Taylor Swift has praised her Bad Blood collaborator Kendrick Lamar following the re-release of her highly anticipated 2014 hit album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version).
The hitmaker, 33, raved about Lamar helping her ‘reclaim and own’ her work, following a row over ownership of her back catalogue.
Bad Blood was originally released in 2014, and Lamar, 36, features in a subsequent hip-hop remix released in 2015.
Now Lamar has lent his vocals to the brand new re-recording of the song that appears on the deluxe version of her new 1989 album.
In a tribute she posted to her Instagram on Friday, Swift said it was “surreal” to know that Lamar had agreed to return to the studio for the song’s reissue.
‘One of the most inspiring experiences of my life’: Taylor Swift has praised her Bad Blood collaborator Kendrick Lamar following the re-release of her highly anticipated 2014 hit album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
“Watching @kendricklamar create and record his verses on the Bad Blood remix was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life,” she wrote.
“I still look back on this collaboration with so much pride and gratitude, for the ways Kendrick elevated the song and the way he treats everyone around him.
“Every time the crowd on The Eras Tour chanted his line, ‘You forgive, you forget, but you never let go…’ I smiled. The reality that Kendrick would go back and re-record Bad Blood so that I could reclaim and own this work that I am so proud of is surreal and mind-boggling to me.
“I’m thrilled to announce that the Bad Blood Remix (featuring Kendrick Lamar) is widely available on the 1989 Deluxe Edition.”
The post included a photo of Taylor with Kendrick, along with a video of her performing the song for her fans as they read his part of the song to her.
Taylor finally re-released her 2014 hit album 1989 (Taylor’s Version) on Thursday after a row over ownership of her back catalog.
Fans have taken over X, formerly known as Twitter, in a frenzy over the big release.
The hitmaker, who dismissed speculation that she is bisexual in the record’s prologue, has re-recorded and unveiled the new version of the album to take back ownership of her music.
In 2019, it was revealed that Scooter Braun had bought Taylor’s original label Big Machine Label Group from then-owner Scott Borchetta, 60, for a sum of $330 million – giving her ownership of her music and meaning she barely benefited from her own numbers..
There was some disappointment as many fans hoped Taylor’s ex-boyfriend Harry Styles would star in the hit song Style, which she wrote about their passionate romance.
Out now! Swift has finally released her own version of 1989 after a row over ownership of her back catalogue
Sing it! The post included a photo of Taylor with Kendrick, along with a video of her performing the song for her fans as they read his part of the song to her
Teamwork! Swift and Lamar pictured at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards
Following the album’s unveiling, users of the popular Apple streaming service experienced issues downloading and streaming the new songs.
Some wrote to X: ‘I’m shaking so much.’
“I can’t calm down.”
“It was the end of a decade… but the beginning of an era.”
“I’ve now streamed four hours of 1989 TV. I played it at work, for the kids, when they wanted to hear The Wheels On The Bus I said no. It’s Taylor Swift Day.
“Such an annoying day for people surrounded by annoying girls who love Taylor Swift (me!).”
“I want to thank Harry Styles for breaking up with Taylor Swift and giving me the vault tracks from 1989, lol.”
‘Did Taylor Swift call Harry Styles up for this and say ‘listen… ummmm’.
To commemorate the big re-release, Taylor shared a series of promotional photos of herself on the beach, along with a handwritten note addressed to loyal Swifties.
Bring it all back: In 2019, it was revealed that Scooter Braun (pictured in 2019) had purchased Taylor’s original label Big Machine Label Group from then-owner Scott Borchetta, 60, for a sum of $330 million — and with it, ownership of her music took over
So excited: And fans have taken over X, formerly known as Twitter, in a frenzy over the big release
She wrote: “I was born in 1989, first reinvented in 2014, and a part of me was reclaimed in 2023 with the reissue of this album I love so much. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine the magic you would pour into my life for so long.”
The star, who is dating sportsman Travis Kelce, went on to reflect on what the work has meant to her and her fans since its initial release nearly a decade ago.
Taylor explained, “This moment is a reflection of the forest we’ve wandered through and all this love between us still glows in the darkest darkness. It is with gratitude and great amazement that I present to you my version of 1989. He has been waiting for you. Taylor.’