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.
Big Shot
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Big shot, hol' up, wait, peanut butter insides (no)
Outside, cocaine white, body look like Gentiles (Gentiles)
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
Big shot, big shot, (hol' on, hol' on), peanut butter insides (hol' on)
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
Serve that work for Kung-Fu Kenny
Got juice, got work, got weight, got plenty
Got them, got her, got more, got Benji (yeah)
Top off gettin' topped-off in the city
Big Top Dawg and I dance on 'em like Diddy
Pop off and I pop back like Fiddy (yeah)
I hit the ceiling and forgot about the floor (yeah)
Brand so big, got my haters on the ropes (yeah)
This be the wave, plus I live on the coast (yeah)
When I touch a bag, young nigga do the most (yeah)
Mmm, woo, and I Wakanda flex
And you know what time it is (yeah)
But don't know what grindin' is
Baby, I care, baby, I swear
Only one real nigga here
Only two real niggas here (yeah)
Big shot, hol' up, wait, peanut butter insides (no)
Outside, cocaine white, body look like Gentiles (Gentiles)
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
Big shot, big shot, (hol' on, hol' on), peanut butter insides (hol' on)
Outside, cocaine white, body look like Gentiles (Gentiles)
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
Big shots (yeah)
Purped up, syrup'd up, nigga, like Pimp C
Flight suit, 'bouta slide down space city
Top down, she down under like Iggy (yeah, it's lit)
Lockjaw when the night-call too litty
Knockoff, get your rocks off, got plenty
Got rocks, got Jay's, got 'Ye, got Lenny (yeah)
I need my engine, she need extensions (yeah)
Don't be the center-attention, just play your position (straight up)
Got my life on a yacht mission 'cause they been a vision (yeah, yeah)
Runnin' through these waves like I'm Moses out the booth
Hop out the trees, whippin' a frog and it leap
Foggy, can't breathe, Vacheron over Philippe (alright)
Out in the street (yeah), chill with the gang, make it sweet
Big shots, yeah (do-do-do-do)
Forget your name like I'm Steve
Big shot, hol' up, wait, peanut butter insides (no)
Outside, cocaine white, body look like Gentiles (Gentiles)
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
Big shot, big shot, (hol' on, hol' on), peanut butter insides (hol' on)
Outside, cocaine white, body look like Gentiles (Gentiles)
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
The lyrics of Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott’s song “Big Shot” are complex and intriguing. The song primarily focuses on the lavish lifestyle of a successful artist and the emotions that come along with the fame. The opening line “Wakanda, welcome” refers to the fictional African nation depicted in the film Black Panther, symbolizing the grandiose nature of the track. The chorus repeats the same lines, emphasizing the emotional state of someone who has achieved grand success and is now living a life of luxury.
The lyrics then dive into the verses that depict the life of a big shot. There are references to the abundance of money, drugs, and women. Kendrick Lamar portrays himself as Kung-Fu Kenny who has plenty of work, juice, and weights, while Travis Scott boasts about his luxurious lifestyle, including his car, the white cocaine on the outside, and his bag of wealth. The song also features lines about forgetting one’s past struggles, ignoring haters, and focusing solely on the life of a celebrated artist.
Overall, the lyrics of "Big Shot" are fascinating as they depict the lifestyle of successful rappers while addressing the emotional toll that fame can take. Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott’s voices merge effortlessly to produce a track that is equally catchy and intriguing.
Line by Line Meaning
Wakanda, welcome
A greeting to the listeners, referencing the fictional African country 'Wakanda' from Black Panther
Big shot, hol' up, wait, peanut butter insides (no)
Pause and listen to the lyrics. The car has peanut butter colored interior that looks expensive
Outside, cocaine white, body look like Gentiles (Gentiles)
The exterior of the car is white and shiny like cocaine. The car also looks like a luxury car that Gentiles or non-Jewish people would drive
Emotional, 'motional, 'motional, 'motional
A repeated line emphasizing the emotional state of some people
Why you emotional? Why you emotional?
