Sidewalks by The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar is 150 BPM — Allegro (fast).
Half-time 75 BPM · Double-time 300 BPM · released 2016
Song DNA
Misophonia Triggers
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.
Hear it the way it was made
The right gear changes everything.
Moods: confident, melancholy, reflective
Traditions: R&B, hip-hop
"Sidewalks" climbs hard.
Dynamic range 7/10 places this in our upper band. The opening volume that feels comfortable will not be comfortable at the climax. If you are setting this up for a focused listen, anchor your volume to the quietest section, not the loudest. The arc is the point of the song; if you blunt it by riding the volume knob, you lose what makes it work. The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar built the dynamic shape on purpose. Plan around it.
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 369 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.
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Guides that may help
How fast is "Sidewalks"?
150 BPM — Very fast (intense cardio / drum and bass)
Steady-state running pace. Matches most recreational runners' natural cadence.
HIIT, Spin class, dance, intense intervals.
Active tasks, getting pumped up, party, anything high-energy.
Browse more songs at 150 BPM.
When "Sidewalks" works, and when it doesn't
Use-case verdicts computed from the song's tempo, dynamics, and sensory profile.
No — too dynamic or too many surprises. Save for active listening.
Yes — 150 BPM sits squarely in the running / cardio band. Matches natural stride cadence.
No — contains elements that will keep an awake nervous system engaged.
Yes — predictable enough for safe driving attention, interesting enough to stay engaged.
Yes — sits in the background without demanding attention.
Yes — this is a song for actively feeling what you came to feel, not for background.
Related reading
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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.
See how “Sidewalks” sits against your own sensitivities, or use it as a waypoint in a calmer set.
Listen on
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For focused listening
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Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.
Think this rating is wrong? Contact the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.
By the numbers: how this song compares
Computed from this song’s place among the 19,209 songs we’ve measured.
Where it sits in 19,000 songs
On our 19k-song scale this lands in the middle band — more energetic than 75% of songs, calmer than the other 25%. Its intensity reading of 55/100 comes from a dynamic range of 7/10, layered texture, mild shifts, and dynamic vocals. Relatively few songs occupy this exact corner of the spectrum.
What makes it unusual
What stands out most about this song is a fast, driving tempo: more extreme on that axis than 95% of everything we've measured. At the far opposite end of the library sit the songs built on near-total stillness — steady volume, no surprises, a slow and unhurried pulse — the kind of track this one is the counterpoint to.
Feels almost identical to
Closest matches by feel across all 19,209 measured songs — not by genre or artist, by how they actually move.
What it’s good for
Scored from this song’s tempo, intensity, dynamics and texture — not crowd votes.
2016 in context
The 368 songs we’ve measured from 2016 average a dynamic range of 6.3/10. At 7/10, this track is louder and more dynamic than its year.
Mixes smoothly with
Within a few BPM and close in feel — they flow without a jarring transition.
The fingerprint
The 8-dimension measurement behind every rating on this page.
Frequently asked about "Sidewalks"
Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.
What is the BPM of "Sidewalks" by The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar?
"Sidewalks" by The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar has a tempo of 150 BPM (Allegro (fast)). At half-time that is 75 BPM, and at double-time 300 BPM.
What is the sensory intensity of "Sidewalks" by The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar?
"Sidewalks" by The Weeknd feat. Kendrick Lamar rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 7/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.
How loud is "Sidewalks" — what is its dynamic range?
"Sidewalks" has a dynamic range of 7/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.
Does "Sidewalks" have sudden or surprising changes?
"Sidewalks" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.
What is "Sidewalks" best for?
In our library "Sidewalks" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, focus. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.
When was "Sidewalks" released?
"Sidewalks" is from 2016, on the album "Starboy". It appears in our 2010s catalog.
What is the emotional mood of "Sidewalks"?
We tag "Sidewalks" as confident, melancholy, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.
What is the vocal style of "Sidewalks"?
The vocal style is dynamic vocals.
Is "Sidewalks" good for running?
Yes — at 150 BPM it sits in the running-cadence band (120-180 BPM). Match your stride to the beat and it keeps pace with most recreational runners.
Is "Sidewalks" good for studying?
Only partially. The song's dynamic range (7/10) means there will be loud moments that break focus during deep work.
Can I use "Sidewalks" for sleep?
Not recommended for sleep. Contains transitions that will wake you up.
Should I listen to "Sidewalks"?
"Sidewalks" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.
Songs with the same DNA
layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.
Safer alternatives with a similar feel
These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.
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