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.
Beyonce
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Chorus 1]They say hello (hey), hello (hey)
I can daydream about Beyonce all day
Thinking bout the good times 'fore she met Jay
See ya know, they say hello (hey), hello (hey)
I really thought I had a chance to be your man
Till I seen the video with the ring on your hand
It hurt me so
Were you my type? Oh God yes, I was impressed
You was like 'No, no, no', I was like twelve years old
Hoping that one day I could chaperone while you're on the road
You wore braids with a banging body
Looked like you did Pilates, a lot of sit-ups probably
But bump that, I was there from the start
Even when Letoya Luckett and that other doo-doo bucket broke your heart
Hope you didn't cry, cause honestly they were just so-so
They couldn't sing anyway, you deserved to go solo
No disrespect to Kelly and Michelle, I'm just saying
They cool, but you? You something like Wonder Woman
And I just want to hold your hand, bring you to Compton
Gonzales Park, we can build castles in the sand
Eating Hot Cheetos with pickle juice in it
Put that napkin down, you know I'll lick your fingers when you're finished
[Chorus 1]I just bought the Sasha Fierce cd
I gazed at the cover for a whole five minutes till my girlfriend hit me
She's jealous of you B cause I don't love her like I love you
I even make her do the "uh-oh, uh-oh, oh-no-no" just like you do
She tell me I'm obsessed, I tell her we connect
Like Ice Cube way before the Mack 10 feud
She like, you goddamn fool, that girl's rich and you're broke
I said, so, I'm five-hundred mill' away, there's still hope
Anyway, I had feelings way before you got paid
And I didn't laugh when you bust your ass on the stage
And I salute Kanye for taking up for you
I would have stole the award just to prove that I love you
But Jay shoulda did that, I thought he had your bizzack
What happened Mr. Izzo? Hopico with Frederico?
He used to be my favorite till he abandoned my diva
Now I tell everybody Nas had killed him on 'Ether'
[Chorus 2]They say hello (hey), hello (hey)
I can daydream about Beyonce all day
Thinking bout the good times 'fore she met Jay
See ya know, they say hello (hey), hello (hey)
Hopefully I still have a chance
Maybe if I sabotage your man
You never know, hmm
I'ma sneak backstage at a Mary J. Blige concert
With an 'i Love Mary' shirt, then find Jay-Z
And push him into a dancer, hopefully they lock lips
That's when I yell out, Sounwave, hurry up, take the pic
Put it on Bossip the same night, yeah, that sound quite right
Publicity like that? Yep, they'd be sure to fight
Better yet I'ma steal his cell, then call up Affion
He impersonates Jay well, get Beyonce on the line
Then make up some bogus shit
Like you don't the back of my knees right, so this marriage is over with
And the ring that's on my finger, guess what, I'm throwing it (cling)
You heard the sound, so you know I did
Ha-hahhh, that should get him
I should break 'em up like a Kit Kat when I do that, yeah true that
I'ma put the plot in motion, that's for sure
But if I end up with Macy Gray, this plan never worked
Yeeea, man I hope Jay don't be mad at me bout this song
Start-, ay Wizzle start me back from like the first verse
Like right before I come in
Haha, what you say? Nah, you think it'll be hot for real though?
Nigga, you stupid, they probably laughing as hard as you
Nig' got the best wife in the world and shit
Run that back though?
The song "Beyonce" by Kendrick Lamar is a humorous ode to the famous singer, expressing the artist's infatuation and admiration for Beyonce. The verses describe Kendrick's daydreams of being with her, as well as his frustration with her marriage to Jay-Z. He mentions how he had always been a fan, even during her Destiny's Child days and her breakups with former members. Kendrick also mentions buying Beyonce's album Sasha Fierce and staring at the cover for five minutes until his girlfriend calls him out on it. He even comments on the Kanye West and Taylor Swift incident at the MTV Video Music Awards, saying he would have stolen the award to prove his love for Beyonce.
The chorus repeats the phrase "they say hello" which could be interpreted as the greeting Beyonce might give her fans. Kendrick is caught up in his fantasy of being close to Beyonce and believing that he once had a shot at being her man. The chorus goes on to say "Thinking about the good times before she met Jay," which implies that Kendrick believes in some universe, he and Beyonce would have ended up together if she had never met Jay-Z. Overall, Kendrick Lamar's "Beyonce" is a fun and lighthearted tribute to one of the biggest icons in music.
