# Pray for Me (The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar song)

"Pray for Me" is a song by the Canadian singer-songwriter the Weeknd and the American rapper Kendrick Lamar from the soundtrack album of the Marvel Studios superhero film Black Panther. The song was released by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment, and Interscope Records on February 2, 2018, as the album's third and final single. It serves as the second overall collaboration between the two artists. The song appears in the movie during the scene where the titular hero along with his allies, Nakia and Okoye, enter a secret casino in Busan.

## Background and release

The Weeknd first hinted at his involvement with the Black Panther soundtrack album with an Instagram post that he made on January 19, 2018, which contained an illustration of the Marvel superhero Black Panther perched on a tree in front of the moon. On January 26, 2018, the Weeknd then further hinted at his involvement with the soundtrack when he uploaded an official trailer for the Black Panther film to his Instagram account. Then on January 31, 2018, Lamar confirmed the Weeknd's involvement with the soundtrack when he uploaded to his Twitter account the complete tracklist of the soundtrack, which contained the song "Pray for Me". On February 1, 2018, the Weeknd uploaded to his Twitter account a video teasing the release date for "Pray for Me" as the soundtrack's third single.

## Composition

"Pray for Me" is composed in the key of E minor.

## Reception

Alex Robert Ross of Noisey praised the song, calling it "short, punchy, and self-lacerating."

## Copyright infringement lawsuit

In February 2020, Tesfaye and Lamar were sued by now-split American experimental rock band Yeasayer for alleged plagiarism due to vocal similarities with their 2007 song "Sunrise". According to the lawsuit, the part allegedly stolen from the song includes "the recording of a distinctive choral performance, which Plaintiffs [Yeasayer] created and recorded using their own voices". Furthermore, Yeasayer claims that "Defendants extracted Plaintiffs' choral performance from a recording of 'Sunrise,' slightly modified it, including, on information and belief, via postprocessing to alter its pitch, among other qualities" and then subsequently used the modified audio in their own song. Both Tesfaye and Lamar have denied the accusation. The lawsuit later reached its conclusion in July 2020, after Yeasayer dropped it.

## Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel adapted from digital booklet.
* Kendrick Lamar – songwriting, lead vocals
* The Weeknd – songwriting, lead vocals
* Frank Dukes – songwriting, production
* Doc McKinney – songwriting, production, recording
* Beatriz Artola – recording
* Shin Kamiyama – recording
* Mike Sonier – recording
* Barry McCready – recording assistance
* Jaycen Joshua – mixing
* David Nakaji – mixing assistance
* Mike Bozzi – mastering
* Chris Athens – mastering

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Australia (ARIA) | 4× Platinum | 280,000$^‡$ |
| Austria (IFPI Austria) | Gold | 15,000$^‡$ |
| Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) | Diamond | 160,000$^‡$ |
| Canada (Music Canada) | 3× Platinum | 240,000$^‡$ |
| Denmark (IFPI Danmark) | Platinum | 90,000$^‡$ |
| France (SNEP) | Platinum | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Gold | 200,000$^‡$ |
| Italy (FIMI) | Gold | 50,000$^‡$ |
| New Zealand (RMNZ) | 2× Platinum | 60,000$^‡$ |
| Poland (ZPAV) | Platinum | 50,000$^‡$ |
| Spain (PROMUSICAE) | Gold | 30,000$^‡$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Platinum | 600,000$^‡$ |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000$^‡$ |
| Streaming |||
| Greece (IFPI Greece) | Platinum | 2,000,000$^†$ |
| Sweden (GLF) | Platinum | 8,000,000$^†$ |
| $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. $^†$ Streaming-only figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format | Label(s) |
| United States | February 2, 2018 | Digital downloadstreaming | Top DawgAftermathInterscope |
| United Kingdom | February 2, 2018 | Rhythmic contemporary | Top DawgXORepublicInterscope |
| United States | February 6, 2018 | Rhythmic contemporary | Top DawgXORepublicInterscope |
| United States | February 6, 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Top DawgXORepublicInterscope |
| United Kingdom | February 9, 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Top DawgXORepublicInterscope |
| Italy | March 2, 2018 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal |