"Squabble Up" (stylized in

all lowercase Letter case is the distinction between the letters that are in larger uppercase or capitals (more formally ''majuscule'') and smaller lowercase (more formally ''minuscule'') in the written representation of certain languages. The writing systems ...

) is a song by the American rapper

Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, singer, songwriter and record producer. Regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first music ...

from his sixth studio album, ''

GNX The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. Serving as the premium mid-size/intermediate car of the Buick product range for nearly its entire production, the Regal initially served as the divisional counterpart of t ...

'' (2024). It was released alongside " TV Off" by

pgLang PGLang (stylized as pgLang, an abbreviation for "program language") is an American independent multidisciplinary creative communications company headquartered in Los Angeles. Founded and owned by Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free, it specializes in ...

and

Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label based in Santa Monica, California, owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture ...

on November 26, 2024, as the second singles from the album. Lamar wrote "Squabble Up"; he produced the song with

Sounwave Mark Anthony Spears (born February 28, 1986), known professionally as Sounwave, is an American record producer and songwriter. He is a frequent collaborator of rapper Kendrick Lamar, having worked on all of his projects since his 2009 self-title ...

Jack Antonoff Jack Michael Antonoff (born March 31, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is the lead vocalist of the rock band Bleachers, and previously the guitarist and drummer for the pop band Fun and the lead vocalist of t ...

, and Ruchaun "Scott Bridgeway" Akers, with additional production by Matthew "M-Tech" Bernard. The track went viral on

TikTok TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...

after being featured in promotional material for Mercedes AMG's

Formula One Formula One (F1) is the highest class of worldwide racing for open-wheel single-seater formula Auto racing, racing cars sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). The FIA Formula One World Championship has been one ...

campaign and during an

NBA The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

broadcast. "Squabble Up" is a

West Coast hip-hop West Coast hip-hop is a regional genre of Hip-hop, hip-hop music that encompasses any artists or music that originated in the West Coast of the United States. West Coast hip-hop began to dominate from a radio play and sales standpoint during th ...

track with elements of

G-funk G-funk, short for gangsta funk, (or funk rap) is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre is heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic (aka P-F ...

and

hyphy The term hyphy ( ) is an Oakland, California, slang meaning "hyperactive". More specifically, it is an adjective describing the hip-hop music and the culture associated with the Oakland area. The term was first coined by rapper Keak da Snea ...

. It samples

Debbie Deb Deborah Claire Wesoff-Kowalski (born March 10, 1966), known professionally as Debbie Deb, is an American singer and songwriter best known for her 1980s freestyle dance singles "Lookout Weekend" and " When I Hear Music". Early life Debbie Deb wa ...

's 1984 freestyle song "

When I Hear Music "When I Hear Music" is a freestyle song produced by "Pretty" Tony Butler and sung by Debbie Deb. Production Background "Pretty" Tony Butler learned music by studying electronics, fixing stereos and televisions and DJing. Butler recalled in 1985 ...

". Music critics generally praised "Squabble Up" for its layered production and homage to various musical styles. The single became Lamar's fifth number-one song on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. It peaked at number three on the ''Billboard'' Global 200 chart and was a top-five hit in Canada, Ireland, Latvia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. An accompanying

music video A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

for "Squabble Up" was released on November 25, 2024. Lamar performed the song live at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9, 2025.

Background and promotion

On July 4, 2024, Lamar released the music video of his

diss track A diss track, diss record or diss song (an abbreviation of ''disrespect'' or ''disparage'') is a song whose primary purpose is to verbally attack someone else, usually another artist. Diss tracks are often the result of an existing, escalating feu ...

aimed at Canadian rapper

Drake Drake may refer to: Animals and creatures * A male duck * Drake (mythology), a term related to and often synonymous with dragon People and fictional characters * Drake (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with the family ...

, titled "

Not Like Us "Not Like Us" is a diss track by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar amidst Drake–Kendrick Lamar feud, his highly publicized feud with the Canadian rapper Drake (musician), Drake. Released on May 4, 2024, through Interscope Records, it broke ...

". He started out the video by adding a 15-second snippet of a then-untitled song, as he makes his way down a dark hallway. Due to the usage of the word, the song became subsequently known as "Broccoli" or "Broccoli (Reincarnated)". On October 13, the

team of Mercedes AMG used the song to promote the forthcoming racing season. Only ten days later, the song was played during an

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada). The NBA is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Ca ...

