Sidewalks album art

Sidewalks

The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar
Starboy (2016)
Moderate 150 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range7/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Layered production with synths and beats creates a dense, atmospheric texture, while dynamic shifts in vocals and rap delivery add moderate intensity without overwhelming harshness. Predictable rhythms support introspection but feature mild drops for engagement.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksmild
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A reflective R&B/hip-hop track where The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar use sidewalks as a metaphor for their gritty paths from humble beginnings in Toronto and Compton to fame and success.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: confident, melancholy, reflective

Traditions: R&B, hip-hop

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 7/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

2016 context

Released in 2016. We have 368 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.3/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2010s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
confident · 1129melancholy · 5399reflective · 5792
Traditions
R&B · 935hip-hop · 800

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

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These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

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