:Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe

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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2012/10/the-making-of-kendrick-lamars-good-kid-maad-city/bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe |title=The Making of Kendrick Lamar's 'good kid, m.A.A.d city' |journal=Complex |publisher=Complex Media |date=October 23, 2012 |access-date=October 26, 2012 |author=Ahmed, Insanul}} 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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.nme.com/news/lady-gaga/65546 |title=Lady Gaga to release new single 'Partynauseous' next month |journal=NME |publisher=IPC Media |date=August 16, 2012 |access-date=November 30, 2013}} Eight days later, she announced that the song would no longer be released on the announced date and apologized to fans for the delay.{{cite journal |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2012/08/23/kendrick-lamar-lady-gaga-collaboration-delayed/ |title=Kendrick Lamar–Lady Gaga Collaboration Delayed |journal=Rap-Up |publisher=Rap-Up, LLC |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=November 30, 2013}} None of Gaga's contributions were ultimately featured on the album due to timing issues and creative differences, with Lamar stating:

{{blockquote|We had a date, but we had to meet the deadline for the pre-order date. That's just the business side coming through and messing things up. But you know it's God's plan. I'm not really too tight about it because I know we have something special."}}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.22638/title.kendrick-lamar-f-lady-gaga-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe |title=Kendrick Lamar f. Lady Gaga – Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe |work=HipHopDX |publisher=Cheri Media Group |date=November 7, 2012 |access-date=November 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110223323/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.22638/title.kendrick-lamar-f-lady-gaga-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe |archive-date=November 10, 2012 |url-status=dead }} Lamar expressed his surprise and approval of her releasing the song, as he felt it showed confidence in their work together.{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.21898/title.kendrick-lamar-surprised-lady-gaga-released-her-version-of-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe |title=Kendrick Lamar Surprised Lady Gaga Released Her Version Of 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe' |work=HipHopDX |publisher=Cheri Media Group |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=November 16, 2012 |author=Ryon, Sean |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222045517/https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.21898/title.kendrick-lamar-surprised-lady-gaga-released-her-version-of-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe |archive-date=December 22, 2022 |url-status=dead}} Further, a Lady Gaga solo version of their song "Partynauseous" was part of Gaga's ArtRave: The Artpop Ball tour, but the audio was never officially released.

Lamar has performed "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" at every show on the Damn tour.{{cite web|last=Masley|first=Ed|title=Kendrick Lamar launches DAMN. Tour in Glendale with triumphant one-man show of force|url=http://www.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/07/12/kendrick-lamar-tour-launch-concert-review/463182001/|work=AZ Central|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=October 30, 2017}}

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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/05/watch-the-extended-cut-of-kendrick-lamars-bch-dont-kill-my-vibe-video |title=Watch the Extended Cut of Kendrick Lamar's 'B**** Don't Kill My Vibe' Video |journal=Complex |publisher=Complex Media |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Drake, David}} 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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/rap-music/bangers/2013/05/kendrick-lamar-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe-video/ |title=Watch The Director's Cut Of Kendrick Lamar's 'B*tch, Don't Kill My Vibe' |journal=XXL |publisher=Harris Publications |date=May 13, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Diep, Eric}}

The video ends with a hard cutoff of the string ensemble to a black screen with white text reading "Death to Molly".{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1707940/kendrick-lamar-molly-hip-hop.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607063931/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1707940/kendrick-lamar-molly-hip-hop.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |title=Kendrick Lamar Calls Out 'Molly Rap' For 'Watering Down' Hip-Hop |work=MTV |publisher=Viacom Media Networks |date=May 23, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Markman, Rob}} 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."

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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/jay-z-is-on-kendrick-lamars-bh-dont-kill-my-vibe-remix |title=Jay-Z Is On Kendrick Lamar's 'B***h Don't Kill My Vibe' Remix |journal=Complex |publisher=Complex Media |date=March 13, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Isenberg, Daniel}} 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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.complex.com/music/2013/03/kendrick-lamar-talks-bch-dont-kill-my-vibe-remix-with-jay-z |title=Kendrick Lamar Talks 'B**ch, Don't Kill My Vibe' Remix With Jay-Z |journal=Complex |publisher=Complex Media |date=March 16, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Monahan, Edward}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23264/title.kendrick-lamar-details-the-moment-he-heard-jay-z-s-bitch-don-t-kill-my-vibe-remix-verse |title=Kendrick Lamar Details The Moment He Heard Jay-Z's 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe (Remix)' Verse |work=HipHopDX |publisher=Cheri Media Group |date=March 19, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Harling, Danielle}} The full version of the remix was premiered by Funkmaster Flex on March 17, 2013.{{cite journal |url=http://www.vibe.com/article/new-music-kendrick-lamar-feat-jay-z-%E2%80%9Cbih-don%E2%80%99t-kill-my-vibe-remix%E2%80%9D |title=New Music: Kendrick Lamar Feat. Jay-Z 'Bi**h Don't Kill My Vibe (Remix)' |journal=Vibe |publisher=Vibe Media |date=March 18, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107015235/http://www.vibe.com/article/new-music-kendrick-lamar-feat-jay-z-%E2%80%9Cbih-don%E2%80%99t-kill-my-vibe-remix%E2%80%9D |archive-date=November 7, 2013 }} The remix was added to the track listing of the iTunes Store version of the album{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/good-kid-m-a-a-d-city/624345538 |title=good kid, m.A.A.d city by Kendrick Lamar |work=iTunes Store |publisher=Apple |access-date=November 23, 2013}} 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,{{cite journal |url=https://www.spin.com/2013/03/kendrick-lamar-jay-z-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe-remix/ |title=Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z Fling Fire on 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe' Remix |journal=Spin |publisher=Spin Media |date=March 18, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Martins, Chris}} who serve as representations of, respectively, Lamar and Jay-Z.{{cite web |url=http://pitchfork.com/news/49912-listen-to-the-full-jay-z-remix-of-kendrick-lamars-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe/ |title=Listen to the Full Jay-Z Remix of Kendrick Lamar's 'Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe' |publisher=Pitchfork Media |date=March 18, 2013 |access-date=December 6, 2013 |author=Battan, Carrie}}

