Kendrick Lamar strategically released his latest untitled song, a sharp critique of the music industry, during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards on Sept. 11. The cover art, featuring a worn pair of black Air Force 1s, symbolizes choosing violence. The story behind how K-Dot obtained the photo and what ensued is intriguing.
Kendrick Lamar Chooses Random eBay Sneaker Listing for Cover Art
Kendrick Lamar’s new song, dubbed “Watch the Party Die” by fans, caused a stir upon its release in opposition to the MTV VMAs. Observers quickly noted the significance of the Compton, Calif. rapper using black Air Force 1s for the single cover. Internet sleuths soon identified the specific eBay listing where the shoes were available for purchase, with numerous pairs of worn black Air Force 1s listed on the site, suggesting K-Dot’s selection was random.
Owners of Shoes Capitalize Off Newfound Hype
The shoes featured in Kendrick’s artwork belong to a couple from North Little Rock, Ark., named Billy Lingo and Darla Wilson. The pair, who have been together for two decades, established their eBay account, Good2BYou, in 2021. Local Arkansas news outlet THV11 conducted an interview with the couple on Sept. 24.
The couple initially listed the shoes on eBay for $70, and they quickly sold. However, after receiving numerous calls from other eBay users informing them of Kendrick Lamar’s use of the shoe photo and the potential value of the footwear, Lingo and Wilson canceled the original order intended for the buyer.
“I’m not gonna lie to you, I didn’t know a lot about him,” Billy admitted regarding Kendrick Lamar. “But I really know about him now.”
Subsequently, the couple placed the shoes up for auction, starting at $5,000 with a buy-it-now option of $75,000. They also intend to sell merchandise featuring the shoe photo, although there have been no bids on the sneakers as of now.
Explore the backstory of Kendrick Lamar’s untitled song cover art below.
Watch TVH11’s Coverage of the Couple Whose eBay Listing Wound Up Being Kendrick Lamar’s Cover Art
Listen to Kendrick Lamar’s Untitled Track
See the Most Disrespectful Hip-Hop Song and Mixtape Cover Art Ever
Which artwork do you find most disrespectful?
FAQs
Q: How did Kendrick Lamar surprise fans with his latest song release?
A: Kendrick Lamar strategically unveiled his latest untitled song during the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, catching fans off guard.
Q: What is the significance of the black Air Force 1s in the cover art?
A: The beat-up pair of black Air Force 1s on the cover art symbolizes choosing violence, adding depth to Kendrick Lamar’s message.
Q: How did the owners of the shoes capitalize on the newfound hype?
A: The couple from North Little Rock, Ark., who owned the shoes featured in the artwork, canceled the original sale and put the shoes up for auction, capitalizing on Kendrick Lamar’s use of the photo.
Credit: www.xxlmag.com