Line by Line Meaning
Man, Beyonce, I'm mad at you, man
I feel disappointed and upset with Beyonce
They say hello (hey), hello (hey)
I can't stop thinking about Beyonce
I can daydream about Beyonce all day
Beyonce occupies my thoughts and imagination constantly
Thinking bout the good times 'fore she met Jay
Reflecting on the moments when Beyonce was not in a relationship with Jay-Z
See ya know, they say hello (hey), hello (hey)
People still talk about Beyonce and admire her
I really thought I had a chance to be your man
I used to believe that there was a possibility of being in a romantic relationship with Beyonce
Till I seen the video with the ring on your hand
My hopes were shattered when I saw you wearing an engagement ring in a video
It hurt me so
It caused me significant emotional pain
I remember you were sixteen on the tv screen with Wyclef
I recall seeing you at the age of sixteen on television performing with Wyclef Jean
Were you my type? Oh God yes, I was impressed
You were definitely my type, and I was deeply impressed by you
You was like 'No, no, no', I was like twelve years old
You were singing 'No, no, no', meanwhile, I was just a twelve-year-old
Hoping that one day I could chaperone while you're on the road
I dreamt of accompanying you as a chaperone while you were traveling for performances
You wore braids with a banging body
You had braided hair and an attractive physique
Looked like you did Pilates, a lot of sit-ups probably
It seemed like you engaged in Pilates and likely did many sit-ups to maintain your figure
But bump that, I was there from the start
Disregarding your appearance and physique, I supported you from the beginning
Even when Letoya Luckett and that other doo-doo bucket broke your heart
Despite Letoya Luckett and another person causing you emotional pain
Hope you didn't cry, cause honestly they were just so-so
I hope you didn't shed tears because those individuals were not particularly remarkable
They couldn't sing anyway, you deserved to go solo
They lacked singing skills, and you rightfully pursued a solo career
No disrespect to Kelly and Michelle, I'm just saying
I don't mean any disrespect towards Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams, but
They cool, but you? You something like Wonder Woman
They are talented, but you possess an extraordinary aura like that of Wonder Woman
And I just want to hold your hand, bring you to Compton
I desire to have the opportunity to hold your hand and introduce you to my hometown of Compton
Gonzales Park, we can build castles in the sand
We can spend time together at Gonzales Park, envisioning a life of happiness and luxury
Eating Hot Cheetos with pickle juice in it
Enjoying a peculiar combination of Hot Cheetos and pickle juice
Put that napkin down, you know I'll lick your fingers when you're finished
You don't have to wipe your fingers with a napkin; I'll gladly lick them clean
I just bought the Sasha Fierce cd
I recently purchased the Sasha Fierce album
I gazed at the cover for a whole five minutes till my girlfriend hit me
I stared at the album cover for an extended period until my girlfriend noticed and reacted
She's jealous of you B cause I don't love her like I love you
My girlfriend is envious of you, Beyonce, because my feelings for you surpass my love for her
I even make her do the 'uh-oh, uh-oh, oh-no-no' just like you do
I even persuade my girlfriend to imitate your signature vocal expression
She tell me I'm obsessed, I tell her we connect
She accuses me of being obsessed, but I insist that we share a deep connection
Like Ice Cube way before the Mack 10 feud
Similar to how Ice Cube and Mack 10 had a falling out, but I still feel connected to you
She like, you goddamn fool, that girl's rich and you're broke
She calls me a fool because Beyonce is wealthy, while I am financially struggling
I said, so, I'm five-hundred mill' away, there's still hope
I respond, saying that even though I'm far from being a millionaire, there is still a chance
Anyway, I had feelings way before you got paid
Regardless, I had feelings for you long before you achieved financial success
And I didn't laugh when you bust your ass on the stage
I didn't find it amusing when you fell on stage and embarrassed yourself
And I salute Kanye for taking up for you
I commend Kanye West for defending you in situations
I would have stole the award just to prove that I love you
I would've gone to the extent of stealing an award to demonstrate my love for you
But Jay shoulda did that, I thought he had your bizzack
I expected Jay-Z to confront those situations on your behalf
What happened Mr. Izzo? Hopico with Frederico?
