Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe

Background

Recorded for Lamar's second studio album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" originally featured vocals from American pop musician Lady Gaga. On August 15, 2012, Gaga announced that she had collaborated with Lamar on another song recorded for Good Kid, M.A.A.D City entitled "Partynauseous", and that it would be released on September 6. Eight days later, she announced that the song would no longer be released on the announced date and apologized to fans for the delay. None of Gaga's contributions were ultimately featured on the album due to timing issues and creative differences, with Lamar stating:

On November 8, 2012, Lady Gaga released the original version of the song featuring her vocals, in which she performs the chorus and a verse. Lamar expressed his surprise and approval of her releasing the song, as he felt it showed confidence in their work together.

Live performances

Lamar included "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" in the set list of the Damn Tour (2017). He also performed "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" alongside other songs on the Grand National Tour (2025).

Music video

The music video for "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", directed by The Lil Homie and OG Mike Mihail, was released on May 13, 2013. The same day, the director's cut of the video was released, featuring cameo appearances from Juicy J and Jay Rock and a bonus clip of a song by Schoolboy Q, titled "Man of the Year". American comedian Mike Epps makes appearances throughout the video.

The video ends with a hard cutoff of the string ensemble to a black screen with white text reading "Death to Molly". In an MTV News interview, Lamar explained that the text was meant as a criticism of lyrical promotion of the drug MDMA—popularly known as "Molly"—in hip hop music, saying: "When everybody consciously now uses this term or this phrase and putting it in lyrics, it waters the culture down... So it's really just time to move on."

Remixes

On March 13, 2013, a snippet of the official remix for "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" featuring a guest appearance from American rapper Jay-Z was premiered by Jay-Z's engineer Young Guru. When Lamar touched on the record, he called it an accomplishment to have a song featuring Jay-Z and revealed that he wrote his verse for the remix in one day. The full version of the remix was premiered by Funkmaster Flex on March 17, 2013. The remix was added to the track listing of the iTunes Store version of the album and subsequently released to rhythmic contemporary radio on April 9, 2013. Its single cover is a photograph of basketball players Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, who serve as representations of, respectively, Lamar and Jay-Z.

A remix of "Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe" featuring British singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé, billed as the "International Remix", was released on May 27, 2013. The two had previously debuted the song live at the Footaction event in New York City earlier in the month. The remix was released as a digital single on June 25, 2013. On the remix, Sandé performs a new intro section and duets with Lamar on the refrain.

Release and reception

Speaking to Rap-Up on March 9, 2013, Lamar stated that "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" would probably be released as a single from Good Kid, M.A.A.D City. Shortly after the premiere of the song's official remix, Lamar confirmed that "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" would be the fourth official single.

Following the release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" debuted at number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending January 13, 2013. It re-entered the Hot 100 at number 84 for the week ending March 24, later peaking at number 32 and becoming his third top 40 hit as a solo artist on the chart.

"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" has been widely regarded as one of Lamar's best songs. In 2018, Billboard ranked the song number nine on their list of the 20 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs, and in 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song number five on their list of the 50 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs.

Awards and nominations

Formats and track listings

• Digital download

1. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (edited version) – 5:11
2. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (explicit version) – 5:11
3. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (remix / explicit version) (featuring Jay-Z) – 4:39
4. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (International remix / explicit version) (featuring Emeli Sandé) – 5:06

• Digital download (remix)

1. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (remix) (featuring Emeli Sandé) – 5:06

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Radio and release history

References

References

1. "Kendrick Lamar – Good Kid M.A.A.D. City CD Album". [[CD Universe]].
2. Ahmed, Insanul. (October 23, 2012). "The Making of Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city'". Complex Media.
3. (August 16, 2012). "Lady Gaga to release new single 'Partynauseous' next month". [[IPC Media]].
4. (August 23, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar–Lady Gaga Collaboration Delayed". Rap-Up, LLC.
5. (November 7, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar f. Lady Gaga – Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe". Cheri Media Group.
6. Ryon, Sean. (November 15, 2012). "Kendrick Lamar Surprised Lady Gaga Released Her Version Of 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe'". Cheri Media Group.
7. Masley, Ed. (July 13, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force". AZ Central.
8. Drake, David. (May 13, 2013). "Watch the Extended Cut of Kendrick Lamar's 'B**** Don't Kill My Vibe' Video". Complex Media.
9. Diep, Eric. (May 13, 2013). "Watch The Director's Cut Of Kendrick Lamar's 'B*tch, Don't Kill My Vibe'". Harris Publications.
10. Markman, Rob. (May 23, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Calls Out 'Molly Rap' For 'Watering Down' Hip-Hop". [[Viacom Media Networks]].
11. Isenberg, Daniel. (March 13, 2013). "Jay-Z Is On Kendrick Lamar's 'B***h Don't Kill My Vibe' Remix". Complex Media.
12. Monahan, Edward. (March 16, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Talks 'B**ch, Don't Kill My Vibe' Remix With Jay-Z". Complex Media.
13. Harling, Danielle. (March 19, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Details The Moment He Heard Jay-Z's 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe (Remix)' Verse". Cheri Media Group.
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16. Martins, Chris. (March 18, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z Fling Fire on 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe' Remix". [[Spin Media]].
17. Battan, Carrie. (March 18, 2013). "Listen to the Full Jay-Z Remix of Kendrick Lamar's 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe'". [[Pitchfork Media]].
18. (May 27, 2013). "New Music: Kendrick Lamar f/ Emeli Sandé – 'Bitch, Don't Kill Vibe (Remix)'". Rap-Up, LLC.
19. Robertson, Iyana. (May 3, 2013). "Watch: Kendrick Lamar and Emeli Sande Perform 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe'". Vibe Media.
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21. (March 9, 2013). "Rap-Up TV: Kendrick Lamar Talks Next Single, Drake, & Emeli Sandé Remix". Rap-Up, LLC.
22. Harding, Danielle. (March 17, 2013). "Kendrick Lamar Calls Jay-Z Collaboration 'An Accomplishment,' Comments On South By Southwest". Cheri Media Group.
23. Grein, Paul. (January 16, 2013). "Week Ending Jan. 13, 2013. Songs: 'Suit And Tie' Is Off & Running". [[Yahoo!]].
24. Grein, Paul. (March 27, 2013). "Week Ending March 24, 2013. Songs: 5 Million 'Thrift Shoppers'". [[Yahoo!]].
25. Alysse, Bianca. (February 5, 2018). "Kendrick Lamar's 20 Best Songs: Critic's Picks".
26. (November 1, 2021). "The 50 Greatest Kendrick Lamar Songs".
27. "Track of the Year". [[Black Entertainment Television]].
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31. (March 21, 2013). "New Songs At Radio This Week". Auspop.
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