Flipped: Kendrick Lamar

What, you may be asking yourself, could have possibly lit the fuse in Kendrick Lamar that inspired him to write the toxic relationship mini-opera that is “We Cry Together”? The answer lies—in part, at least—with the London-originating rock band Florence + the Machine. Lamar’s “We Cry Together” was built from a sample of the band’s “June”—a heart-wrencher of a tune itself—from 2018’s High as Hope. Was Kendrick familiar with “June” before The Alchemist presented the beat for “We Cry Together”? We may never know, but making powerful rap music from other already powerful music is one of KDot's trademarks. Check out what he’s done with the work of James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Sufjan Stevens, Beach House, and more on the Kendrick Lamar Flipped playlist.