beef with Drake.
• Literary Devices: Lamar utilizes various literary devices such as isocolon, chiasmus, and polyptoton to structure his disses and enhance their impact.
• Direct Address and Rhetorical Questions: He directly addresses Drake throughout the song and uses rhetorical questions to challenge his credibility and authenticity, such as "How many more Black features 'til you finally feel that you Black enough?".
• Sampling and Intertextuality: The use of a Teddy Pendergrass sample and the reversed intro from "The Wiz" are examples of intertextuality that add deeper layers of meaning to the track. He also interpolates a line from Kanye West's "Get 'Em High" at the end of the song.

"euphoria" had an immediate and significant cultural impact, dominating conversations in the hip-hop community and beyond. The song was a massive commercial success, breaking the single-day streaming record for a hip-hop song in 2024 and debuting at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100, eventually peaking at number 3. It also reached number one on the US Spotify and Apple Music charts. The track's intricate lyrics and layered disses sent fans and critics into a frenzy of analysis, with websites like Genius reportedly crashing due to the high volume of traffic. "euphoria" is widely considered a pivotal moment in the Drake-Kendrick Lamar feud, with many commentators declaring it a decisive victory for Lamar. The song's critique of authenticity and cultural appropriation in hip-hop sparked broader discussions about these issues within the music industry. It has been praised for its lyrical complexity and artistic merit, with some critics hailing it as one of the greatest diss tracks of all time. The song's influence extended beyond music, becoming a significant cultural moment that was discussed and debated across various media platforms.

Kendrick Lamar's "euphoria" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that serve to dismantle Drake's persona and elevate Lamar's own status.

• The Title "euphoria": This is a direct and sarcastic reference to the HBO series of the same name, for which Drake is an executive producer. The show has been criticized for its sexualization of high school characters, and by using this title, Lamar subtly alludes to allegations of Drake's inappropriate relationships with younger women.
• Reversed Intro: The track begins with a reversed audio clip from the 1978 film "The Wiz," which says, "Everything they say about me is true. I'm a phony." This immediately establishes the theme of exposing Drake as a fraud.
• Tommy Hilfiger vs. FUBU: Lamar raps, "Tommy Hilfiger stood out, but FUBU never had been your collection." This is a cultural metaphor referencing a rumor that Tommy Hilfiger made racist remarks, which led many in the Black community to support the Black-owned brand FUBU. Lamar uses this to question Drake's authenticity and connection to Black culture.
• "Pacify" Double Entendre: The line, "I make music that electrify 'em, you make music that pacify 'em," has a dual meaning. On the surface, it criticizes Drake's music as being bland and unchallenging. However, "pacify" can also allude to a pacifier, subtly referencing Drake's alleged attraction to younger women.
• The "Degenerate": Lamar's use of the word "degenerate" also contains a geometric double entendre. A degenerate shape in geometry is a straight line, implying that Drake's artistic and personal angles are predictable and lack depth.

Several recurring phrases and motifs in "euphoria" serve to reinforce the central themes of the song and create a cohesive and impactful narrative.

• "Master Manipulator": Lamar repeatedly refers to Drake as a "master manipulator" and a "habitual liar." This motif is central to his deconstruction of Drake's public persona, painting him as a deceptive and inauthentic individual.
• Questioning Authenticity: A recurring theme is the questioning of Drake's authenticity, both as a rapper and as a Black man. Lines like "You not a rap artist, you a scam artist with the hopes of being accepted" and the repeated refrain at the end, "We don't wanna hear you say 'nigga' no more," drive this point home.
• Family and Fatherhood: Lamar brings up the theme of fatherhood multiple times, rapping, "I got a son to raise, but I can see you don't know nothin' 'bout that." This is a direct attack on Drake's character and his role as a father, a theme that would be further explored in subsequent diss tracks.
• The "Hate" Motif: In the second half of the song, Lamar embraces the role of a "hater," listing the things he despises about Drake: "I hate the way that you walk, the way that you talk, I hate the way that you dress." This raw expression of animosity is a powerful and memorable motif.
• "Crodie": Towards the end of the track, Lamar adopts Toronto slang, repeatedly using the word "crodie" in a mocking tone to belittle Drake's Canadian origins and his use of slang.