Initially recorded around 2019, this track featured an experimental vocal style that Lamar would later perfect. More importantly, the emotional core and lyrical framework of this unreleased track were later repurposed into "Mother I Sober" (featuring Beth Gibbons), one of the most devastatingly honest tracks on his 2022 album Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers . The Modern Mashup and TikTok Revival Introduction - Kendrick Lamar: A Resource Guide
Ultimately, the search for "Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used to Know" leads to a more interesting destination than a standard cover song. It leads to the story of "Memories Back Then"—a track that perfectly balanced a haunting indie-pop sample with raw hip-hop nostalgia, only to see its most vital element stripped away by the music industry's complex machinery. This "lost" original version remains a holy grail for fans.
: In 2012, Kendrick Lamar was building immense hype ahead of his landmark album good kid, m.A.A.d city . During this period, he recorded a verse that initially circulated on underground mixtape circuits—most notably appearing on DJ-curated projects like Slight Work 5 .
T.I. was devastated but refused to let the verses go to waste. "I didn't want to waste the opportunity because it was such great performances and such a meaningful message from myself, from B.o.B and from Kendrick," he explained.
It was an unlikely candidate for a hip-hop remix, yet Kendrick Lamar—riding the momentum of his breakout Section.80 —saw an opportunity to dissect the song’s emotional landscape through a rapping lens. Kendrick Lamar’s Lyrical Re-interpretation Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used To Know -...
Gotye’s original song is a duet about a romantic breakup where blame is a boomerang. You cut me off, I felt used, but wait—you say I left you with nothing. It is a perfect loop of resentment.
A specific appeared on the 2012 project Slight Work 5 . In this version, Kendrick delivers a notable verse that uses the "Somebody That I Used to Know" melody to tell a story about seeing an old flame who has "three kids and three baby daddies" and a car note that is overdue. 3. The Modern AI Resurgence
And yet, the search persists.
While Gotye's original is a slow burn about the "bitterness" of a breakup, Kendrick turns it into a cautionary tale about how fame changes relationships. The Legacy of the Remix Initially recorded around 2019, this track featured an
The Kendrick Lamar remix of exists in that fascinating "blog era" of hip-hop—a time when rising lyricists would jump on popular mainstream beats to prove their technical prowess. While the original track is a slow-burning reflection on a toxic relationship, Kendrick’s remix flips the thematic script.
Contrary to popular belief, Kendrick Lamar actually has an official connection to the song. Back in 2012, shortly after the release of good kid, m.A.A.d city , a remix surfaced featuring Kendrick alongside Gotye. The Lyrics:
While Gotye focused on the emotional withdrawal and isolation of a breakup, Kendrick pivoted the track toward the harsh realities of growing up, changing socioeconomic statuses, and superficial reconnections.
In the leaked version featuring the actual Gotye sample, Kendrick Lamar delivers a masterclass in narrative storytelling that completely subverts the indie-pop theme of the original track. While Gotye sings about the pain of post-breakup alienation, Kendrick anchors his verse in the reality of evolving past childhood acquaintances and coping with the superficiality of newfound fame. The Modern Mashup and TikTok Revival Introduction -
You have likely encountered a bootleg remix or a fan mashup , not an authentic Kendrick Lamar song.
Despite the sample clearance issues, T.I. was determined to give the track the visual treatment it deserved. In early 2013, he filmed a music video for "Memories Back Then" with Kendrick Lamar, B.o.B., Kris Stephens, and director Phillyflyboy. The video was shot across Los Angeles: T.I. and B.o.B. were filmed beachside at the Santa Monica Pier, Kendrick was captured strolling on the 6th Street Bridge downtown, and the group converged in the Hollywood Hills for the final scenes.
It proves that great art is malleable. In the hands of Gotye, the song is an introspective indie ballad; in the hands of Kendrick Lamar, it becomes a fiery, ambitious declaration of independence.