Wondering why some people are emotional, asking them to calm down and not get caught up in their feelings
Ah, bitch, you emotional, yeah
Addressing someone in a disrespectful way and calling them out for being emotional
Serve that work for Kung-Fu Kenny
The rapper is serving up some great music for his fans, using the nickname 'Kung-Fu Kenny'
Got juice, got work, got weight, got plenty
The rapper has got a lot of good things going for him, such as talent, hard work, and wealth
Got them, got her, got more, got Benji (yeah)
The rapper has everything he needs, from friends and romantic partners to even more money (Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill)
Top off gettin' topped-off in the city
The rapper is driving with the top of his car off while receiving oral sex in the middle of the city
Big Top Dawg and I dance on 'em like Diddy
The rapper is a top dog in the music industry, comparing himself to Sean 'Diddy' Combs who is a successful music mogul and known for his dance moves
Pop off and I pop back like Fiddy (yeah)
The rapper is quick to respond to any challenges, referencing rapper 50 Cent's (Fiddy) famous comebacks and ability to stay relevant
I hit the ceiling and forgot about the floor (yeah)
The rapper is successful and on top of the world, forgetting his humble beginnings
Brand so big, got my haters on the ropes (yeah)
The rapper's brand is so big that he has his enemies on the defensive, with nothing to say against him
This be the wave, plus I live on the coast (yeah)
The rapper is a part of current music trends and lives near the ocean
When I touch a bag, young nigga do the most (yeah)
The rapper goes all out when he earns money, indulging in luxury and extravagance
Mmm, woo, and I Wakanda flex
The rapper is showing off his wealth and success, referencing Wakanda and its fictional wealth and success in Black Panther
And you know what time it is (yeah)
The listeners are aware of the rapper's success and status
But don't know what grindin' is
Despite the rapper's success, people may not understand the hard work and effort it took to get there
Baby, I care, baby, I swear
The rapper may come off as boastful or aggressive, but he cares about his craft and success
Only one real nigga here
The rapper believes he is the only one who is genuine and authentic in the music industry
Only two real niggas here (yeah)
The rapper is acknowledging that another artist on the track, Travis Scott, is also genuine and authentic in the music industry
Purped up, syrup'd up, nigga, like Pimp C
The rapper is referencing Pimp C, a rapper who died from a drug overdose, and admitting to using drugs like syrup (codeine) in his music and life
Flight suit, 'bouta slide down space city
The rapper is wearing a flight suit and about to slide down a skyscraper in Houston, known as 'Space City'
Top down, she down under like Iggy (yeah, it's lit)
The rapper is driving with the top down, and his female partner is in the car with him, referencing the rapper Iggy Azalea who is from Australia
Lockjaw when the night-call too litty
The rapper is experiencing 'lockjaw,' or a sore jaw, from talking or singing too much while partying at night
Knockoff, get your rocks off, got plenty
The rapper is able to have cheap imitations and counterfeit items, but can still afford the real, high-quality products
Got rocks, got Jay's, got 'Ye, got Lenny (yeah)
The rapper has plenty of money and can afford things like diamonds and shoes from famous brands like Jay Z, Kanye West, and Lenny Kravitz
I need my engine, she need extensions (yeah)
The rapper needs to keep his car running well, and his female partner needs to keep up with the latest fashion trends (hair extensions)
Don't be the center-attention, just play your position (straight up)
Don't draw unnecessary attention to yourself, just focus on what you are good at and what you need to do
Got my life on a yacht mission 'cause they been a vision (yeah, yeah)
The rapper is living the life he envisioned, including sailing in a yacht
Runnin' through these waves like I'm Moses out the booth
The rapper is running through his music career with the same determination and power as Moses parting the waves of the Red Sea in the Bible
Hop out the trees, whippin' a frog and it leap
The rapper is quickly emerging and advancing in the music industry, like a frog leaping out of a tree
Foggy, can't breathe, Vacheron over Philippe (alright)
The rapper is surrounded by fog, feeling overwhelmed or confused, but he is still able to show off his expensive watch (Vacheron Constantin) over another expensive watch (Philippe)
Out in the street (yeah), chill with the gang, make it sweet
The rapper is hanging out with his friends and enjoying life to the fullest
Forget your name like I'm Steve
The rapper is so successful that he may forget your name, referencing the comedian Steve Harvey's mistake of mistakenly announcing the wrong contestant as Miss Universe
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kendrick Lamar, Jacques Webster, Mark Spears, Tim Gomringer, Kevin Gomringer, Brock Korsan, Ronald LaTour
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Lì Márt
on King Kunta
nice
Geneva Andes
on King Kunta
h