Continuing my look at the top songs of 2025…
Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Squabble Up’ sits at #20 on the year-end list, giving him four entries in the top 20. That ties him with Morgan Wallen, giving two very different artists a shared grip on last year’s musical landscape.
‘Squabble Up’ was released as a dual lead single with ‘TV Off,’ though both ended up being eclipsed by third single ‘Luther.’
This one has a West Coast rap sound that nods to Lamar’s California roots. I like it well enough, perhaps because I have a soft spot for those 90s West Coast records.
God knows
I am reincarnated
I was stargazin’
Life goes on, I need all my babies (Gyah, gyah)
[Verse 1]
Woke up lookin’ for the broccoli
High-key, keep a horn on me, that Kamasi
IP, ownership, the blueprint is by me
Mr. Get Off, I get off and mop feet
When I hear music, it makes me dance
You got the music, now is your chance
A yee nigga couldn’t try me in the tri-state
Buddy pass, bet I get him splashed ’til he hydrated
Bounce out, know he spook town, eyes dilated
I got the money and the power both gyratin’
[Chorus]
I feel good, get the fuck out my face
Look good, but shе don’t got no taste
I walk in, walked out with the safе
Mando, let me know what the play
[Verse 2]
What the fuck?
I got hits, I got bucks, I got new paper cuts
I got friends, I got foes, but they all sitting ducks
Hit his turf and get crackin’, double back like a deluxe
Fifty deep, but it ain’t deep enough
Fuck a plea, there he go, beat him up
Fallin’ from a money tree and it grow throughout the months
Spit a loogie at the camera, speed off, yeah, it’s us
[Chorus]
I feel good, get the fuck out my face
Look good, but she don’t got no taste
I walk in, walked out with the safe
Mando, let me know what the play
[Post-Chorus]
Squabble up, squabble up
Squabble up, squabble up
Squabble up (Mm, mm), squabble up (Mm, mm)
Squabble up (Mm, mm), squabble up
[Bridge]
Hol’ up (Hol’ up)
Where you from? (Where you from?)
Bye, bitch (Bye, bitch)
I’m finna go dumb (Finna go dumb)
Sideways (Sideways)
Bunk skunk (Bunk skunk)
Fever (Fever)
I’m on one (I’m on one)
[Verse 3]
Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk, baby rockin’ it
Quid pro quo, what you want? ‘Cause I’m watchin’ it
Work on the floor, let me know if you clockin’ it
Brodie won’t go, but I know that he poppin’ it
It was wolf tickets on sale ’til I silenced it
Pipe down, young, these some whole other politics
Bitch with him and some bitch in him, that’s a lot of bitch
Don’t hit him, he got kids with him, my apologies
Ghetto child, it was Blacky Milds with the Smirnoff
Yeehaw, we outside, whoadie ’bout to kill him off
Blaps on blaps, it’s a fact, this a brick of raw
Tell me why the fuck you niggas rap if it’s fictional?
Tell me why the fuck you niggas fed if you criminal?
“Ayy, Dot, can I get a drop?” I’m like, “Nigga, nah”
Ace boon coon from the Westside to Senegal
It’s a full moon, let the wolves out, I been a dog (Ah)
[Chorus]
I feel good, get the fuck out my face
Look good, but she don’t got no taste
I walk in, walked out with the safe
Mando, let me know what the play
[Post-Chorus]
Squabble up, squabble up
Squabble up, squabble up
Squabble up (Mm, mm), squabble up (Mm, mm)
Squabble up (Mm, mm), squabble up
Meet Me In Montauk 
Another one for Peg to enjoy.😉
😂 you took the words out of my mouth
I recently revisited the “GNX” and found myself surprised by how much I was enjoying it. When it first came out I definitely had Drake colored glasses on and was sick and tired of the narrative that Kendrick Lamar had so handily beaten him practically ending his career.
“GNX” felt like the cherry on top of that beef. Immediately when it dropped it was so lauded and I wasn’t so bought into the hype upon first listen. There was a song or two that resonated with me but overall I felt secure in my convictions.
However, these past couple weeks I’ve been taking the time to listen to all the Grammy nominees and found myself spinning “GNX” in the car and just feeling spellbound. Now far enough away from the heat of rap’s biggest rivalry, I was able to appreciate the sheer lyricism and depth in Lamar’s storytelling.
Songs like “wacced out murals”, “reincarnated”, and “heart pt. 6” all showcase what Kendrick does best which is tackle complex themes with an ease both in flow and rhyme scheme that you understand why so many people quickly label him the goat.
“squabble up” is certainly not as deep as those other tracks but far more easy to bop to. Kendrick’s delivery on this record and “tv off” is just so contagious. He’s got such a unique voice and the way he plays with changing up the rhythm of his bars is enthralling to me. The “get the f*ck out my fa-a-a-ce” refrain is always so playfully a-melodic in such a purposeful way that it becomes catchy and sticks in my head.
I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to revisit the most popular tracks from the past year this week through your blog. Eager to read more!