hey now

Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics

[Intro] Damn, baby I like it Damn Hmm
[Chorus] Hey now, say now, I'm all about my yen Big face Buddha, get my peace from within Sending kites to all my dirties in the pen Let the honorary walk for the win, for the win
[Verse 1] You crash out, then you better break the backboard I got friends, hopin' that they make the tabloids You know the last one figured he was Magneto You play God, you gon' get what you ask for We got the same twenty-four, what you mad for? I put a square on his back like I'm Jack Dorsey It's high beams if I make a public appearance Go back to hidin' 'cause I'm not too friendly with niggas One one thousand, two one thousand, four The Black Noah, I just strangled me a goat I walked in with a therapeutic flow Put a few hundred up, let 'em go, let 'em go
[Chorus] Hey now, say now Hey now, say now Hey now, say now Hmm, hey now, say now Hey now, say now, I'm all about my yen Big face Buddha, get my peace from within Sending kites to all my dirties in the pen Let the honorary walk for the win, for the win Hey now, say now Hey now, say now Hey now, say now Hey now, say now
[Verse 2] Hey now, say now, I done slid on they backstreet Heavy on the Parmesan, every day tax season What the fuck you wearin'? Bro, it's tacky Niggas layin' on they deathbed tryna match me Oh my God, I'm 'bout to do the fool They be screamin' out P, but they resume is boof Switch both lanes, the engine sound like the zoo Need a fee just to breathe, bitch, I can't talk to you It's the Ben Frank murderer Mister I ain't heard of ya Gulf streams, back to back, flyin' through the turbulence Who is he? Free lunch, hmm, craft services Throw your ass out this rental if I smell nervousness Hey now, say now, let me pop my shit Water down my wrist, arm around my bitch It's a green light, don't get out of bounds, I'ma blitz It's a bird, it's a plane, no, it's all blue strips Nigga, what?
[Chorus] Hey now, say now Hey now, say now Hey now, say now Hmm, hey now, say now
[Bridge] I'm way too important I'm way too important I'm way too important to ever let you slide on me again
[Interlude] Startin' to see spaceships on Rosecrans (Startin' to see spaceships on Rosecrans) I seen the aliens hold hands (I seen the aliens holding hands) They wanna see me do my dance (They wanna see me do my dance) I let 'em watch me do my dance
[Verse 3] Who the fuck I feel like? I feel like Joker Harley Quinn up in the cut with a blower Ayy, shit get spooky, every day in October My torpedo even jumped out on smokers, J-Cat Ayy, we mean muggin' niggas, Dody too important If they talkin' 'bout playin' ball, me and my team gon' get to scorin' If they talkin' 'bout playin' ball, they can take it up with Jordan It's bald heads in the Heckler for all endorsements Eenie, meenie, miny, moe, I'm tryna tag a nigga toe I'm aggressive on the beat and real life, niggas know Ayy, I tatted up my body in the pen', level four Ayy, I sharpened up a knife and came home to a blow My bitch gon' get to tweakin' like she playin' with her nose Lil' brodie 'bout to crash, my young niggas be on go I'm a different type of trophy, baby girl, I'm rose gold Me and Dot get to slidin', put 'em in a choke hold Bitches actin' like some niggas, niggas actin' like some hoes Ayy, I jumped out that pen', then I jumped up in a Ghost I'm the hottest type of nigga, see my face, then he froze All that shit he was talkin', found out he not that bold Okay, this shit like forty, that's a dub, okay, let's add it up Baby ass fat, can you do it? Can you back it up? Kickflip a nigga, I got Tech Decks And it ain't shit for me to call and get your chin checked Tell 'em, "Dody did that"

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More Lyrics About Kendrick Lamar GNX Album Info
The Meaning of "hey now"
An Anthem of Unapologetic Ambition

Kendrick Lamar's "hey now" is a masterclass in controlled confidence and lyrical dominance. The track operates on a stark contrast: a calm, hypnotic hook—"Hey now, say now, I'm all about my yen"—and verses packed with aggressive, complex wordplay. This duality captures the song's core meaning: finding inner peace and focus through the relentless pursuit of success and wealth.

The lyrics are a declaration of Kendrick's elevated status. He dismisses rivals ("Mister I ain't heard of ya"), flexes his wealth ("It's all blue strips"), and asserts his dominance over the entire rap game ("I just strangled me a goat"). However, this ambition isn't purely materialistic. It's tied to loyalty ("Sending kites to all my dirties in the pen") and a spiritual calmness he terms his "peace from within."

The song is a snapshot of an artist at his peak, viewing the world from a new, almost alien perspective ("Startin' to see spaceships on Rosecrans"). It’s a track that's less about the struggle and more about reaping the rewards, warning anyone who dares to challenge his position that he is, and will remain, "way too important."

About The Track

"hey now" is a standout track from Kendrick Lamar's 2024 album, GNX, showcasing his signature blend of intricate lyricism and thematic depth. The song is built around a hard-hitting, minimalist beat that allows Kendrick's vocal performance to take center stage. The deceptively simple "hey now" chant creates a memorable and meditative hook that contrasts sharply with the high-energy, braggadocious verses.

Lyrically, the song is dense with metaphors and cultural references, from financial ambition ("yen," "Ben Frank murderer") to tech-world threats ("put a square on his back like I'm Jack Dorsey"). The third verse features a notable shift in flow and vocal tone, delivering a raw, street-level perspective that complements Kendrick's more calculated delivery. "hey now" functions as a powerful statement piece on GNX, solidifying Kendrick's persona as a strategic, untouchable figure in modern hip-hop.