DJ Mustard has shared that multiple rappers passed on the instrumental for Kendrick Lamarâs “GNX” track âHey Now.â
During an interview with People, the prolific producer recalled playing the âHey Nowâ beat for multiple rappers including YG and Quavo, both of whom decided to turn down the track.
âI played it for YG⊠I was trying to make a West Coast version of âGrindinâ.â Thatâs why itâs so empty like that,â he said. âThatâs why itâs just weird sounds. [H]e didnât end up doing it.â
Then, Mustard took the beat to Migos member Quavo.
âAfter YG, and I played it for Quavo and Iâm like, âQuavo man, if you get this, if you can connect to this song, Iâm telling you,â heâs like, âWhat the hell you want me to do to it? You want me to whisper on the beat?â And Iâm like, âAlright.â So I didnât force it on him.â
After that, Mustard shared that Ty Dolla $ign tried his hand at the âHey Nowâ beat, even laying vocals over the track, but that he was never truly sold on that version.
As for how the beat got to Kendrick, hereâs what Mustard said: âI was talking to Kendrick one day and I was just like, âMan, I got this really weird-ass beat, but I really love it. Like, I know that I love this beat.â And I sent it to him and right away he said, âOh yeah, I got it.â And I was like, âAlright.â But still, I hadnât heard it until I went to the âNot Like Usâ video shoot.â
Listen to “Hey Now” below.