30 For 30
by SZA (featuring Kendrick Lamar)

Album: Lana (2024)
Charted: 33 10
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • "30 for 30" is a brash collaboration between SZA and Kendrick Lamar included on Lana, the reissue of SZA's second studio album, SOS. One of SZA's more braggadocios cuts, the song finds the pair asserting their self-respect while calling out the fake energy that seems to permeate certain circles of fame. They make no bones about prioritizing their peace while tossing lyrical grenades at anyone not keeping it 100.
  • The song is the third collaboration between the pair in 2024, following "Luther" and "Gloria," both recorded for Lamar's GNX album. While those two tracks showed Lamar softening under SZA's influence, "30 for 30" flips the script. Here, K-Dot acts as SZA's hype man, nudging her toward new levels of cockiness.
  • Lamar pokes fun at a former friend of SZA's throughout his rhymes. Drake and SZA have been friends for a long time, and they were romantically involved in the late 2000s. If you've been paying attention to 2024's rap war between Lamar and Drake, the target isn't exactly hard to guess. None of his jabs are explicit, but they potentially include:

    You f---in' with niggas that's thinkin' they cuter than you

    Is Lamar mocking Drake's image and perceived focus on appearance?

    Say you on your cycle, but he on his period too

    He's seemingly questioning Drake's masculinity or emotional nature.

    The tenderness of 'em, mistakin' 'em for some wagyu

    Another possible dig at Drake's perceived softness or sensitivity.

    The tables been turnin' so much, I was thinkin' it's foosball

    Another line that feels tailor made to get under Drake's skin, especially as many believe Kendrick has now firmly outpaced him in both popularity and critical acclaim.

    The song title "30 for 30" might be a reference to Drake's 2015 song "30 for 30 Freestyle," potentially repurposing it as a challenge.
  • SZA, for her part, doesn't sit this one out. While Drake previously threw shade her way on his diss track "Push Ups," claiming she had Lamar "wiped down," SZA claps back with a slyly devastating line of her own:

    I'm wipin' 'em down in front of they ni---a

    It's clear she's chosen her side in this war, and her allegiance lies with her former TDE brother.
  • "30 For 30" begins with a sample of Bobby DeBarge's vocals from Switch's "I Call Your Name." The song was featured on their 1979 album, Switch II.
  • J. White Did It's production is laced with soaring strings and booming 808s. His previous work includes producing hit songs like "Bodak Yellow" and "I Like It" for Cardi B, as well as "Savage" for Megan Thee Stallion featuring Beyoncé.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Intentionally Atrocious

Intentionally AtrociousSong Writing

A selection of songs made to be terrible - some clearly achieved that goal.

00s Music Quiz 1

00s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

Do you know the girl singer on Eminem's "Stan"? If so, this quiz is for you.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)

Graham Bonnet (Alcatrazz, Rainbow)Songwriter Interviews

Yngwie Malmsteen and Steve Vai were two of Graham's co-writers for some '80s rock classics.

Grunge Bands Quiz

Grunge Bands QuizMusic Quiz

If the name Citizen Dick means anything to you, there's a chance you'll get some of these right.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.