Here’s What M. Night Shyamalan Has to Say About Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Sixth Sense’ Lyrics

M. Night Shyamalan’s breakout film The Sixth Sense — which became an instant pop-culture phenomenon when it was released in 1999 — finds itself in the conversation once again thanks to Kendrick Lamar.

The Compton rapper referenced the movie twice during his rap battle with Drake. First, on “Euphoria,” Kendrick raps, “Am I battlin’ ghosts or AI? N—as feelin’ like [Haley] Joel Osteen/ Funny, he was in a film called A.I./ And my Sixth Sense tellin’ me to off him.” He then begins his knockout blow “Not Like Us” with the movie’s iconic line: “I see dead people.”

Shyamalan appeared on Way Up With Angela Yee with his daughter Saleka, a singer and actress who’s making her acting debut in her father’s upcoming film Trap. When asked about Kendrick’s references, the filmmaker mentioned that they are already familiar with each other. “We kind of lightly know each other, and I did know [he was a fan],” Shyamalan said of Lamar. “He’s very gracious with me, and I love him.”

The director then revealed that someone in his office had first told him about the “Euphoria” reference, saying, “The first song ends with it,” Shyamalan recalled. “So someone in the office was like, ‘Oh, Kendrick just dropped something and it references one of your [movies].’ I was like, ‘Oh, cool.’ That was before everything blew up.”

M. Night Shyamalan’s other daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan made her directorial debut earlier this year with the release of horror film The Watchers in February.

Trap stars Josh Hartnett who plays a serial killer trapped at a Lady Raven (played by Saleka) concert with his daughter as authorities zero in on him.

Trap hits theaters Aug. 2.