Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used To Know -... //top\\

Title: The Alchemist of Angst: Deconstructing Kendrick Lamar’s Performance of "Somebody That I Used To Know"

If you’ve spent any time in the deep corners of Reddit or TikTok recently, you might have stumbled upon a track that sounds like a fever dream: Kendrick Lamar rapping over 2011 diamond-certified hit, “Somebody That I Used to Know.”

Let me know which direction you'd like me to take! Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used To Know -...

The Origin of the Confusion: The Gotye Problem

In 2012, Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” was inescapable. The xylophone hook, the naked vulnerability, and the bitter back-and-forth between Gotye and Kimbra defined a generation of breakup songs. The lyrics—“But you didn't have to cut me off”—are universal.

Leaks and Snippets: Fragments of this song have circulated on social media and fan forums like Reddit, often shared under titles like "Somebody | Unreleased | Part 1". The lyrics—“But you didn't have to cut me

You're looking for a solid guide on covering Kendrick Lamar's "Somebody That I Used to Know"!

A more polished version with a different beat and verses Kendrick later repurposed for a track titled "Abortion Money". The Beth Gibbons Connection: Some versions feature a hook sung by Beth Gibbons (of Portishead) rather than a direct Gotye sample. 3. The AI & Mashup Renaissance In 2024 and 2025, the track saw a massive resurgence on and YouTube due to the rise of high-quality AI. A more polished version with a different beat

That song features a hook sung from the perspective of a ghost—a friend of Kendrick's who was shot and killed. The lyrics float in a reverb-drenched ether:

Fans were sent into a frenzy when a Kendrick track titled simply "Somebody" leaked online in 2020. Recorded around 2019, the song features a vocal style Kendrick later refined for Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.