Rap fans love a good "what if" scenario. But with Kendrick Lamar and Lil Wayne, we don't have to guess. They've actually given us some of the most dense, complicated, and frankly exhausting—in a good way—verses in the history of the genre.
If you're looking for that one definitive Kendrick Lamar Lil Wayne song, you're probably thinking of "Mona Lisa." It’s the crown jewel of their shared discography. Released in 2018 on the long-delayed Tha Carter V, it wasn't just a song; it was a five-minute psychological thriller.
The Story Behind Mona Lisa
"Mona Lisa" is weird. It’s a track about "set-up chicks" and the absolute paranoia of the rap lifestyle. Wayne plays the mastermind, using a woman named Liz to infiltrate a target's home. Kendrick, meanwhile, plays the victim—or rather, a man so deep in his feelings for a woman that he doesn't see the trap until it's too late.
The production by Infamous and Onhel actually started way back in 2014. That explains why Kendrick’s verse sounds like it’s straight out of the To Pimp a Butterfly era. He uses that high-pitched, frantic flow that makes him sound like he’s having a literal nervous breakdown.
Wayne’s storytelling is sharp. He isn't just rhyming; he’s directing a movie. You can almost see the AKs and the "stick-up" happening through the lyrics.
People often forget how long this track sat in the vault. Because of Wayne’s massive legal battle with Cash Money and Birdman, we almost never heard it. When it finally dropped, it debuted at number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Honestly, for a song that’s basically a dark short story, that’s kind of insane.
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That One Mind-Blowing Detail
There is a theory floating around that's actually true. At exactly 3 minutes and 40 seconds, Kendrick raps, "In a minute he going to be admitting that he love her." Exactly sixty seconds later, to the very second, Kendrick’s character is screaming his confessions of love. That’s the level of detail these two bring.
Did They Have Beef Over the Super Bowl?
Fast forward to late 2024 and early 2025. Things got a little awkward. When it was announced that Kendrick Lamar would headline the Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show in New Orleans—Lil Wayne’s hometown—the internet lost its mind.
Wayne was hurt. He went on Instagram Live and admitted it "broke" him. He felt like the opportunity was ripped away from him in his own city.
Then came Kendrick’s album GNX in November 2024. On the track "wacced out murals," Kendrick dropped these lines:
"Used to bump Tha Carter III, I held my Rollie chain proud / Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down."
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At first, people thought it was a diss. Wayne even tweeted something about "still coming for my head." But the air cleared pretty quickly. By December 2024, Wayne was on The Skip Bayless Show saying he’d talked to Kendrick. He told the world he told Kendrick to "kill it" on that stage.
It was a rare moment of maturity in a year filled with rap beef. It showed that despite the competitive nature of hip-hop, the respect between these two is real. Kendrick basically grew up on Tha Carter III. He even has a whole mixtape, C4, that is just him rapping over Wayne’s beats.
Other Times They Linked Up
"Mona Lisa" isn't the only Kendrick Lamar Lil Wayne song out there. If you dig a little deeper, you’ll find "Buy the World" by Mike WiLL Made-It.
- Buy the World (2014): This one also features Future. It’s more of a big, soaring anthem. Kendrick and Wayne both bring solid verses, but it doesn't have the narrative grit of their later work.
- Deep Water (2015): Technically a Dr. Dre song from Compton, but it’s a masterclass in atmosphere. Wayne isn't on this one, but it's often compared to his style because of the aquatic theme.
- Colors (2009): This is a real throwback. It’s a Jay Rock song featuring both Kendrick (then K-Dot) and Wayne. It’s wild to hear a young Kendrick trying to hold his own next to 2009-era Wayne, who was arguably at his peak.
Why This Duo Matters
Most collaborations in rap are just business transactions. One guy sends a verse via email, the other guy drops it in, and they move on.
With Wayne and Kendrick, it feels different. They both share an obsession with "the craft." Kendrick has openly talked about being in the studio with Wayne and Jay Rock back in the day and watching Wayne knock out 12 verses in a single session. He said it changed his perspective on work ethic.
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Wayne, for his part, has always been a fan of "the lyrical." He’s one of the few older legends who didn't get bitter when the new generation took over. He recognized Kendrick's talent early.
What You Should Do Now
If you want to actually appreciate the Kendrick Lamar Lil Wayne song "Mona Lisa," don't just put it on as background music.
- Read the lyrics while you listen. There are too many puns and perspective shifts to catch on a casual listen.
- Check out Kendrick’s mixtape C4. It’s the ultimate proof of his Wayne influence.
- Watch the animated music video for Mona Lisa. It was released years after the song, but it perfectly captures the "dystopian tale" vibe they were going for.
Honestly, we might never get another collab like this. Both artists are in very different places in their careers now. Kendrick is the undisputed king of the Super Bowl era, and Wayne is the legacy act still capable of out-rapping anyone on a feature. But for five minutes in 2018, they were perfectly in sync, and that’s plenty.
To get the full experience, go back and listen to the transition in "Mona Lisa" when Kendrick takes over the verse. It’s one of the most jarring and effective moments in modern hip-hop history. Focus on the production shifts—the way the "plug-in" pianos were replaced with live ones to give it that cinematic, haunting feel.