"Squabble Up"samplesDebbie Deb's 1984freestyle song "When I Hear Music". Music critics generally praised "Squabble Up" for its layered production and homage to various musical styles. The single became Lamar's fifth number-one song on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart. It peaked at number three on theBillboard Global 200 chart and was a top-five hit in Canada, Ireland, Latvia, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK. An accompanyingmusic video for "Squabble Up" was released on November 25, 2024. Lamar performed the song live at theSuper Bowl LIX halftime show on February 9, 2025.
On July 4, 2024, Lamar released the music video of hisdiss track aimed at Canadian rapperDrake, titled "Not Like Us". He started out the video by adding a 15-second snippet of a then-untitled song,[1] as he makes his way down a dark hallway.[2] Due to the usage of the word, the song became subsequently known as "Broccoli" or "Broccoli (Reincarnated)".[3][4][5] On October 13, theFormula One team ofMercedes AMG used the song to promote the forthcoming racing season. Only ten days later, the song was played during anNational Basketball Association (NBA) broadcast of aLos Angeles Lakers andMinnesota Timberwolves game. All instances prompted the song to go viral onTikTok with fans asking for the full song to be released soon.[4] The track was eventually released as the second track of Lamar's surprise-release sixth studio albumGNX on November 22, 2024.[6] On February 9, 2025, Lamar performed the song during the2025 Super Bowl LIX halftime show.[7] Following theLos Angeles Dodgers victory in the2025 World Series against theToronto Blue Jays,Nike used the song in the same credits style commercial they had usedlast year, referencing the feud.[8]
"Squabble Up" consists of aMoog synthesizer-drivengroove.[9]Pitchfork commented that "Squabble Up" borrows a "funky bassline" from the 1984 "classic '80s techno"freestyle song "When I Hear Music" by American singer-songwriterDebbie Deb.[3] It sees the rapper channeling "elements of his California rap heritage", fusing "G-funk,hyphy, and evenmariachi". His vocal performance includes using "myriad voices, octave changes, and shrieks".[10] Lamar accuses other rappers of being fake withoutname-dropping any artist in particular.[6] It observes themes of personal evolution, criticism from within the music industry as well as cultural commentary. In reference to his admiration for his work, Lamar mentions saxophonistKamasi Washington, whom he collaborated with forGNX as well asTo Pimp a Butterfly (2015).[11]
"Squabble Up" received critical acclaim. In a track review forPitchfork, Matthew Ritchie praised Lamar for turning the sample into a"'90s club hit" and thought his "lyrical hatred" on the track was "far-reaching", making for a "fun" listen.[10] Zachary Horvath ofHotNewHipHop argued that "Squabble Up" possesses "the most mainstream appeal" out of all the songs on the album and noted the use of "great wordplay, slick flows, and some great personality".[12]
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 48. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
^"ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic.Note: Select 48. týden 2024 in the date selector. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