What happened to Mr. Izzo? Did you become complacent and neglect Beyonce's interests?
He used to be my favorite till he abandoned my diva
You used to be my favorite artist until I felt you abandoned Beyonce
Now I tell everybody Nas had killed him on 'Ether'
Now, I openly express that Nas completely surpassed Jay-Z with his diss track 'Ether'
Hopefully I still have a chance
I'm hopeful that there is still a chance for me
Maybe if I sabotage your man
Perhaps if I undermine your current partner
You never know, hmm
There's always a possibility, you never know for sure
I'ma sneak backstage at a Mary J. Blige concert
I plan to secretly enter the backstage area of a Mary J. Blige concert
With an 'i Love Mary' shirt, then find Jay-Z
Wearing an 'I Love Mary' shirt, I will locate Jay-Z
And push him into a dancer, hopefully they lock lips
I'll forcefully push him towards a dancer, in the hope that they engage in a passionate kiss
That's when I yell out, Sounwave, hurry up, take the pic
At that moment, I will shout for Sounwave, urging him to quickly capture a photograph
Put it on Bossip the same night, yeah, that sound quite right
I would then share the photo on Bossip, an entertainment news website, on the same night. It seems like a fitting plan
Publicity like that? Yep, they'd be sure to fight
Such publicity would definitely cause a conflict between Jay-Z and Beyonce
Better yet I'ma steal his cell, then call up Affion
Even better, I will steal Jay-Z's cell phone and contact Affion Crockett
He impersonates Jay well, get Beyonce on the line
As Affion Crockett impersonates Jay-Z convincingly, I will connect with Beyonce on the call
Then make up some bogus shit
I will fabricate some false information
Like you don't the back of my knees right, so this marriage is over with
Claiming that Beyonce doesn't satisfy a particular desire of mine, so our marriage should end
And the ring that's on my finger, guess what, I'm throwing it (cling)
To emphasize the end of our marriage, I will dramatically throw away the ring that I'm wearing
You heard the sound, so you know I did
The loud noise confirms that I actually followed through with discarding the ring
Ha-hahhh, that should get him
Haha, that should definitely provoke a reaction from him
I should break 'em up like a Kit Kat when I do that, yeah true that
My actions should break their relationship apart as easily as splitting a Kit Kat candy bar
I'ma put the plot in motion, that's for sure
I'm determined to set this plan in motion without a doubt
But if I end up with Macy Gray, this plan never worked
However, if my plan leads me to end up with Macy Gray instead, then it means this plan failed
Yeeea, man I hope Jay don't be mad at me bout this song
Yeah, I really hope Jay-Z doesn't get angry with me about this song
Start-, ay Wizzle start me back from like the first verse
Hey, Wizzle, please play the instrumental from the beginning of the song for me to start over
Like right before I come in
Specifically, play it right before my part begins
Haha, what you say? Nah, you think it'll be hot for real though?
Haha, what do you think? Nah, do you genuinely believe it will be a popular hit?
Nigga, you stupid, they probably laughing as hard as you
You're foolish, they're likely laughing at you just as much
Nig' got the best wife in the world and shit
Jay-Z has the best wife in the world, and you're envious of that
Run that back though?
Can you replay that part?
Contributed by Caden O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@strvnge.
I LOVE THAT KENDRICK MATCHES THE VIBE IN EVERY SONG HE'S IN!!
@FallenJustice
That's what any artist does...
@yuhhh2593
@@sexoffendertrump bro
@poetryismyting8854
@@FallenJustice you not understanding If you think that .
@janikafrank7195
@@poetryismyting8854 😂❤❤❤🎉😂🎉🎉❤❤😂😂❤
@HostileAtHeart
@@sexoffendertrump What's he done to you personally?
You talk a big game.
@gixx
When Kendrick and bey come together, you know indeed that America really has a problem
@michaelsimpson208
INDEED 💯%❗‼️
@TheGreatOne-gw7xh
America IS the problem. And needs to be destroyed.
@bigboss92
and Beyonce is part of that problem