He began to gain major recognition in 2010 after his first retail release, Overly Dedicated. The following year, Lamar independently released his first studio album Section.80, which included his debut single, "HiiiPoWeR" which was produced by J. Cole. By that time, he had amassed a large Internet following and collaborated with several artists in the hip-hop industry, including The Game, Snoop Dogg, Busta Rhymes, Lil Wayne and Drake.
Lamar secured a major-label record deal with Aftermath and Interscope Records, in 2012. His major-label debut, good kid, m.A.A.d city, was released in October 2012 to critical success. The record contained the top 40 singles "Swimming Pools (Drank)", "Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe", and "Poetic Justice". It debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and was later certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Lamar won his first Grammy Award for "i", the lead single from his critically acclaimed third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). The album drew on free jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word debuted atop the charts in the U.S. and the UK, and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 58th ceremony. In 2016, Lamar released untitled unmastered., a collection of unreleased demos that originated during the recording sessions for Butterfly.
Lamar has received several accolades throughout his career, including seven Grammy Awards. In early 2013, MTV named Lamar the number one "Hottest MC in the Game", on their annual list. Time named Lamar one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.
Lamar's fourth album, DAMN. was released on April 17, 2017, to widespread critical acclaim. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, earning Lamar his third consecutive number-one album in the United States. The album was supported by the lead single, "Humble.". Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for DAMN.
Lamar's fifth album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers was released on May 13, 2022, his first album in five years.
11 Average Joe
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is to get you, to know me, within sixteen bars
That's the hardest thing
Who is K. Dot? A young nigga from Compton
On the curb writing raps next to a gun shot
On the corners where the gangsters and the killers dwell
The fraudulent tender scars that get unveiled
Cousins in elementary, relatives in high school
With that being said, each one of their rivals
Was aiming something at my head, I needed survival
Got jumped, got jacked, shot at, shot back
And I don't even push a line, I'm just tryna push these rhymes
In the midst of staying neutral and discrete
My momma said you're judged by the company you keep
But what you can consider, that if it goes down
They'll kill you if you kill me, it gets deep nigga
So if you ask what I'm doing
I'm tryna duck the influence of my city that's brewing, real talk, and
This is why they fuck with me (real talk nigga, believe it)
This is why they fuck with me (do what I do, y'know?)
I'm no gangster, no killer, I'm just your average Joe (know that)
But one thing you should consider, I'm the realest you know
I was walking from Centennial
When an unidentified vehicle rolled up, and I was like hol' up
Where you from? "I don't bang"
Where you stay? "Westside", that's a Piru gang to be exact
Well aware they had blue across they hat
Dropped backpack and ran inside of the cul-de-sac
Shots rang out, hoping to God I wasn't wet
Crossed to cross Rosecrans and ran inside of the yet
Chirped the homies on the I-95, they said they already knew
What happened, and meet 'em outside the garage
Never seen that many guns in my life
I was paranoid like a fiend in the night, but needed revenge
Grabbed the nine-ball, opened up the door, then got in
Somebody said fall back, we gon' make these niggas suffer
You my brother like a frat, and that's just to remind you
Thought about that so long I had failed my finals, fuck, but
This is why they fuck with me (I told you nigga)
This is why they fuck with me (you fake nigga)
I'm no gangster, no killer, I'm just your average Joe (you fake)
But one thing you should consider, I'm the realest you know
I don't do black music, I don't do white music
I do everyday life music
Give 'em cuts like a nigga pierced a knife through it
You say you through, but I've been through it, now that's cold
And this is for my county building children
In Hub City on hubcaps, no power-steering
I use perseverance in this mad city
Where the niggas drink Remy and hold semis for cutthroats
Bernie Mac died, it's no joke
Don't ask why if you don't know about these killers and thieves
Seven grams of weed, you smoke that, but I'm high off life
I could fall out the sky like twice
And land in the land of the AKs
And the minivans where the fan never on
Cause it's hotter than a lunatic's underarms in a straitjacket
In other words, we get it cracking, but I keep it cool, you know?
This is why they fuck with me
This is why they fuck with me (real talk)
I'm no gangster, no killer, I'm just your average Joe (come on)
But one thing you should consider, I'm the realest you know
So there you have it
But I'mma leave you with this
An O.G. once told me
A real gangster is either dead or in jail
Or behind the scenes getting real money
I'm gone
The lyrics of Kendrick Lamar's song "Average Joe" paint a vivid picture of the harsh reality of growing up in Compton, California. The song begins with Lamar expressing the difficulty he faces in opening up and revealing his true self within the limited timeframe of a sixteen-bar verse. He then proceeds to describe the challenging environment in which he was raised, surrounded by gangs and violence. Despite being neither a gangster nor a killer, Lamar admits to being caught up in dangerous situations, such as shootings and revenge fantasies. However, he also asserts that he is determined to rise above the negativity of his city and create music that speaks to the everyday struggles of ordinary people.
One of the most striking aspects of "Average Joe" is the way that Lamar weaves autobiographical details into the song's narrative framework. He alludes to his childhood experiences with gang violence, including being jumped, jacked, and shot at. He also references the fact that most of his family members were involved in gangs, and that he had to navigate the treacherous waters of gang rivalries while growing up. Despite these challenges, Lamar makes it clear that he is not a victim, that he chooses to stay neutral and true to his art, even when it means going against the tide of his surroundings.
Overall, "Average Joe" is a powerful statement on the nature of authenticity and artistic integrity in the face of adversity. It is a testament to Lamar's storytelling prowess, as well as his ability to connect with audiences on a deep and emotional level.
Line by Line Meaning
The hardest thing for me to do
Kendrick finds it very difficult
Is to get you, to know me, within sixteen bars
To make people understand him in a short amount of time, through his music
That's the hardest thing
It's not easy for him
Who is K. Dot? A young nigga from Compton
Kendrick Lamar's identity
On the curb writing raps next to a gun shot
He grew up in a dangerous neighborhood that was frequently shot at
On the corners where the gangsters and the killers dwell
Surrounded by dangerous people while pursuing his passion
The fraudulent tender scars that get unveiled
Witnessing the consequences of gang life
Everyone I knew was either crip or piru
All the people he knew were members of gangs
Cousins in elementary, relatives in high school
Even his close family members were involved in gangs
With that being said, each one of their rivals
The gangs were all opposed to each other
Was aiming something at my head, I needed survival
Kendrick was caught in the middle of gang violence and had to stay safe
Got jumped, got jacked, shot at, shot back
He experienced violence in his life
And I don't even push a line, I'm just tryna push these rhymes
He focuses on music rather than gang life
In the midst of staying neutral and discrete
He didn't want to get involved in gang life
My momma said you're judged by the company you keep
The people you associate with reflect on you
But what you can consider, that if it goes down
He's reminding people of the consequences of gang life
They'll kill you if you kill me, it gets deep nigga
Gang violence can escalate quickly
So if you ask what I'm doing
If you ask what he's been up to
I'm tryna duck the influence of my city that's brewing, real talk, and
He's trying to stay away from gang life in his city.
This is why they fuck with me (real talk nigga, believe it)
People like him because he is real and honest
This is why they fuck with me (do what I do, y'know?)
