King's Dead

{{short description|2018 single by Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake}}

{{Infobox song

| name = King's Dead

| cover = King's Dead single cover.jpg

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future and James Blake

| album = Black Panther: The Album and Redemption

| released = {{Start date|2018|1|11}}

| recorded = 2017

| studio =

| venue =

| genre = {{hlist|Alternative hip-hop|trap}}

| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=50}}

{{Duration|m=2|s=40}} (Jay Rock album version)

| label = {{hlist|TDE|Aftermath|Interscope}}

| writer = {{hlist|Kendrick Duckworth|Michael Williams|Travis Walton|Mark Spears|Johnny McKinzie|Nayvadius Wilburn|James Litherland|Samuel Gloade|Anthony Tiffith|Antwon Hicks|Axel Morgan{{Cite web|url=https://repertoire.bmi.com/DetailView.aspx?detail=titleid&keyid=26232305&ShowNbr=0&ShowSeqNbr=0&blnWriter=True&blnPublisher=True&blnArtist=True&blnAltTitles=True|title=BMI | Songview Search}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}}}

| producer = {{hlist|Mike Will Made It|Teddy Walton|Sounwave|30 Roc{{ref|a|[a]}}|Twon Beatz{{ref|a|[a]}}{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd1Q4zwFC15/|title=New Music by @jayrock x @kendricklamar x @future x @jamesblake "King Dead" (Prod.By ...|website=Instagram|access-date=February 19, 2018}}{{Dead link|date=December 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}|Axlfolie{{Cite web|url=https://www.grandcruentertainment.com/axlfolie|title = Axlfolie}}}}

| chronology = Jay Rock

| prev_title = 90059

| prev_year = 2015

| next_title = Win

| next_year = 2018

| misc = {{Extra chronology

| artist = Kendrick Lamar

| type = single

| prev_title = Don't Don't Do It

| prev_year = 2018

| title = King's Dead

| year = 2018

| next_title = Pray for Me

| next_year = 2018

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = Future

| type = single

| prev_title = Bum Bum Tam Tam (Remix)

| prev_year = 2017

| title = King's Dead

| year = 2018

| next_title = Faded Love

| next_year = 2018

}}{{Extra chronology

| artist = James Blake

| type = single

| prev_title = Vincent

| prev_year = 2017

| title = King's Dead

| year = 2018

| next_title = If the Car Beside You Moves Ahead

| next_year = 2018

}}

{{External music video|{{YouTube|VwAnsAUYnw4|"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.

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2018/01/12/577603202/jay-rock-kendrick-lamar-future-james-blake-debut-kings-dead|title=Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, James Blake Debut 'King's Dead'|website=NPR|access-date=February 2, 2018|date=January 12, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2018/01/11/jay-rock-shares-new-song-kings-dead-featuring-kendrick-lamar-future-and-james-blake|title=Jay Rock shares new song "King's Dead," featuring Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake|last=Puckett|first=Lily|website=The Fader|access-date=February 3, 2018|date=January 11, 2018}} The song is Jay Rock's first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100.{{cite magazine|last=Zellner|first=Xander|title=Jay Rock Scores First Hot 100 Entry With Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake Collab 'King's Dead'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8096084/jay-rock-first-hot-100-entry-kendrick-lamar-future-james-blake-kings-dead|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 2, 2018|date=January 24, 2018}} 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".{{cite web|last=Younger|first=Briana|title="King's Dead" [ft. Kendrick Lamar, Future, & James Blake] by Jay Rock Review|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/jay-rock-kings-dead-ft-kendrick-lamar-and-future/|website=Pitchfork|date=January 12, 2018|access-date=February 16, 2018}}

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.{{cite web|last=William Cowen|first=Trace|title=Here's the Video for Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future, and James Blake's "King's Dead"|url=http://www.complex.com/music/2018/02/jay-rock-kendrick-lamar-future-james-blake-kings-dead-video|work=Complex|date=February 16, 2018|access-date=February 16, 2018}}

Remixes

On March 8, 2018, American rappers Joey Badass and XXXTentacion released a remix of the song.{{cite web|title=Joey Bada$$ and XXXTentacion link for "Kings Dead" remix|url=http://www.elevatormag.com/joey-bada-and-xxxtentacion-link-for-kings-dead-remix/|website=Elevatormag.com|date=March 8, 2018|access-date=March 8, 2018}}

Personnel

Credits adapted from digital booklet.{{cite web|url=https://genius.com/Various-artists-black-panther-the-album-booklet-lyrics|title=Various Artists – Black Panther: The Album [Booklet]|website=Genius|access-date=February 9, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209182432/https://genius.com/Various-artists-black-panther-the-album-booklet-lyrics|archive-date=2018-02-09|url-status=dead}}{{better source needed|date=February 2018}}

