Die Hard (song) explained

"Die Hard" is a song by American rappers Kendrick Lamar, Blxst and Barbadian singer Amanda Reifer of the disbanded Cover Drive. It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on August 9, 2022, as the third single from the former's fifth studio album, Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. The song was produced by Sounwave, DJ Dahi, and Lamar's cousin Baby Keem, with co-production by FnZ.

Composition and lyrics

"Die Hard" is a R&B and pop song that contains a "sweet" post-chorus that is sung by Amanda Reifer.^[1] The song includes a "floating R&B instrumental and tender introspection".^[2] Lamar lightly raps: "I got some regrets".^[3] It has a "gentle flute line and a blissful melody", which sees Blxst gently sing on the chorus: "I hope I'm not too late to set my demons straight".^[4] In the two verses of the song, Kendrick Lamar uses two different moods as the song is really about how it is never too late to turn wrongs into rights and chasing dreams, with a summertime vibe to it.^[5]

Credits and personnel

• Kendrick Lamar – vocals, songwriting
• Blxst – vocals, songwriting
• Boi-1da – production, songwriting
• Sounwave – production, songwriting
• DJ Dahi – production, songwriting
• Baby Keem – production, songwriting, drums
• J. Lbs – production, songwriting
• FnZ
  • Michael Mulé – co-production, songwriting
  • Isaac De Boni – co-production, songwriting
• Sam Dew – songwriting
• Thundercat – songwriting, bass
• Marvin Eugene Smith – songwriting
• Robert T. "Bob" Smith – songwriting
• Victor Ekpo – songwriting
• Grandmaster Vic – strings
• Manny Marroquin – mixing
• Anthony Vilchis – mixing assistance
• Trey Station – mixing assistance
• Zach Pereyra – mixing assistance
• Andrew Boyd – recording assistance
• Wesley Seidman – recording assistance
• Joe Visciano – engineering
• Beach Noise
  • Matt Schaeffer – engineering
  • Johnny Kosich – engineering
• Johnathan Turner – engineering
• Ray Charles Brown, Jr. – engineering

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Peak position
Lithuania (AGATA)[6]	18
Norway (VG-lista)[7]	30
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[8]	34

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"

Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[9]	48

Release history

Region! scope="col"

Date	Format	Label
United States	August 9, 2022	Rhythmic contemporary radio		[10]

Notes and References

1. News: Kendrick Lamar – Mr Morale & the Big Steppers review: Still light years ahead of the game. Evening Standard. Smyth. David. May 13, 2022. August 9, 2022.
2. Web site: Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar. AllMusic. Thomas. Fred. August 9, 2022.
3. Web site: Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers. Beats Per Minute. McMullen. Chase. May 18, 2022. August 9, 2022.
4. News: Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale and the Bigsteppers is a tender, delicate opus – review. The Independent. Bryant. Ben. May 13, 2022. August 9, 2022.
5. Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers review: a cathartic, soul-bearing autobiography. NME. Williams. Kyann-Sian. May 13, 2022. August 9, 2022.
6. Web site: 2022 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100). lt. AGATA. May 20, 2022. August 9, 2022.
7. Web site: VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-20. VG-lista. August 9, 2022.
8. Web site: ČNS IFPI. IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202220 into search.. August 9, 2022.
9. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022. Billboard. December 2, 2022.
10. Web site: Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases. All Access. August 9, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220731005629/https://www.allaccess.com/top40-rhythmic/future-releases. July 31, 2022.