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

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.

Mark Arm of Mudhoney

Mark Arm of MudhoneySongwriter Interviews

When he was asked to write a song for the Singles soundtrack, Mark thought the Seattle grunge scene was already overblown, so that's what he wrote about.

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & Palmer

Greg Lake of Emerson, Lake & PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Greg talks about writing songs of "universal truth" for King Crimson and ELP, and tells us about his most memorable stage moment (it involves fireworks).

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And Scandals

Top American Idol Moments: Songs And ScandalsSong Writing

Surprise exits, a catfight and some very memorable performances make our list of the most memorable Idol moments.

Yacht Rock!

Yacht Rock!Song Writing

A scholarly analysis of yacht rock favorites ("Steal Away," "Baker Street"...) with a member of the leading YR cover band.