=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
{{Proper name|Twon Beatz}} – uncredited co-production

Charts

=Weekly charts=

scope="col"\| Chart (2018) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
scope="row"\| Australia (ARIA){{cite web\|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/australian-charts-drake-gods-plan-stays-at-no-1-20180224\|title=Australian Charts: Drake 'God's Plan' Stays At No 1\|publisher=Noise11\|last=Ryan\|first=Gavin\|date=February 24, 2018\|access-date=February 24, 2018}} \| 58
{{single chart\|Canada\|23\|artist=Jay Rock\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 27, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Greece (IFPI Greece){{cite web\|url=https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_el.html\|title=Greece Official IFPI Charts Digital Singles Chart: Feb 5, 2018\|work=IFPI Charts\|access-date=March 8, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206131608/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_el.html\|archive-date=2018-02-06\|url-status=dead}} \| 28
{{single chart\|Ireland3\|51\|artist=Jay Rock\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 17, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Netherlands (Single Tip){{cite web\|url=http://www.dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?cat=st&date=20180224&year=2018\|title=Dutchcharts.nl – Dutch Single Tip – 24/02/2018\|language=nl\|publisher=MegaCharts\|access-date=May 24, 2018}} \| 6
scope="row"\| New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ){{cite web\|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2018-01-19\|title=NZ Top 40 Singles Chart\|publisher=Recorded Music NZ\|date=January 22, 2018\|access-date=February 2, 2018}} \| 4
{{single chart\|Portugal\|64\|artist=Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Future & James Blake\|song=King's Dead\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 22, 2018}}
scope="row"\| Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan){{cite web\|url=http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/netdata/ghl002.mbr/lista?liid=215&dfom=20180216\|title=Veckolista Heatseeker – Vecka 7, 16 februari 2018\|publisher=Sverigetopplistan\|access-date=February 17, 2018}} \| 1
{{single chart\|UK\|50\|date=20180223\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 24, 2018}}
{{single chart\|UKrandb\|25\|date=20180223\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 24, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardhot100\|21\|artist=Jay Rock\|rowheader=true\|access-date=March 20, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|13\|artist=Jay Rock\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 27, 2018}}
{{single chart\|Billboardrhythmic\|33\|artist=Jay Rock\|rowheader=true\|access-date=April 3, 2018}}

=Year-end charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"

scope="col"| Chart (2018)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| Canada (Canadian Hot 100){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/canadian-hot-100|title=Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 5, 2018}}

| 97

scope="row"| US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-100-songs|title=Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2018|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 4, 2018}}

| 79

scope="row"| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2018|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2018/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 28, 2019}}

| 41

Certifications

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Jay Rock|title=King's Dead|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2024|access-date=June 28, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Jay Rock|title=King's Dead|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|access-date=April 2, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Jay Rock feat. Kendrick Lamar and Future|title=King's Dead|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|source=radioscope|access-date=April 2, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Jay Rock|title=King's Dead|award=Gold|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|certmonth=8|access-date=September 16, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Jay Rock/Lamar/Future/Blake|title=King's Dead|award=Gold|id=15632-4944-1|relyear=2018|certyear=2025|access-date=February 21, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Jay Rock|title=King_s Dead|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=July 23, 2018}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}

Release history

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\| Region ! scope="col"\| Date ! scope="col"\| Format ! scope="col"\| Label(s) ! scope="col"\| {{abbr\|Ref.\|Reference}}
scope="row"\| Various \| January 11, 2018 \| {{hlist\|Digital download\|streaming}} \| rowspan="2"\| {{hlist\|Top Dawg\|Aftermath\|Interscope}} \| {{cite web\|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/kings-dead/1331258584?i=1331258743\|title=King's Dead\|publisher=iTunes\|access-date=February 2, 2018}}
scope="row"\| United States \| January 30, 2018 \| Rhythmic contemporary \| {{cite web\|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases\|title=Top 40/R Future Releases\|access-date=January 24, 2018\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124203954/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases\|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Region

! scope="col"| Date

! scope="col"| Format

! scope="col"| Label(s)

! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}}

scope="row"| Various

| January 11, 2018

| {{hlist|Digital download|streaming}}

| rowspan="2"| {{hlist|Top Dawg|Aftermath|Interscope}}

| {{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/kings-dead/1331258584?i=1331258743|title=King's Dead|publisher=iTunes|access-date=February 2, 2018}}

scope="row"| United States

| January 30, 2018

| Rhythmic contemporary

| {{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases|title=Top 40/R Future Releases|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124203954/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases|archive-date=January 24, 2018}}