King Kendrick returns. After posting a cryptic “IV” teaser on Instagram earlier in the day, Kendrick Lamar unleashes the fourth installment in his series “The Heart.” Part 4, which arrives nearly five years after “Part 3,” finds Kendrick fired up and firing on all cylinders.
“The five-foot giant woke up out of his sleep, ni**a,” declares K-Dot before taking shots at President Trump (“Donald Trump is a chump, know how we feel punk”) and an unnamed foe.
“My fans can’t wait for me to son your punk ass and crush your whole little shit,” he raps. “I’ll Big Pun your punk ass, you a scared little bitch / Tiptoein’ around my name, you’re lame / When I get at you, homie / Don’t you tell me you was just playin’.”
And make no mistake about it, Kendrick is here to claim the throne, with boastful rhymes (“I am the greatest rapper alive”) and a reference to Jay Z’s recent Songwriters Hall of Fame honor (“Ho, Jay Z Hall of Fame, sit your punk ass down”).
Over the explosive five-minute track, he also hints at the release of his next album on April 7. “You know what time it is / Ante up, this is here forever / Y’all got ’til April the 7th to get y’all shit together.”
“The Heart Part 1” appeared on 2010’s K. Dot Drops project, while “Part 2” was on Lamar’s Overly Dedicated mixtape, released later that same year. “Part 3,” featuring Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, dropped on the eve of good kid, m.A.A.d city‘s release in 2012.
“Part 4” arrives on the heels of Kendrick’s performance at Coachella next month. The Compton MC will headline both weekends of the festival in Indio, Calif. on April 16 and April 23.