Kendrick Lamar Walk-Up Songs: 15 Best Picks (Clean) for 2026
The best Kendrick Lamar walk-up songs for baseball and softball. Not Like Us, tv off, luther (with SZA), HUMBLE., DNA. — plus clean-version verification.
The best Kendrick Lamar walk-up songs are "Not Like Us" (clean), "tv off" (clean), "luther" (with SZA), "HUMBLE." (clean), and "DNA." (clean). Kendrick is the most-used hip-hop artist across MLB and softball walk-ups in 2026. Every major single has a clean radio edit. Below are 15 Kendrick walk-up picks plus how to verify the clean version is actually clean across the trim window.
Top 15 Kendrick Lamar walk-up songs
| # | Song | Album / Year | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Not Like Us (clean) | 2024 | Universal walk-up |
| 2 | tv off (clean) | GNX, 2024 | Power hitter |
| 3 | luther (with SZA) | GNX, 2024 | Softball, modern hitter |
| 4 | HUMBLE. (clean) | DAMN., 2017 | Any hitter |
| 5 | DNA. (clean) | DAMN., 2017 | Power, intense |
| 6 | King Kunta (clean) | To Pimp a Butterfly, 2015 | Confidence |
| 7 | squabble up (clean) | GNX, 2024 | Hype |
| 8 | wacced out murals (clean) | GNX, 2024 | Closer entrance |
| 9 | Alright (clean) | To Pimp a Butterfly, 2015 | Anthem, sentimental |
| 10 | i (clean) | 2014 | Throwback hype |
| 11 | Money Trees (clean) | good kid, 2012 | Mid-tempo |
| 12 | Backseat Freestyle (clean) | good kid, 2012 | Hard-hitting |
| 13 | m.A.A.d city (clean) | good kid, 2012 | Power |
| 14 | The Heart Part 5 | 2022 | Senior night, sentimental |
| 15 | peekaboo (clean) | GNX, 2024 | Younger ages, hype |
The 2024-2026 Kendrick walk-up takeover
The Kendrick-Drake feud in 2024 turned "Not Like Us" into the most-streamed walk-up song in modern baseball and softball. Within months it was the #1 walk-up across multiple data sources. By the time GNX dropped at the end of 2024, "tv off," "squabble up," and "luther" all entered walk-up rotations within weeks.
No artist has had a faster catalog-to-walk-up turnaround in modern walk-up history. By 2026, Kendrick had six songs in the top 100 most-used softball walk-ups — more than any other artist. See girls' softball walk-up songs.
By use case
Hitter — power 4-hole
"tv off" (clean) or "DNA." (clean). Both bass-heavy, both peak instantly, both fit the moment a power hitter steps in.
Hitter — leadoff / contact
"luther" (with SZA) or "HUMBLE." (clean). Less theatrical, more chorus-driven. The dugout sings along; the player gets in the box.
Pitcher / closer entrance
"wacced out murals" (clean) or "DNA." (clean) — slow buildup, theatrical drop. "Sandstorm" energy with hip-hop production.
Lineup introduction
"Not Like Us" (clean) — the 0:00 to 0:25 window builds across the lineup; the chorus hits as the last starter takes her position.
Younger ages (10U-12U)
"luther" (with SZA), "peekaboo" (clean), and "i" (clean) — softer choruses, fewer lyrical density spikes that need a clean check.
Clean version verification
Every Kendrick single has a clean radio edit. The challenge: "clean" doesn't always mean "smooth." Three things to check before locking in a Kendrick walk-up:
1. Apple Music's "Clean" tag
On Apple Music, search the song. The clean version is labeled "Clean" — make sure you're not picking the version labeled with the explicit "E" tag. Spotify works the same way.
2. Audible silences in the trim window
Kendrick's clean edits replace explicit words with silences (sometimes a beat skip). If your 15-second trim happens to land on a silence, the field hears the gap instead of the chorus. Always preview the exact trim window — not the start of the song.
3. Trim into the hook, not the verse
The verses have the most lyrical density and the highest risk of clean-version weirdness. The hook (chorus) is almost always cleaner-sounding. Trim into the hook for the lowest-risk walk-up.
How to set up a Kendrick walk-up
- Open Walkup Pro.
- Search the song — pick the version labeled "Clean."
- Trim into the hook. Preview the entire 15-second clip on a Bluetooth speaker before locking it in.
- Length: 15-18 seconds. End on the chorus's biggest line.
- If the clean version sounds awkward, pick a different track. There's no rule that says you have to use a specific song.
Related guides
- Hip hop walk-up songs (full guide)
- Girls' softball walk-up songs
- Clean softball walk-up songs
- College baseball walk-up songs
- 12 famous walk-up song moments in MLB
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