Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used To Know -... [better]

A vulnerable, multi-perspective examination of a fractured romantic relationship that leaves two people operating as complete strangers.

It remains a fan favorite, highlighting that even in his early career, Kendrick was consistently analyzing the human condition—including the messy, petty, and often painful moments that happen after a relationship ends.

The primary reason you can't find "Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used to Know" is that the version of "Memories Back Then" featuring the Gotye sample was . According to T.I., the sample couldn't be cleared in time for his album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head . The legal hurdles of sampling such a massive hit proved insurmountable for the project's deadline.

, the track serves as a bridge between Kendrick's underground roots and his mainstream explosion following good kid, m.A.A.d city The Narrative: Success vs. Sincerity Kendrick Lamar - Somebody That I Used To Know -...

His solution was ingenious. He had his producers strip out the Gotye sample entirely, replacing it with an original beat while preserving the existing rap vocals. Singer Kris Stephens was brought in to craft a brand-new hook. The song was renamed "Memories Back Then" to distance itself from the original sample. "We just remixed it and did our own thing to it. Took the sample out so we wouldn't have any trouble in our due diligence," T.I. explained.

This imaginary track would not be about a boy and a girl. It would be about a boy and his shadow. It would be Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers condensed into three minutes and forty seconds.

While Gotye’s "Somebody That I Used to Know" stands as one of the most successful alternative pop songs of the 21st century, few casual music fans know how deeply it is tied to Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper Kendrick Lamar. This article explores the history of the Kendrick Lamar - "Somebody That I Used to Know (Remix)" , its ties to T.I.’s lost records, and how the song operates in the public consciousness today. The Secret Origin: T.I.’s "Memories Back Then" According to T

Though the original Gotye-sampled version remains unreleased, "Memories Back Then" stands as a testament to creative adaptation. The track is still available to stream, allowing listeners to imagine what might have been had clearance been granted. The original recording—the one with the undiluted "Somebody That I Used to Know" beat carrying Kendrick's verse—is part of hip-hop lore, a "lost" track that fans continue to discuss more than a decade later.

In the landscape of modern hip-hop, few artists possess the creative audacity of Kendrick Lamar. While he is celebrated for conceptual albums like Good Kid, M.A.A.D City and To Pimp a Butterfly , Lamar’s earlier work is filled with sonic experiments, freestyles, and re-interpretations of pop culture phenomenons. One such gem, often overlooked by casual listeners but treasured by hardcore fans, is Kendrick Lamar's 2012 remix of Gotye’s smash hit, .

Kendrick subverts the original melody to deliver a bounce-heavy flow centered on an old high school crush: Sincerity His solution was ingenious

A more polished version with a different beat and verses Kendrick later repurposed for a track titled "Abortion Money". The Beth Gibbons Connection: Some versions feature a hook sung by Beth Gibbons (of Portishead) rather than a direct Gotye sample. 3. The AI & Mashup Renaissance In 2024 and 2025, the track saw a massive resurgence on and YouTube due to the rise of high-quality AI.

Due to sample-clearance problems, they couldn't release the Gotye version on T.I.'s album Trouble Man: Heavy Is the Head .

Kendrick switches between a rapid, conversational flow and a more melodic delivery that mirrors the original song’s chorus.

While "Memories Back Then" didn't become a massive hit, it remains a cult favorite among fans of T.I., B.o.B., and especially the rapper. It serves as a time capsule of the 2012-2013 era, when two very different kinds of artists — one an indie-pop sensation, the other a hip-hop prodigy — found an unlikely common ground.

It also highlighted an ongoing theme in his music: the tension between finding mainstream success and staying true to his authentic roots. In the remix, Kendrick proudly proclaims, "I'm grown now, I'm on my own now, I'm poppin'" . It is a prophetic statement, given that within a year of this remix's release, he would indeed be "poppin'" on an unprecedented, global scale. The Enduring Legacy of "Somebody That I Used To Know"