King's Dead

"King's Dead" is a song by American rappers Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, and Future with English singer James Blake, from the soundtrack album of the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther and Jay Rock's third studio album Redemption. The version featured on Redemption did not feature Lamar and Blake and contains multiple differences to the original one.

"King's Dead"
Single by Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake
from the album Black Panther: The Album and Redemption
Released	January 11, 2018 (2018-01-11)
Recorded	2017
Genre	Alternative hip-hop trap
Length	3:50 2:40 (Jay Rock album version)
Label	TDE Aftermath Interscope
Songwriter(s)	Kendrick Duckworth Michael Williams Travis Walton Mark Spears Johnny McKinzie Nayvadius Wilburn James Litherland Samuel Gloade Anthony Tiffith Antwon Hicks Axel Morgan[1]
Producer(s)	Mike Will Made It Teddy Walton Sounwave 30 Roc[a] Twon Beatz[a][2] Axlfolie[3]
Jay Rock singles chronology
"90059" (2015) "King's Dead" (2018) "Win" (2018)
Kendrick Lamar singles chronology
"Don't Don't Do It" (2018) "King's Dead" (2018) "Pray for Me" (2018)
Future singles chronology
"Bum Bum Tam Tam (Remix)" (2017) "King's Dead" (2018) "Faded Love" (2018)
James Blake singles chronology
"Vincent" (2017) "King's Dead" (2018) "If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead" (2018)
Music video
"King's Dead" on YouTube

It was released by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records on January 11, 2018, as both the soundtrack's second single and as the lead single from Redemption.^[4][5] The song is Jay Rock's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.^[6] The song, along with "Bubblin" by Anderson .Paak, won Best Rap Performance, and was nominated for Best Rap Song at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.

Reception

Briana Younger of Pitchfork gave the song a positive review, calling the song "fun and swaggering".^[7]

Music video

The music video for the song was released to Rock's Vevo channel on YouTube on February 15, 2018. It was directed by Dave Free and Jack Begert.^[8]

Remixes

On March 8, 2018, American rappers Joey Badass and XXXTentacion released a remix of the song.^[9]

Personnel

Credits adapted from digital booklet.^{[10][better source needed]}

Performers

• Jay Rock – vocals
• Kendrick Lamar – vocals
• Future – vocals
• James Blake – vocals

Technical

• Matt Schaeffer – record engineering, mix engineering
• Mike Bozzi – master engineering
• Eric Manco – record engineering

Production

• Kendrick Lamar – production
• Teddy Walton – production
• Sounwave – additional production
• 30 Roc – uncredited co-production
• Twon Beatz – uncredited co-production

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2018) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 58 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[12] 23 Greece (IFPI Greece)[13] 28 Ireland (IRMA)[14] 51 Netherlands (Single Tip)[15] 6 New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 4 Portugal (AFP)[17] 64 Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[18] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 50 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[20] 25 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 21 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[22] 13 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 33

Year-end charts Chart (2018) Position Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[24] 97 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 79 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 41

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[27]	Platinum	40,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[28]	3× Platinum	240,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[29]	Platinum	30,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[30]	Gold	25,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[31]	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label(s)	Ref.
Various	January 11, 2018	Digital download streaming	Top Dawg Aftermath Interscope	[33]
United States	January 30, 2018	Rhythmic contemporary		[34]

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies an uncredited co-producer