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N95
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hello, new world, all the boys and girls
I got some true stories to tell
You're back outside, but they still lied
Whoa, oh, oh, oh (yeah)

Take off the foo-foo
Take off the clout chase
Take off the Wi-Fi
Take off the money phone
Take off the car loan
Take off the flex and the white lies
Take off the weird-ass jewelry
I'ma take ten steps
Then I'm takin' off top five
Take off them fabricated streams
And them microwave memes
It's a real world outside (take that shit off)
Take off your idols
Take off the runway
I take off to Cairo (take that shit off)
Take off to Saint-Tropez
Five day stay, take a quarter mil'
Hell, if I know (take that shit off)
Take off the false flag
Take off perception
Take off the cop with the eye patch (take that shit off)
Take off the unloyal
Take off the unsure
Take off decisions I lack (take it off)
Take off the fake deep
Take off the fake woke
Take off the I'm broke, I care (take it off)
Take off the gossip
Take off the new logic, that if I'm rich, I'm rare (take it off)
Take off the Chanel
Take off the Dolce
Take off the Birkin bag (take it off)
Take all that designer bullshit off
And what do you have? (Bitch)

Huh, huh, uh, you ugly as fuck
(You out of pocket)
Huh, two ATMs (hah, hah, hah, hah)
You steppin' or what? (You out of pocket, huh)
Who you think they talk 'bout?
Talk about us (you out of pocket, shoot, shoot, shoot)
Who you think they copy off? (Brrt, brrt, brrt, brrt)
Copy off us (get back in pocket)

The world in a panic
The women is stranded
The men on a run
The prophets abandoned
The Lord take advantage
The market is crashin'
The industry wants
Niggas and bitches to sleep in a box
While they makin' a mockery followin' us
This ain't Monopoly
Watchin' for love
This ain't monogamy
Y'all gettin' fucked
Jumpin' on what the hell is that?
I gotta relax when I feel (huh, facts)
All of my descendants
They come in my sleep and say I am too real (huh, facts)
I'm done with the sensitive takin' it personal
Done with the black and the white
The wrong and the right
You hopin' for change and clericals
I know the feelings that came with burial's cries (bitch)

Huh, huh, uh, you ugly as fuck
(You out of pocket)
Huh, two ATMs (hah, hah, hah, hah)
You steppin' or what? (You out of pocket, huh)
Who you think they talk 'bout?
Talk about us (you out of pocket, shoot, shoot, shoot)
Who you think they copy off?
Copy off us (brrt, brrt, brrt, brrt)

Servin' up a look, dancin' in the drought
Hello to the big stepper, never losin' count
Ventin' in the safe house, ventin' in the sa-, ahh

Can I vent all my truth?
I got nothin' to lose
I got problems and pools
I can swim in my faith
Camera's movin' whenever I'm movin'
The family suin' whatever I make
Murder is stackin', the president actin'
The government taxin' my funds in the bank
Homies attractin' the feds
When I'm brackin', look at my reaction
My pupils on skates (hold up, hold up)
Let's think about this for a second (let's go)
Tell me what you would do for aesthetic (let's go)
Would you sell your soul on credit? (Let's go)
Would you sell your bro for leverage? (Let's go)
Where the hypocrites at?
What community feel
They the only ones relevant? (Let's go)
Where the hypocrites at?
What community feel
They the only ones relevant? (Let's go)

(Huh, uh, huh)
You outta pocket, yeah, you outta pocket (this shit hard)
You entertain the mediocre, need to stop it (this shit hard)
You entertainin' old friends when they toxic (this shit hard)
What's your life like? Bullshit and gossip (this shit hard)

What the fuck is cancel culture, dawg?
Say what I want about you niggas
I'm like Oprah, dawg
I treat you crackers like I'm Jigga, watch
I own it all
Oh, you worried 'bout a critic?
That ain't protocol (bitch)

Overall Meaning

Kendrick Lamar’s song N95 is a critique on the entertainment industry and society's obsession with material possessions. Throughout the lyrics, Lamar urges listeners to remove the superficial elements of their lives, including jewelry, designer clothes, and social media fame. He further emphasizes that the world is in a state of chaos and pandemonium, highlighting how people's priorities have become misplaced. Lamar recommends that people should focus on what really matters, such as their faith, family, and community. He touches on topics such as homies letting you down and the government taxing hard-earned funds. The final part of the song touches on cancel culture, where he suggests that people should not worry about critics and focus on themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

Hello, new world, all the boys and girls
Greetings to the unfamiliar, this new society is comprised of both young males and females.


