The Blacker The Berry
#KendrickLamar Lyrics

Everything black, I don't want black
I don't want to be associated only with the negative connotations of blackness

I want everything black, I ain't need black
I want to embrace and uplift black culture, not just the color of my skin

Some white some black, I ain't mean black
My blackness doesn't define me solely, I am a mix of different experiences and identities

Everything black, I don't want black
Reiterating the desire to reject negative stereotypes and embrace black excellence

Six in the morning, fire in the street
Waking up to the reality of violence and unrest in the community

Burn baby burn, that's all I wanna see
Expressing frustration and a desire for justice and change

And sometimes I get off watching you die in vain
Feeling anger and satisfaction when those who perpetuate harm face consequences

It's such a shame they may call me crazy
Society may dismiss or label my frustration as irrational or insane

They may say I suffer from schizophrenia or something but homie you made me
Acknowledging the societal factors that contribute to the anger and identity struggles

Black don't crack my nigga
Black people age gracefully and maintain strength despite adversity

I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015
Acknowledging personal contradictions and conflicts within oneself

Once I finish this, witnesses will convey just what I mean
Through my art and message, people will understand my true intentions and beliefs

Been feeling this way since I was 16, came to my senses
Understanding my identity and experiences as a black person from a young age

You never liked us anyway, fuck your friendship, I meant it
Rejecting false friendships and superficial connections from those who perpetuate racism

I'm African-American, I'm African
Embracing and asserting my cultural heritage and ancestry

I'm black as the moon, heritage of a small village
Celebrating the richness and diversity within black culture

Pardon my residence
Apologizing for my existence and presence in a society that oppresses black people

Came from the bottom of mankind
Rising from the lowest social position in society and resisting oppression

My hair is nappy, my dick is big, my nose is round and wide
Rejecting beauty standards that devalue features associated with being black

You hate me don't you?
Perceiving the hostility and hatred towards black people

You hate my people, your plan is to terminate my culture
Recognizing the systemic efforts to erase and oppress black culture and heritage

You're fuckin' evil I want you to recognize that I'm a proud monkey
Challenging the derogatory terms used against black people and reclaiming pride

You vandalize my perception but can't take style from me
Attempts to undermine and distort black identity and culture will not diminish its influence

And this is more than confession
My expression goes beyond just sharing personal feelings, it is a social critique

I mean I might press the button just so you know my discretion
Considering radical actions to expose the injustice and power dynamics at play

I'm guardin' my feelings, I know that you feel it
Protecting my emotions and maintaining resilience in the face of oppression

You sabotage my community, makin' a killin'
Intentionally undermining and profiting from the destruction of black communities

You made me a killer, emancipation of a real nigga
The oppressive forces and experiences have shaped me into a fighter and a survivor

The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
The more deeply connected to blackness, the greater the strength and resilience

The blacker the berry, the bigger I shoot
Emphasizing the potential for resistance and retaliation from those who face oppression

I said they treat me like a slave, cah' me black
Experiencing discrimination and being treated as inferior due to my blackness

Woi, we feel a whole heap of pain, cah' we black
Expressing the collective pain and suffering endured by black people

And man a say they put me in a chain, cah' we black
Referring to the historical enslavement and continued systemic oppression of black people

Imagine now, big gold chain full of rocks
Contrasting the materialistic displays with the hidden scars and pain carried by black individuals

How you no see the whip, left scars pon' me back
Highlighting the history of physical and emotional abuse endured by black people

But now we have a big whip, parked pon' the block
Showing progress and success in acquiring material possessions but not forgetting the past

All them say we doomed from the start, cah' we black
Exposing the cultural biases and stereotypes that suggest black people are destined for failure

Remember this, every race start from the block, just remember that
Reminding others that every race and community begins from a place of struggle and hardship

When I finish this if you listenin' I'm sure you will agree
Confident that after hearing and understanding my message, people will realize the truth

This plot is bigger than me, it's generational hatred
Recognizing that the issues at hand extend beyond individual experiences and are deeply rooted in systemic racism

It's genocism, it's grimy, little justification
Describing the systematic oppression and discrimination faced by black people without valid reasons

Excuse my French but fuck you, no fuck ya'll
Expressing anger and defiance towards those who perpetuate racism and hatred

That's as blunt as it gets
Being straightforward and unapologetic about expressing frustration and anger

I know you hate me, don't you?
Understanding the deep-seated animosity and prejudice directed towards black people

You hate my people, I can tell because it's threats when I see you
Recognizing the hostility and aggression aimed at black individuals and communities

I can tell because your ways deceitful
Identifying the covert and manipulative tactics employed to oppress black people

Know I can tell because you're in love with the Desert Eagle
Highlighting the obsession with weapons and violence as a means to assert dominance

Thinkin' maliciously, he get a chain then you gone bleed him
Conveying the desire to retaliate against and undermine those who exploit black culture

It's funny how Zulu and Xhosa might go to war
Drawing parallels between tribal conflicts and the internal struggles within the black community

Two tribal armies that want to build and destroy
Reflecting the desire for power and the conflicting forces within black communities

Remind me of these Compton crip gangs that live next door
Drawing a parallel to the violence and division within the community

Beefin' with Piru's, only death settle the score
Highlighting the perpetuation of violence and revenge cycles within the community

So don't matter how much I say I like to preach with the Panthers
Expressing the limitations of personal beliefs and intentions in addressing systemic issues

Or tell Georgia State 'Marcus Garvey got all the answers'
Acknowledging the limitations of individual figures and ideologies in creating lasting change

Or try to celebrate February like it's my B-Day
Recognizing the superficiality of token gestures, such as Black History Month

Or eat watermelon, chicken and Kool-Aid on weekdays
Rejecting racial stereotypes and the trivialization of black culture

Or jump high enough to get Michael Jordan endorsements
Highlighting the limited opportunities available and the reliance on stereotypes for success

Or watch BET cause urban support is important
Implicitly criticizing the lack of diverse representation and true empowerment in media

So why did I weep when Trayvon Martin was in the street?
Expressing genuine emotions and pain at the loss of a young black life

When gang banging make me kill a nigga blacker than me?
Highlighting the destructive nature of violence and how it perpetuates self-harm and harm to the community

Hypocrite!
Acknowledging the contradictions and complexity within oneself and society