(NBA) broadcast of a

Los Angeles Lakers The Los Angeles Lakers are an American professional basketball team based in Los Angeles. The Lakers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Pacific Division (NBA), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NBA ...

and

Minnesota Timberwolves The Minnesota Timberwolves (often referred to as the Wolves or T-wolves) are an American professional basketball team based in Minneapolis. The Timberwolves compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Northwest Divisio ...

game. All instances prompted the song to go viral on

with fans asking for the full song to be released soon. The track was eventually released as the second track of Lamar's surprise-release sixth studio album ''

'' on November 22, 2024. On February 9, 2025, Lamar performed the song during the 2025 Super Bowl LIX halftime show.

Composition

"Squabble Up" consists of a

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer ( ) is a modular synthesizer invented by the American engineer Robert Moog in 1964. Moog's company, R. A. Moog Co., produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 2014. It was the first commercial synthesizer ...

-driven

groove Groove or Grooves may refer to: Music * Groove (music) * Groove (drumming) * The Groove (band), an Australian rock/pop band of the 1960s * The Groove (Sirius XM), a US radio station * Groove 101.7FM, a former Perth, Australia, radio station ...

. ''

Pitchfork A pitchfork or hay fork is an agricultural tool used to pitch loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves. It has a long handle and usually two to five thin tines designed to efficiently move such materials. The term is also applie ...

'' commented that "Squabble Up" borrows a "funky bassline" from the 1984 "classic '80s techno" freestyle song "

" by American singer-songwriter

. It sees the rapper channeling "elements of his California rap heritage", fusing "

, and even

mariachi Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music dating back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, two ...

". His vocal performance includes using "myriad voices, octave changes, and shrieks". Lamar accuses other rappers of being fake without

name-dropping Name-dropping (or name-checking) is the practice of naming or alluding to important people or institutions in order to indicate one's association with them. The term often connotes an attempt to impress others; it is usually regarded negatively, ...

any artist in particular. It observes themes of personal evolution, criticism from within the music industry as well as cultural commentary. In reference to his admiration for his work, Lamar mentions saxophonist

Kamasi Washington Kamasi Tii Washington (born February 18, 1981) is an American arranger, composer and jazz saxophonist. Archived July 9, 2015. He is a founding member of the jazz collective West Coast Get Down. Career Washington was born in 1981 and raise ...

, whom he collaborated with for ''GNX'' as well as ''

To Pimp a Butterfly ''To Pimp a Butterfly'' is the third studio album by the American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 15, 2015, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The album was recorded in studios throughout ...

'' (2015).

Critical reception

"Squabble Up" received critical acclaim. In a track review for ''

'', Matthew Ritchie praised Lamar for turning the sample into a 90s club hit" and thought his "lyrical hatred" on the track was "far-reaching", making for a "fun" listen. Zachary Horvath of ''

HotNewHipHop ''HotNewHipHop'' (HNHH) is an online publication that covers daily news about hip hop and pop culture, including streetwear, sports, and Sneaker collecting, sneakers. In addition to its editorial content, HotNewHipHop also produces the video seri ...

'' argued that "Squabble Up" possesses "the most mainstream appeal" out of all the songs on the album and noted the use of "great wordplay, slick flows, and some great personality".

Music video

directed by Calmatic was released on November 25, 2024. The set and cinematography pays homage to the music video of " The Next Movement", from

the Roots The Roots are an American Hip-hop, hip hop band formed in 1987 by singer Black Thought, Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter and drummer Questlove, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Roots serve as the house band on NBC's ''T ...

' album ''

Things Fall Apart ''Things Fall Apart'' is a 1958 novel by Nigerian author Chinua Achebe. It is Achebe's debut novel and was written when he was working at the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. The novel was first published in London by Heinemann (publisher), ...

'' (1999). It contains heavy symbolism and multiple

Easter eggs Easter eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are eggs that are Egg decorating, decorated for the Christian holiday of Easter, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. As such, Easter eggs are commonly used during the season of Eastertide (Easter ...

, while also celebrates and pays homage to both the

culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

and

music of California In the United States, California is commonly associated with the film, music, and arts Industry (economics), industries; there are numerous world-famous Californian musicians. New genres of music, such as surf rock and third wave ska, have th ...

, the

music, and the

Chicano rap Chicano rap is a subgenre of hip hop that embodies aspects of the Mexican American or Chicano culture. History Early years The first recognized Chicano rap album was the 1990 debut album '' Hispanic Causing Panic'' by Kid Frost; the album's le ...

, the

African-American culture African-American culture, also known as Black American culture or Black culture in American English, refers to the cultural expressions of African Americans, either as part of or distinct from mainstream American culture. African-American/Bl ...