I got some true stories to tell
I possess genuine narratives that need to be shared.


You're back outside, but they still lied
Although you have returned to the outside world, deception and falsehoods continue to persist.


Whoa, oh, oh, oh (yeah)
Expressing surprise and acknowledgment of the current situation.


Take off the foo-foo
Discard the superficial and artificial.


Take off the clout chase
Abandon the pursuit of seeking validation and attention.


Take off the Wi-Fi
Disconnect from the virtual world and its distractions.


Take off the money phone
Put an end to flaunting wealth and material possessions.


Take off the car loan
Remove oneself from the burden of financial debt related to a vehicle.


Take off the flex and the white lies
Cease the practice of exaggeration and dishonesty to appear impressive.


Take off the weird-ass jewelry
Eliminate the unconventional and peculiar accessories.


I'ma take ten steps
I will distance myself significantly.


Then I'm takin' off top five
Next, I will no longer consider myself among the best.


Take off them fabricated streams
Remove the artificially generated plays and streams.


And them microwave memes
Also discard the quickly produced and short-lived internet memes.


It's a real world outside (take that shit off)
Recognize that the external reality is genuine and unfiltered.


Take off your idols
Abandon the notion of idolizing others.


Take off the runway
Refrain from conforming to societal standards and expectations.


I take off to Cairo (take that shit off)
I escape to Cairo, symbolizing a departure from the pressures and influence of the modern world.


Take off to Saint-Tropez
Similarly, seek refuge and solace in Saint-Tropez.


Five day stay, take a quarter mil'
During a five-day vacation, spend a significant amount of money.


Hell, if I know (take that shit off)
Expressing uncertainty and indifference regarding certain matters.


Take off the false flag
Remove the deceptive facade.


Take off perception
Discard the biased and subjective interpretations of reality.


Take off the cop with the eye patch (take that shit off)
Eliminate the individual who conceals their true intentions and motives behind a disingenuous persona.


Take off the unloyal
Separate oneself from those who lack loyalty and commitment.


Take off the unsure
Remove any doubts and uncertainties.


Take off decisions I lack (take it off)
Let go of choices that were made without proper consideration or confidence.


Take off the fake deep
Abandon the act of pretending to possess profound insights or understanding.


Take off the fake woke
Cease the pretense of being socially aware and enlightened.


Take off the I'm broke, I care (take it off)
Get rid of the persona that claims to be financially struggling yet deeply cares about societal issues.


Take off the gossip
Refrain from engaging in idle and harmful rumors.


Take off the new logic, that if I'm rich, I'm rare (take it off)
Reject the recently adopted belief that wealth equates to uniqueness and rarity.


Take off the Chanel
Let go of the obsession with high-end luxury brand Chanel.


Take off the Dolce
Similarly, abandon the fixation on Dolce & Gabbana.


Take off the Birkin bag (take it off)
Get rid of the obsession with owning a Birkin bag, symbolizing materialism and status.


Take all that designer bullshit off
Eliminate all the unnecessary and superficial elements associated with designer brands.


And what do you have? (Bitch)
After shedding those materialistic attachments, what remains of your true identity?


Huh, huh, uh, you ugly as fuck
You possess an unsightly character.


(You out of pocket)
Your behavior is inappropriate and disrespectful.


Huh, two ATMs (hah, hah, hah, hah)
You are metaphorically like two ATMs, constantly dispensing disrespectful behavior.


You steppin' or what? (You out of pocket, huh)
Are you intentionally crossing boundaries and disregarding social norms?


Who you think they talk 'bout?
Who do you believe is the topic of discussion among others?


Talk about us (you out of pocket, shoot, shoot, shoot)
Conversations revolve around our inappropriate behavior and actions.


Who you think they copy off? (Brrt, brrt, brrt, brrt)
Who do you believe others imitate and derive inspiration from?


Copy off us (get back in pocket)
They emulate and imitate our mannerisms and style.


The world in a panic
The world is engulfed in chaos and distress.


The women is stranded
Women find themselves abandoned and left helpless.


The men on a run
Men are fleeing and escaping from their responsibilities.


The prophets abandoned
Spiritual leaders and visionaries have been forsaken and ignored.


The Lord take advantage
Religious figures exploit their authority for personal gain.


