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Kendrick Lamar's recent diss track, "Euphoria," has sparked an intriguing response from actor Haley Joel Osment, who was inadvertently referenced in the song. The track, aimed at Drake, features a lyric that seems to conflate Osment with televangelist Joel Osteen, creating confusion among fans and critics alike.
In the verse, Kendrick raps: “Am I battlin’ ghost or A.I.? N-gga feelin’ like Joel Osteen / Funny, he was in a film called ‘A.I.’ / And my sixth sense tellin’ me to off him.” This line merges Osment's roles in "The Sixth Sense" and "A.I.," but mistakenly pairs him with Osteen.
Osment, currently in Ireland filming his next project, addressed the mix-up in an interview with the Associated Press. He suggested that the error might be intentional, stating, “I think he’s too precise. I mean, I don’t know for sure and I’m not going to assume that he knows my exact name.” Osment added that he received a flurry of texts after "Euphoria" was released, initially leaving him puzzled.
The confusion surrounding the lyric has fueled speculation about Kendrick's intentions. The Pulitzer Prize-winning rapper has previously referenced "The Sixth Sense" in his song "Not Like Us," which features the iconic line “I see dead people.”
Director M. Night Shyamalan, who helmed "The Sixth Sense," also weighed in on the matter. During an interview on "Way Up With Angela Yee," Shyamalan expressed his appreciation for Kendrick’s homage to the film and noted that he was initially unaware of the full extent of the track's impact until it gained widespread attention.
"Euphoria" has also made waves beyond the music industry, with WWE wrestler CM Punk quoting the track during a promo on WWE Raw, highlighting the song's broad cultural reach.
The incident underscores the complex interplay between celebrity, media, and art, as well as the ways in which popular culture references can lead to unexpected and intriguing discussions.
For more updates on Kendrick Lamar, Haley Joel Osment, and the latest in hip-hop, stay tuned to HipHopDX.
