Music / January 14, 2021

Is Kendrick Lamar about to share new music?

Kendrick Lamar by Anthony "Top Dawg' Tifffith
Music / January 14, 2021

Is Kendrick Lamar about to share new music?

Words: Dylan Murphy

Kendrick Lamar’s pgLang shared a mysterious partnership with Calvin Klein last night featuring musical contributions from Brent Faiyaz, Baby Keem and more. We examine the evidence that suggests new music is on the way.

Last night, Kendrick Lamar and Dave Free’s joint venture pgLang teased a collaboration with Calvin Klein. Right now, there’s not much known about the business that was launched prior to the pandemic, but it’s described as an “at service company” and Free noted the agency was focused on “cultivating raw expression from grassroots partnerships”. We’ve seen other acts create similar vague ventures in recent times such as A$AP Rocky’s AWGE label.

Taking to social media, pgLang shared a mysterious video with the caption “We see you.” It sees a man walk up a spiral staircase and the post elaborates saying the first of seven performances is on the way today. First up is a performance by Mecca Allah with visuals directed by Kendrick’s business partner Dave Free.

In another post, they confirmed that there are seven performances in total as part of the partnership with Mecca Allah, Baby Keem, Travis Bennet, Ryan Destiny and Keith Powers, Amber Wagner, Brent Faiyaz and Exavier.

However, notably the seventh performance slot has been left blank fuelling rumours that Kendrick is set to provide his first new music since his contribution to the Black Panther soundtrack in 2018. He did feature on Busta Rhyme’s recent album, but the verse was confirmed to have been recorded around seven years ago.

All these revelations come after relentless speculation about his forthcoming album.

Kendrick signed a new record deal with Universal Music Group in October of last year and stepped out of the shadows briefly for a cover feature alongside pgLang affiliate Baby Keem for iD. He was spotted filming a music video in September and was also scheduled for multiple headline slots in summer of 2020, including Glastonbury adding fuel to rumours that the new album was imminent. Predictably, the shows never happened and there’s a general consensus among fans that it’s on pause until it makes sense to release it.

Cross your fingers and toes and keep your eyes peeled for the new content from pgLang which premieres 17.00 GMT today.

In the meantime read our top 20 Kendrick Lamar songs of all time.