Kendrick Lamar's surprise album GNX featured a standout track titled "Hey Now." Producer Mustard revealed an interesting detail about the song's creation. According to Mustard Kendrick Lamar said he felt like Goku from Dragon Ball when he first heard the beat for " Hey Now ." This insight offers a glimpse into the creative process behind Lamar's music and his connection to popular culture.
Producer Mustard Shares Kendrick Lamar's Surprising Goku Inspiration for "Hey Now"
In an interview Mustard recounted a conversation with Kendrick Lamar during the video shoot for "Not Like Us." Mustard asked Lamar about the energy and style of "Hey Now." Lamar explained that the beat made him feel like Goku . Goku is the central character of the widely known Dragon Ball manga series. Mustard admitted he was taken aback by the comparison. Kendrick elaborated that certain elements in Mustard's beats trigger a unique creative response in him. This feeling led to the creation of "Hey Now" in the way it was presented on GNX.
"Hey Now" Track on Kendrick Lamar's GNX Album Inspired by Dragon Ball's Goku Says Mustard
"Hey Now" featuring Dody6 is a highlight from GNX. The song reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Mustard produced the track. He also shared that many artists previously declined the beat for "Hey Now." These artists included YG Quavo and Ty Dolla $ign. Mustard mentioned he was aiming for a West Coast version of Clipse's "Grindin" when creating the beat which explains its minimalist and unique sound. Despite initial rejections Kendrick Lamar embraced the beat and transformed it into a successful song.
Grammy Nominations and Recognition for GNX Album and Mustard's Production
Both Kendrick Lamar and Mustard received recognition at the Grammy Awards. "Not Like Us" garnered nominations for Record of the Year Song of the Year Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song. Mustard himself was nominated for Producer of the Year Non-Classical. Another track from GNX "TV Off" also gained attention as a standout. "TV Off" includes a memorable shoutout to Mustard and a beat switch that divides the song into distinct parts. Mustard revealed that the beat switch in "TV Off" was Kendrick Lamar's idea. Lamar combined two separate beats from a selection Mustard provided.
Dragon Ball's Goku Influence Extends to Kendrick Lamar's Creative Process
Akira Toriyama's Dragon Ball franchise holds significant cultural impact particularly within the hip-hop community. Goku's character embodies themes of overcoming limits and achieving new levels of power. Kendrick Lamar's reference to feeling like Goku highlights this cultural connection. It suggests that the energy and intensity associated with Goku resonated with Lamar during the creation of "Hey Now." The shoutout to Mustard in "TV Off" also became a popular online meme further demonstrating the album's cultural impact and connection with fans.
Kendrick Lamar and Mustard's Collaboration Continues to Achieve Success
GNX and the collaboration between Kendrick Lamar and Mustard demonstrate their continued success and innovation in hip-hop. Kendrick Lamar's ability to draw inspiration from diverse sources like Dragon Ball and translate it into his music underscores his artistic depth. Mustard's production style which initially seemed unconventional to some artists proved to be the perfect backdrop for Lamar's creative vision. Their combined talents have resulted in commercially successful and critically acclaimed music further solidifying their positions in contemporary music.