The Hillbillies


"The Hillbillies" is a song by American rappers Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar. It was a surprise song, initially released on May 30, 2023, as a YouTube exclusive. The song was later serviced to streaming platforms on June 5, 2023, via PGLang and Columbia Records. A drill track, Keem and Lamar wrote "The Hillbillies" with its producer Evilgiane. It includes a sample of "PDLIF" by Bon Iver, and an interpolation of "Sticky" by Drake.
An accompanying music video, directed and edited by Neal Farmer, was released alongside the song. The video was filmed on a VHS camcorder, and features outtakes of Keem and Kendrick from their time together on the latter's Big Steppers Tour, while also including a cameo from Tyler, the Creator. Music critics praised "The Hillbillies" for its Jersey club-inspired production and fun chemistry.

Background and composition

From July to December 2022, American rappers Baby Keem and Kendrick Lamar embarked on the latter's Big Steppers Tour. During the final stop of the tour's European leg in Manchester, the cousins paused the show to film material for a potential music video they can "take back to L.A."
"The Hillbillies" was surprise-released on May 30, 2023, exclusively on PGLang's YouTube channel. The song features hi-hats inspired by UK drill and bass-led Jersey club production. Lyrically, Keem and Lamar exchange "playful" and conversational flows involving "their favorite subjects": women, fashion and fame. Throughout the song, they compare themselves to professional footballers Lionel Messi and Neymar, while Lamar references designers Martine Rose and Grace Wales Bonner. "The Hillbillies" interpolates the flow of "Sticky" by Canadian rapper Drake on its refrain, and samples the charity single "PDLIF" by American indie folk band Bon Iver. "PDLIF" additionally samples English musician Alabaster DePlume's single "Visit Croatia".

Music video

The official music video for "The Hillbillies", directed and edited by Neal Farmer, was released alongside the song on May 30, 2023. It was filmed entirely on a VHS camcorder during the end of the Big Steppers Tour's European leg, and follows Keem and Lamar as they travel around Europe and the United States. Landmarks featured in the music video include the London Eye, Millennium Bridge, Stephen's Green Shopping Centre in Dublin, and Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Keem and Lamar are seen "being in a silly, goofy mood" throughout the "casual" lo-fi video, as they explore and dance around various cities and in their private jet. They are also seen playing video games on a PlayStation and dragging "semi-confused" front desk staff members into their shenanigans. American rapper Tyler, the Creator makes a cameo appearance in the video, and teased the return of his annual Camp Flog Gnaw Carnival at the end.

Critical reception

Stereogum's Chris Deville was excited about "The Hillbillies" sampling Bon Iver and Alabaster DePlume, and called the song "awesome" after a few listens. He described the track as being more like a "hype-building pre-album loosie", rather than the "proper single" feel of Keem and Lamar's previous collaborations, and dubbed the song a "blog-era classic if we were still in the blog era." "The Hillbillies" was named as Pitchfork's "Best New Track", with Dylan Green noting that the song is the "most relaxed and loose" Keem and Lamar have seemed in a while. He applauded the track for keeping up with their typical "silly" antics, and found their "ridiculous" ad-libs hilarious. Jayson Buford of Rolling Stone appreciated the track for offering a glimpse of the vision for "whatever" Lamar and Dave Free's PGLang entails. He praised Lamar for being "irreverent and fun in a way he usually isn't," noting that some of his verses reminded him of his earlier works with Dom Kennedy and Fredo Santana.
The song received a nomination for Best Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards.