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.
Blood
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is it weakness?
You decide
Are we gonna live or die?
So I was takin' a walk the other day
And I seen a woman, a blind woman
Pacin' up and down the sidewalk
She seemed to be a bit frustrated
As if she had dropped somethin' and
Havin' a hard time findin' it
So after watchin' her struggle for a while
I decide to go over and lend a helping hand, you know?
"Hello, ma'am, can I be of any assistance?
It seems to me that you have lost something
I would like to help you find it"
She replied
"Oh yes, you have lost something, you've lost your life"
Is it wickedness?
Uh, Lamar stated his views
Uh, Lamar stated his views
Uh, Lamar stated his views
Uh, Lamar stated his views
Uh, Lamar stated his views on police brutality with that line in the song
Quote "and we hate the popo, wanna kill us in the street fo' sho'"
Oh please, ugh, I don't like it
The lyrics of Kendrick Lamar's song BLOOD. from his 2017 album DAMN. offer a reflection on the complexity of society's moral and ethical pitfalls. The song asks a simple question: "Is it wickedness? Is it weakness?" leaving it up to the listener to decide. Lamar addresses the issue of mortality and how life is not usually in our hands as he narrates a personal experience that raises these moral dilemmas. He describes seeing a blind lady who seems to have lost something and decides to help. However, to his surprise, the woman's response is to say that he has lost something himself, his life. Lamar uses this dialogue as an allegory to highlight the dangers of society's issues.
Lamar then shifts his attention to police brutality, racism, and violence, with "Uh, Lamar stated his views on police brutality with that line in the song." He voices that "we hate the popo, wanna kill us in the street fo' sho'" signifying a vicious cycle of violence against African Americans. The line is likely a reference to the killing of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two black men killed by the police in the summer of 2016. The lyrics challenge the idea of what's righteous and cruel by depicting how wickedness and weakness sometimes seem to blend to deliver devastation to society.
The song BLOOD. is a perfect segue to the song DNA., where the music takes a sharp turn towards the aggressive, pushing Lamar to confront his demons and his past as a black man, which inevitably leads to the questioning and challenging of America's systemic racism. BLOOD. highlights how difficult it is to judge whether something is wrong or right, and how death is a chance we take with every action we make. Regardless of how righteous we think we are, the forces that control our lives might always be one step ahead of us.
Line by Line Meaning
Is it wickedness?
Kendrick Lamar begins the song by posing a question to the listener about the nature of what is about to be discussed. He asks whether it is an act of evil or something else entirely.
Is it weakness?
Alongside the previous question, Kendrick Lamar also suggests that it could be an act of cowardice, which the listener must decide for themselves.
You decide
Ultimately, Kendrick Lamar leaves it up to the listener to interpret the message of the song and make their own judgement on what he is trying to say.
Are we gonna live or die?
This line can be interpreted in many ways, but one possible meaning is that Kendrick Lamar is asking whether society as a whole will survive or self-destruct, depending on how we handle the issues presented in the song.
So I was takin' a walk the other day
Kendrick Lamar sets the scene for a story about an encounter he had with a blind woman while out walking one day.
And I seen a woman, a blind woman
Kendrick Lamar provides further detail about the woman he saw, emphasizing her blindness.
Pacin' up and down the sidewalk
The woman appears to be restless and full of nervous energy as she paces around the sidewalk.
She seemed to be a bit frustrated
Despite her lack of sight, the woman appears agitated and upset, implying that something is troubling her.
As if she had dropped somethin' and
Kendrick Lamar speculates that the woman may have lost something and is struggling to find it due to her blindness.
Havin' a hard time findin' it
This line reinforces the idea that the woman is struggling to locate whatever it is she has lost, and her frustration is growing as a result.
So after watchin' her struggle for a while
Kendrick Lamar describes how he observed the woman for some time before deciding to intervene and offer his help.
I decide to go over and lend a helping hand, you know?
Kendrick Lamar makes the decision to help the woman and approaches her to offer his assistance.
"Hello, ma'am, can I be of any assistance?
Kendrick Lamar politely addresses the woman and asks if there is anything he can do to help her.
It seems to me that you have lost something
Kendrick Lamar gently suggests that he thinks the woman may have lost something and offers to help her find it.
I would like to help you find it"
This line confirms Kendrick Lamar's offer of help to the woman and his genuine desire to aid her in her search.
She replied
The woman responds to Kendrick Lamar's offer of help.
"Oh yes, you have lost something, you've lost your life"
The woman delivers a stunning response to Kendrick Lamar's offer of aid. In a veiled but poignant way, she tells him that he is the one who is lost, not her.
Uh, Lamar stated his views
This line serves as a transition between the previous story about the blind woman and Kendrick Lamar's broader commentary on current affairs.
Uh, Lamar stated his views
This is repeated for emphasis and to underscore the importance of what Kendrick Lamar is about to say.
Uh, Lamar stated his views
Again, this is repeated to drive home the message that the listener should pay attention.
Uh, Lamar stated his views on police brutality with that line in the song
This line provides context for Kendrick Lamar's next lyric, which is a direct quote from this song and speaks to his thoughts on police violence.
Quote "and we hate the popo, wanna kill us in the street fo' sho'"
This is the line from the song referenced in the previous line. Kendrick Lamar is expressing the frustration and anger that many black Americans feel towards law enforcement and the pervasive violence they face at their hands.
Oh please, ugh, I don't like it
This line can be interpreted in a number of ways, but one possible meaning is that Kendrick Lamar is criticizing those who would deny or minimize the reality of police brutality and its impact on black communities. The dismissive tone suggests that he is fed up with such arguments.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Tannenbaum, Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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