Hip Hop 2017

HUMBLE. as a Walkup Song

by Kendrick Lamar

Preview

Is "HUMBLE." a good walkup song?

The piano stabs and Kendrick's vocal entrance hit in literally one second — instant recognition. The lyrical content is aggressive in a confident, not menacing, way — perfect for a hitter who walks to the box like he owns it. And the BPM is right in the walkup sweet spot.

Notable players who've used it

HUMBLE. has been one of the most popular walkup songs since 2017. Used by hundreds of MLB players, all the way down to youth ball. It's especially popular as a power hitter walkup — the cocky lyrical confidence ('Bitch, sit down. Be humble.') matches the swagger of a cleanup spot.

How to trim "HUMBLE." for a walkup

Start at 0:00, run for 18 seconds. The piano stabs and Kendrick's voice cut in immediately. Start at zero — the hook is the opening.

The trim point is the difference between a great walkup song and a great walkup. A song's first 15-20 seconds rarely happen to be the best 15-20 seconds — most popular tracks have a build, an intro, or a bridge before the hook lands. Pick the slice that hits hardest. The last second of your trim window should land on a peak, right as the player steps into the box.

Best for

• Leadoff hitters
• Power hitters
• Veterans

Clean / explicit version notes

"HUMBLE." has both an explicit version and a clean radio edit. For Little League, travel ball, school programs, or any field where parents are within earshot, use the clean version. Apple Music and Spotify both let you toggle to "Clean" in your account settings.

Songs that pair well with "HUMBLE."

If "HUMBLE." is on your shortlist, these are the walkup songs players most often consider alongside it. Same vibe, same energy, same kind of moment at the plate.

• tv off — Kendrick Lamar
• Lose Yourself — Eminem
• All I Do Is Win — DJ Khaled ft. T-Pain

How to set up "HUMBLE." for your team

Setting up a walkup song requires three things: an app that handles per-player audio, custom trim points, and one-tap playback on game day.

1. Build your roster in Walkup Pro — assign "HUMBLE." to the player who picked it
2. Scrub to 0:00 and set the trim duration to 18 seconds
3. Connect a Bluetooth speaker at the field (a JBL Charge or similar will cover any youth field — see our guide to the best Bluetooth speakers for a baseball field)
4. On game day, tap to play as the player walks to the box

For a complete game-day setup walkthrough, see how to play walkup songs at baseball games. For more on what makes a great walkup work, see the anatomy of the perfect walkup song.