The worlds of Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar will collide in the NFL’s biggest game of the year.
During Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans — a matchup between the Eagles and Chiefs — there’s a good chance that Swift and Lamar, two of the most iconic cultural figures and influential artists of the 21st century, will both be in attendance.
For Lamar, there will be no doubt about his appearance in New Orleans. He’s the headliner of the 2025 Super Bowl halftime show, also set to have artist SZA by his side for the performance.
If Swift attends, it will be in support of her longtime boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Throughout their relationship, Swift has attended plenty of Kansas City’s matchups — and with the team seeking a third consecutive title, chances are that she’ll be showing face in New Orleans as well.
With Swift and Lamar likely to be in Caesars Superdome at the same time, it begs the question: Have these two famed artists ever crossed paths? Considering Swift is currently known for her pop music — and formerly known for her country music — while Lamar is a longtime rapper, it would seem unlikely that they’ve interacted often, let alone collaborated.
If you’ve previously assumed Swift and Lamar haven’t made music together though, you’d be incorrect. The two musicians have just one song together, and it just so happens to be one of the most successful songs both artists have ever released: “Bad Blood.”
As Lamar takes the stage in New Orleans for the Super Bowl halftime show, while Swift continues to support Kelce and the Chiefs in their quest for a three-peat, here’s everything to know about the two artists’ hit song, “Bad Blood.”
Why did Taylor Swift and Kendrick Lamar collaborate for ‘Bad Blood’?
The original version of “Bad Blood” featured only Swift, as she wrote the song with Swedish producers Max Martin and Shellback for her fifth studio album, “1989.” Around that time, Swift was shedding her country roots and stepping into pop superstardom.
“1989” released in October 2014, and the original version of “Bad Blood” reached No. 78 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The original production of “Bad Blood” did have some hip-hop elements to it — and in May 2015, a remix version of the song featuring Lamar was released. According to the Washington Post, Swift reached out to Lamar about the remix, and he agreed because of the mutual appreciation the two artists had for each other’s music.
The remix with Lamar also included a music video that he, along with plenty of other celebrities close to Swift, appeared in.
‘Bad Blood’ music video
‘Bad Blood’ in sales, charts and awards
The “Bad Blood” remix with Lamar reached the No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in June 2015, marking Swift’s fourth No. 1 song and Lamar’s first. After one week at No. 1, it charted at No. 2 for the next five weeks.
According to Nielsen SoundScan, “Bad Blood” sold 2.584 million digital copies in 2015, ranking 10th among all songs. When the music video was released, it broke Vevo’s 24-hour viewing record with 20.1 million views.
In the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards, “Bad Blood” won Video of the Year and Best Collaboration. The song also earned the Best Music Video award at the 58th Grammy Awards in 2016.
‘Bad Blood’ lyrics
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love (Uh)
So take a look what you’ve done (Uh)
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood (Uh), hey! (Hey!)I can’t take it back, look where I’m at (Uh)
We was OG like D.O.C., remember that? (Remember that?)
My TLC was quite OD, ID my facts (ID my)
Now POV of you and me, similar Iraq
I don’t hate you, but I hate to critique, overrate you
These beats of a dark heart, use basslines to replace you
Take time and erase you, love don’t hear no more
No, I don’t fear no more
Better yet, respect ain’t quite sincere no more, ah!Oh, it’s so sad to
Think about the good times
You and I‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you’ve done
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey!
Now we’ve got problems
And I don’t think we can solve ’em (Uh)
You made a really deep cut (Uh)
And, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey! (Hey!)Remember when you tried to write me off? (Uh-huh)
Remember when you thought I’d take a loss?
Don’t you remember? You thought that I would need ya
Follow procedure, remember? Oh, wait, you got amnesia
It was my season for battle wounds, battle scars, body bumped, bruised
Stabbed in the back; brimstone, fire jumping through
Still, love my life, I got money and power
And you gotta live with the bad blood nowOh, it’s so sad to
Think about the good times
You and I‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you’ve done
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey!
Now we’ve got problems
And I don’t think we can solve ’em
You made a really deep cut
And, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey!Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes
You say sorry just for show
If you live like that, you live with ghosts
You forgive, you forget, but you never let it go
Band-Aids don’t fix bullet holes (Yeah)
You say sorry just for show (Uh-huh)
If you live like that, you live with ghosts, mm (Uh, uh)
If you love like that, blood runs cold‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood (Uh)
You know it used to be mad love
So take a look what you’ve done (Hey)
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey! (Bad blood)
Now we’ve got problems
And I don’t think we can solve ’em (Think we can solve ’em, uh)
You made a really deep cut
And, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey!
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood (Uh)
You know it used to be mad love (Uh)
So take a look what you’ve done (Look what you’ve done, hey)
‘Cause, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey! (Ooh, oh)
Now we’ve got problems (Uh)
And I don’t think we can solve ’em (Uh)
You made a really deep cut
And, baby, now we’ve got bad blood, hey!
