Kendrick Lamar surprise dropped his first single as a lead artist since 2017, “The Heart Part 5.” The song debuts ahead of his album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers, which is set to drop Friday (May 13).

Kendrick accompanied the song with a video; in the clip, the rapper’s face morphs into several deepfakes, including OJ Simpson, Will Smith, Jussie Smollett, Kobe Bryant, Kanye West, and Nipsey Hussle. In each verse, he raps touches on a personal topic related to the Black celebrity.  When he’s Ye he raps about West’s struggle with bipolar disorder and for Hussle, he speaks about the Compton rapper’s untimely death in 2019.

“The Heart Part 5,” is the latest installation of his “The Heart” singles series. The tracks have always arrived prior to the release of a larger project.

Watch the video below and fan reactions:

• 1.

• 2.

  When Kendrick Lamar turned into Nip and Kobe pic.twitter.com/0yGZcdjMXE

  — Chris (@__chris22__) May 9, 2022

• 3.

  kendrick lamar is overra— pic.twitter.com/XSPAJFnvKx

  — Shea Serrano (@SheaSerrano) May 9, 2022

• 4.

  It makes me so happy to be alive while Kendrick Lamar is making art

  — David Dennis Jr. (@DavidDTSS) May 9, 2022

• 5.

  https://twitter.com/KingMosesDaGod/status/1523458869456158720

• 6.

  Kendrick Lamar came back after a 5 year hiatus continuing his The Heart series for his fans and making it over 5 minutes long without a moment wasted. The perfect rapper, idc.

  — Dedee 🤎 (@thoughtfulbae) May 9, 2022

• 7.

  Kendrick Lamar getting a Marvin Gaye sample without being sued. This album is already a classic https://t.co/voFZdIEg0U

  — 👨🏾‍🍳♐️ (@jared_rna_27) May 9, 2022

• 8.

  Kendrick Lamar on the 3rd verse when he turn into Nipsey Hussle: pic.twitter.com/CwdZzUBNA9

  — Man Of The Year (@ManOfTheYear808) May 9, 2022

• 9.

  KENDRICK LAMAR IS BACK!!!

  — SK⚡️ (@raptalksk) May 9, 2022

• 10.

  https://twitter.com/ZMK_23/status/1523522610893443072

• 11.

  mfs hopping on genius to dissect every lyric Kendrick Lamar said on the heart part 5 pic.twitter.com/fFFY9KAbur

  — Dat (@DatDaDatty) May 9, 2022

• 12.

  Kendrick Lamar is the one artist I know who won't ignore the issues that are going on in the world.
  
  It's not just about entertaining people with him, if he sees something going on he speaks on it through his music.

  — Old Head Energy (@Cheamane) May 9, 2022

• 13.

  THIS IS ART !!
  
  King Kendrick Lamar as Nipsey Hussle ✊🏿🖤
  
  The heart part 5 pic.twitter.com/KamDIR0cQd

  — Cape Town Twins (@TheCPTtwins) May 9, 2022

• 14.

  Kendrick Lamar the heart part 5 & the Six faces. i am all of us:
  
  OJ- the culture (iconic)
  Kanye- the mood swings (gemini)
  Jussie Smollett- the regret (human)
  Will smith- the hurt (self love )
  Kobe- the love (respected)
  Nipsey- the peace (found god)
  
  Did i get it right

  — rєвєl víвєs🩸 (@fcckjulius) May 9, 2022

• 15.

  Everytime Kendrick Lamar drops #KendrickLamar pic.twitter.com/aEJVClrXbK

  — Mtumbuka Uja (@UVM_Tweets) May 9, 2022

• 16.

  imagine ‘range brothers’ was the first time you heard a kendrick lamar song and now u listen to this new one… jus goes to show that even an artist of his talent can get out of his own box, have a little fun, then come back & show everyone why he’s one of the best at what he does

  — mariano 🦦 (@oscos) May 9, 2022

• 17.

  Revisiting Kendrick Lamar's discography before the new album drops, The Art of Peer Pressure is a storytelling masterpiece.

  — Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod 🇸🇴 (@big_business_) May 5, 2022

• 18.

  The artistry of Kendrick Lamar is next level. The understanding Kendrick displays for those thrown under the bus. The forgiveness for their actions . The homage paid to those lost. Kendrick operates in another frequency. To say this was worth the wait is an understatement pic.twitter.com/IxuS2q9byG

  — EFON ALAAYE OF KADUNA (@hizeekyoung) May 9, 2022

• 19.

  Kendrick Lamar being back doesn’t feel real
  
  The Heart Part V is absolutely insane

  — Bryce (@FittsBryce) May 9, 2022

• 20.

  Kendrick Lamar continues to show why he's the greatest rapper of his generation, He's built different pic.twitter.com/h02RHzqyCM

  — Tobi Marshall (@CoededMarshall) May 9, 2022

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