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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/05/27/new-music-kendrick-lamar-f-emeli-sande-bitch-dont-kill-vibe-remix/ |title=New Music: Kendrick Lamar f/ Emeli Sandé – 'Bitch, Don't Kill Vibe (Remix)' |journal=Rap-Up |publisher=Rap-Up, LLC |date=May 27, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013}} The two had previously debuted the song live at the Footaction event in New York City earlier in the month.{{cite journal |url=http://www.vibe.com/article/watch-kendrick-lamar-and-emeli-sande-perform-bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe |title=Watch: Kendrick Lamar and Emeli Sande Perform 'Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe' |journal=Vibe |publisher=Vibe Media |date=May 3, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Robertson, Iyana}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.fuse.tv/2013/05/emeli-sande-kendrick-lamar-b-tch-don-t-kill-my-vibe |title=Emeli Sande Remixes Kendrick Lamar's 'B-tch, Don't Kill My Vibe' |publisher=Fuse |date=May 29, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Lynch, Joe}}

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.{{cite journal |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/03/09/rap-up-tv-kendrick-lamar-talks-next-single-drake-emeli-sande-remix/ |title=Rap-Up TV: Kendrick Lamar Talks Next Single, Drake, & Emeli Sandé Remix |journal=Rap-Up |publisher=Rap-Up, LLC |date=March 9, 2013 |access-date=November 30, 2013 |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004214112/http://www.rap-up.com/2013/03/09/rap-up-tv-kendrick-lamar-talks-next-single-drake-emeli-sande-remix/ |url-status=dead }} 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. {{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23232/title.kendrick-lamar-calls-jay-z-collaboration-an-accomplishment-comments-on-south-by-southwest |title=Kendrick Lamar Calls Jay-Z Collaboration 'An Accomplishment,' Comments On South By Southwest |work=HipHopDX |publisher=Cheri Media Group |date=March 17, 2013 |access-date=November 30, 2013 |author=Harding, Danielle |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506155206/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.23232/title.kendrick-lamar-calls-jay-z-collaboration-an-accomplishment-comments-on-south-by-southwest |archive-date=May 6, 2013 |url-status=dead }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-jan-13-2013-songs-suit-tie-233514581.html |title=Week Ending Jan. 13, 2013. Songs: 'Suit And Tie' Is Off & Running |work=Yahoo! Music |publisher=Yahoo! |date=January 16, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Grein, Paul}} It re-entered the Hot 100 at number 84 for the week ending March 24,{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/chart-watch/week-ending-march-24-2013-songs-5-million-025825701.html |title=Week Ending March 24, 2013. Songs: 5 Million 'Thrift Shoppers' |work=Yahoo! Music |publisher=Yahoo! |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=November 23, 2013 |author=Grein, Paul}} 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,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/kendrick-lamar-songs-best-hits-list-8097320/|title=Kendrick Lamar's 20 Best Songs: Critic's Picks|first=Bianca|last=Alysse|magazine=Billboard|date=February 5, 2018|accessdate=March 28, 2022}} and in 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song number five on their list of the 50 greatest Kendrick Lamar songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-50-greatest-kendrick-lamar-songs-1244629/bitch-dont-kill-my-vibe-2012-1247452/|title=The 50 Greatest Kendrick Lamar Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 1, 2021|accessdate=March 28, 2022}}

• 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) {{small|(featuring Jay-Z)}} – 4:39
4. "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (International remix / explicit version) {{small|(featuring Emeli Sandé)}} – 5:06

• Digital download (remix)

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

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{{Certification Table Top}}

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{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2013|certyear=2022|access-date=August 7, 2022|id=14093-3292-1}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Kendrick Lamar|title=Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe|award=Platinum|number=5|type=single|relyear=2013|certyear=2018|access-date=June 13, 2018}}

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{{reflist|30em}}

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{{Kendrick Lamar songs}}

{{Jay-Z songs}}

{{Emeli Sandé singles}}

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Category:2012 songs

Category:2013 singles

Category:Kendrick Lamar songs

Category:Songs written by Kendrick Lamar

Category:Interscope Records singles

Category:Aftermath Entertainment singles

Category:Top Dawg Entertainment singles

Category:Songs written by Sounwave

Category:Music videos directed by Dave Free

Category:Music videos directed by Kendrick Lamar