Composition and lyrics
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"Die Hard" is a R&B and pop song that contains a "sweet" post-chorus that is sung by Amanda Reifer.[ 1] The song includes a "floating R&B instrumental and tender introspection".[ 2] Lamar lightly raps: "I got some regrets".[ 3] It has a "gentle flute line and a blissful melody", which sees Blxst gently sing on the chorus: "I hope I'm not too late to set my demons straight".[ 4] In the two verses of the song, Kendrick Lamar uses two different moods as the song is really about how it is never too late to turn wrongs into rights and chasing dreams, with a summertime vibe to it.[ 5]
Credits and personnel
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Kendrick Lamar – vocals, songwriting
Blxst – vocals, songwriting
Boi-1da – production, songwriting
Sounwave – production, songwriting
DJ Dahi – production, songwriting
Baby Keem – production, songwriting, drums
J. Lbs – production, songwriting
FnZ
Michael Mulé – co-production, songwriting
Isaac De Boni – co-production, songwriting
Sam Dew – songwriting
Thundercat – songwriting, bass
Marvin Eugene Smith – songwriting
Robert T. "Bob" Smith – songwriting
Victor Ekpo – songwriting
Grandmaster Vic – strings
Manny Marroquin – mixing
Anthony Vilchis – mixing assistance
Trey Station – mixing assistance
Zach Pereyra – mixing assistance
Andrew Boyd – recording assistance
Wesley Seidman – recording assistance
Joe Visciano – engineering
Beach Noise
Matt Schaeffer – engineering
Johnny Kosich – engineering
Johnathan Turner – engineering
Ray Charles Brown, Jr. – engineering
^ Smyth, David (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar – Mr Morale & the Big Steppers review: Still light years ahead of the game" . Evening Standard . Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ Thomas, Fred. "Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers – Kendrick Lamar" . AllMusic . Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ McMullen, Chase (May 18, 2022). "Album Review: Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers" . Beats Per Minute . Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ Bryant, Ben (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar's Mr. Morale and the Bigsteppers is a tender, delicate opus – review" . The Independent . Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ Williams, Kyann-Sian (May 13, 2022). "Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers review: a cathartic, soul-bearing autobiography" . NME . Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" . ARIA Top 50 Singles . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – N95" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40 . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Harder" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50 . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" . Tracklisten . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" (in French). Les classement single . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Global 200)" . Billboard . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "2022 20-os savaitės klausomiausi (TOP 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA . May 20, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" (in Dutch). Single Top 100 . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" . Top 40 Singles . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "VG-lista – Topp 20 Single 2022-20" . VG-lista . Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" . AFP Top 100 Singles . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "ČNS IFPI" . IFPI ČR. Note: Select SK SINGLES DIGITAL TOP 100 and insert 202220 into search. Retrieved August 9, 2022 .
^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100 Week 20-2022" . The Official South African Charts . Retrieved June 1, 2024.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxt & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" . Singles Top 100 . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar, Blxst & Amanda Reifer – Die Hard" . Swiss Singles Chart . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40" . Official Charts Company . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot 100)" . Billboard . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)" . Billboard . Retrieved August 9, 2022.
^ "Kendrick Lamar Chart History (Rhythmic)" . Billboard . Retrieved October 4, 2022.
^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2022" . Billboard . Retrieved December 2, 2022 .
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF) . Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved June 21, 2024 .
^ "British single certifications – Kendrick Lamar/Blxst/Amanda – Die Hard" . British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved July 19, 2023 .
^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases" . All Access. Archived from the original on July 31, 2022. Retrieved August 9, 2022 .