New Kendrick Lamar Verse for Frank Ocean’s ‘Nights’ Surfaces Online: Listen

Alright, out of all the things we expected from Kendrick to be out this month, a leaked verse for Frank Ocean’s ‘Nights’ wasn’t one. Yet, here we are, and we aren’t complaining. One really never knows what to expect from Kendrick stylistically, except for the fact that he will definitely experiment in one form or the other.

Now why the Kendrick feature on the Frank record never came out is a mystery. In fact, we don’t even know if this is a final feature verse that Kendrick recorded for the collaboration. To begin with, it seems quite unpolished and raw, and above everything else, seems to be more of an ideation verse to narrow down on possible directions to take in terms of the songwriting, as opposed to an actual, final, finished product.

Anyone who has heard other Kendrick rough leaks knows that the man likes to let loose and try out everything under the sun before taking a mature, precise and calculated approach. This verse is no different.

While there is a semblance of storyline and other cultural motifs, nothing really clicks together in the sense of it being cohesive with the Frank record that came out with no features. In fact, it wouldn’t be too bold to say that the song with just Frank Ocean on it is more of a soulful record than it would have been with any feature, let alone a Kendrick one.

After all, some records are just too good and personal for them to represent anybody else. ‘Nights’ is no different, and the Frank Ocean fan base would surely agree. What do you think?