, the

Californios Californios (singular Californio) are Californians of Spaniards, Spanish descent, especially those descended from settlers of the 17th through 19th centuries before California was annexed by the United States. California's Spanish language in C ...

and the

Chicano movement The Chicano Movement, also referred to as El Movimiento (Spanish for "the Movement"), was a civil rights movements, social and political movement in the United States that worked to embrace a Chicano, Chicano identity and worldview that combated ...

, through multiple references, such as the African-American Flag, the

Black Panther Party The Black Panther Party (originally the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense) was a Marxism–Leninism, Marxist–Leninist and Black Power movement, black power political organization founded by college students Bobby Seale and Huey P. Newto ...

, the Compton Christmas Parade, the late rappers

Nate Dogg Nathaniel Dwayne Hale (August 19, 1969 – March 15, 2011), known professionally as Nate Dogg, was an American rapper and singer. He gained recognition for providing guest vocals on several hit rap songs between 1992 and 2007, earning him the ...

and

Mac Dre Andre Louis Hicks (July 5, 1970 – November 1, 2004), known artistically as Mac Dre, was an American rapper, record producer and songwriter from Vallejo, California. He was an instrumental figure in the emergence of hyphy, a cultural movement ...

Suga Free Dejuan Walker (born January 17, 1970), better known by his stage name Suga Free, is an American rapper. Biography Suga Free was born in Gardena and moved from Oakland, CaliforniaWhitburn, Joel (2005) ''The "Billboard" Book of Top 40 R&B and H ...

's "Kitchen Table Freestyle" (1995), the TV show ''

Soul Train ''Soul Train'' is an American musical variety television show. After airing locally on WCIU-TV in Chicago, Illinois, for a year, it aired in syndication from October 2, 1971, to March 25, 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featu ...

'' (1971–2006), the film ''

Menace II Society ''Menace II Society'' (pronounced ''Menace to Society'') is a 1993 American teen crime drama film directed by the Hughes Brothers in their directorial debut. Set in the Watts and Crenshaw neighborhoods of Los Angeles, the film follows the l ...

'' (1993), the album covers of

Isaac Hayes Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer, songwriter, composer, and actor. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records in the 1960s, serving as an in-house songwr ...

' album '' Black Moses'' (1971),

Ice-T Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop music, hip hop and heavy metal music, heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground r ...

's album ''

Power Power may refer to: Common meanings * Power (physics), meaning "rate of doing work" ** Engine power, the power put out by an engine ** Electric power, a type of energy * Power (social and political), the ability to influence people or events Math ...

'' (1988) and

E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group The Click (band), The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 stud ...

's album ''

In a Major Way ''In a Major Way'' is the second studio album by American rapper E-40. It was released on March 14, 1995, by Sick Wid It Records and Jive Records. Production on the album was handled by Studio Ton, Mike Mosley, Sam Bostic, Funk Daddy, Kevin Ga ...

'' (1995), the "Jesus Saves Gangsters Too!" initiative by the Gangster Ministries movement, recognizing their work in the Crenshaw District in South Central, and their involvement against community violence and their fight for social justice, and, as well as a custom

lowrider A lowrider or low rider is a customized car with a lowered body that emerged among Mexican American youth in the 1940s. ''Lowrider'' also refers to the driver of the car and their participation in lowrider car clubs, which remain a part of Chi ...

of the limited-production Buick Grand National Experimental (GNX) and people riding scraper bikes, among many other elements featured throughout the music video. Lamar appears rapping the song and dances to it, at one point he sits reading a book with the title, "How to Be More Like Kendrick

for Dummies ''For Dummies'' is an extensive series of instructional reference books that strive to present non-intimidating guides for readers new to the various topics covered. The series has been a worldwide success, with editions in numerous languages. ...

", and he re-enacts visiting a memorial of an unknown deceased. It also features choreographed dance numbers by Charm La'Donna, and cameo appearances from artist Taz "Tisa" Arnold (who previously collaborated with Lamar on his 2015 album ''

'') of the music group Sa-Ra Creative Partners from

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

, as well as various artists who previously performed at Lamar's concert '' The Pop Out: Ken & Friends'' during the first set by DJ Hed, titled the Act I – DJ Hed & Friends, including RJMrLA, G Perico, and Cuzzos.

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

{{Kendrick Lamar songs 2024 songs 2024 singles Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles Kendrick Lamar songs Music videos directed by Calmatic Song recordings produced by Jack Antonoff Songs written by Kendrick Lamar West Coast hip-hop songs G-funk songs Interscope Records singles