People appreciate his authenticity and respect for himself and others
I'm no gangster, no killer, I'm just your average Joe (know that)
He reiterates that he is not involved in gang life, but is an average person trying to make it
But one thing you should consider, I'm the realest you know
He's proud of his authentic self
I was walking from Centennial
Kendrick is telling a story about a real-life experience
When an unidentified vehicle rolled up, and I was like hol' up
He was alarmed and stopped in his tracks
Where you from? "I don't bang"
The people in the vehicle were asking if he was in a gang
Where you stay? "Westside", that's a Piru gang to be exact
He had to answer carefully to avoid trouble, but his response still had potential to offend the people in the car
Well aware they had blue across they hat
He noticed that the people in the car were wearing blue, a color associated with Crips
Dropped backpack and ran inside of the cul-de-sac
He fled the area to avoid conflict
Shots rang out, hoping to God I wasn't wet
He feared for his life
Crossed to cross Rosecrans and ran inside of the yet
He ran to an establishment in hopes of safety
Chirped the homies on the I-95, they said they already knew
He contacted his friends to tell them what happened
What happened, and meet 'em outside the garage
He arranged to meet his friends in a safe space
Never seen that many guns in my life
He was unnerved by the presence of weapons
I was paranoid like a fiend in the night, but needed revenge
He was traumatized by the experience and wanted to retaliate
Grabbed the nine-ball, opened up the door, then got in
He went to get a weapon and was ready to face his enemies
Somebody said fall back, we gon' make these niggas suffer
His friends didn't want him to engage in more violence
You my brother like a frat, and that's just to remind you
He was reminded of the importance of friendship
Thought about that so long I had failed my finals, fuck, but
He was so preoccupied with the experience that he was unable to focus on school
I don't do black music, I don't do white music
He doesn't define his music by race
I do everyday life music
His music is relatable to anyone's everyday experiences
Give 'em cuts like a nigga pierced a knife through it
His lyrics are sharp and impactful
You say you through, but I've been through it, now that's cold
He's seen a lot and experienced a lot
And this is for my county building children
He's speaking for the youth of his community
In Hub City on hubcaps, no power-steering
His community is not affluent and deals with many issues
I use perseverance in this mad city
He refuses to be defeated by his difficult surroundings
Where the niggas drink Remy and hold semis for cutthroats
His neighborhood is filled with violence and danger
Bernie Mac died, it's no joke
Death is a reality that he's faced with every day
Don't ask why if you don't know about these killers and thieves
He doesn't have patience for ignorance about his experiences
Seven grams of weed, you smoke that, but I'm high off life
His pleasure comes from a different source than drugs
I could fall out the sky like twice
Anything could happen to him at any time
And land in the land of the AKs
He could land in a place where guns are prevalent
And the minivans where the fan never on
He could land in a place without air conditioning
Cause it's hotter than a lunatic's underarms in a straitjacket
It's very hot in some environments he could fall into
In other words, we get it cracking, but I keep it cool, you know?
He stays composed no matter what happens to him.
This is why they fuck with me
This is why people like him
This is why they fuck with me (real talk)
People appreciate his realness
I'm no gangster, no killer, I'm just your average Joe (come on)
He's a regular guy who prioritizes music over violence
But one thing you should consider, I'm the realest you know
He's proud of his authentic self
So there you have it
That's the story he wanted to tell
But I'mma leave you with this
Here's one last thing he wants you to remember
An O.G. once told me
An elder respected in the community told him
A real gangster is either dead or in jail
Living a life of gangsterism rarely ends well
Or behind the scenes getting real money
Those still alive and successful from that life do it behind the scenes
I'm gone
He's leaving the conversation or the stage
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENDRICK DUCKWORTH, KENDRICK LAMAR, WYATT COLEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kingofreels3248
This is where real fans are at for real.
@uncharted7againblackking256
Facts
@newbiekeys44star55
North Soul Studios when she off that blue bill you gon tip her
@Stones1962
you already know
@danielade8915
Cmon g
@dayuum5256
im a huge kendrick fan and i just discovered this song
@redbull456ful
I don't do black music, I don't do white music, I do everyday life music , one of the hardest lyrics ever
@chillbeats1149
Copied Eminem
@willyc7150
Inspired by Eminem’s line “I don’t make black music, I don’t make white music, I make fight music... for high school kids. Put lives at risk when I drive like this..”
@fastfood00120
"I put wives at risk with a knife like this.."