The market is crashin'
The economic market is experiencing a significant decline and collapse.


The industry wants
The entertainment industry desires and demands


Niggas and bitches to sleep in a box
They want individuals, both men, and women, to remain oblivious and passive.


While they makin' a mockery followin' us
Meanwhile, they are ridiculing and imitating our every move.


This ain't Monopoly
This is not a game of Monopoly.


Watchin' for love
Being cautious and observant in search of genuine affection.


This ain't monogamy
This is not a relationship that is limited to one partner.


Y'all gettin' fucked
You all are being taken advantage of and deceived.


Jumpin' on what the hell is that?
Eagerly participating in and embracing unknown and bizarre practices.


I gotta relax when I feel (huh, facts)
I must find calmness and composure when experiencing certain emotions.


All of my descendants
Future generations that are connected to me.


They come in my sleep and say I am too real (huh, facts)
They visit me in my dreams and proclaim that I embody authenticity and truth.


I'm done with the sensitive takin' it personal
I am no longer interested in engaging with overly sensitive individuals who perceive everything as a personal attack.


Done with the black and the white
I am finished with the dichotomy and categorization of everything as either good or bad, right or wrong.


The wrong and the right
I am no longer concerned with the distinction between incorrect and correct.


You hopin' for change and clericals
You desire transformation and bureaucratic reforms.


I know the feelings that came with burial's cries (bitch)
I am familiar with the emotions associated with mourning and funerals.


You outta pocket, yeah, you outta pocket (this shit hard)
You are crossing boundaries and behaving inappropriately.


You entertain the mediocre, need to stop it (this shit hard)
You engage in and support average and unimpressive things, you should cease doing so.


You entertainin' old friends when they toxic (this shit hard)
You continue to associate with former friends who have a detrimental impact on your well-being.


What's your life like? Bullshit and gossip (this shit hard)
How would you describe your life? Full of nonsense and idle talk.


What the fuck is cancel culture, dawg?
What on earth is this phenomenon known as 'cancel culture,' my friend?


Say what I want about you niggas
I am free to express my opinions and thoughts about all of you.


I'm like Oprah, dawg
I'm comparable to Oprah Winfrey, my friend.


I treat you crackers like I'm Jigga, watch
I handle you white individuals like Jay-Z does, observe closely.


I own it all
I possess complete control and ownership over everything.


Oh, you worried 'bout a critic?
Are you concerned about a critic's opinion?


That ain't protocol (bitch)
That is not the standard procedure that should be followed.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Hykeem Carter, Jahaan Akil Sweet, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, M. Spears, Matthew Samuels, Sam Dew

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@bali7603

CJ never wrote for Kendrick

CJ was never involved in the making of Kendrick’s album

2019: Kendrick’s first “version” of N95 was on his scrapped feature of “vent” with Baby Keem. After scrapping that original verse, he worked on two seperate songs and likely incorporated parts of that feature, Outta Pocket and Take Off. Metadata for Morale sessions have no hint of CJ

2020: Kendrick combines Outta Pocket and Take Off to make Pocket Off, the version of the song with the original, slower beat. It was mixed and mastered on May 5, 2020. Kendrick re-records some lines shortly before recording the MV for it but it’s mostly the same. No hint of CJ

2022: The final beat of N95 is made sometime in late 2021-early 2022. Kendrick starts working on the final version of the song around March 2022. No hint of CJ

The tweet claims in replies that CJ’s demo was from 2019, but that would literally be impossible given when the instrumental was made, sent, and worked on. CJ is a known liar and does this shit very often, don’t be fooled



All comments from YouTube:

@HoodzoneProductions

Because of this man, a lot of people are now ready to deal with their childhood past and the pain they've been trying to run away from. God bless you Kendrick🙏🏾

@leele2579

Egg Zack Leeeeeee

@x-rayvision3802

Lol what? Naw bro it's just a good song

@revilloteoj1934

You know how sick that is that people need a rapper to tell them it's time to deal with their childhood trauma and pain? That speaks to a deeper issue with people 😔

@IamVani_indu

“HE IS NOT YOUR SAVIOR”

@Willy_Wanka

npc

479 More Replies...

@seynpurrp

this rly the album jcole called tragic 💀

@Dosemen

and j cole already apologized lmao shit to funny

@ToDaMaxxx

J Cole also knew he was lying too.

@zombiekilla9872

Cole a punk for that now

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