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.
Cross Trainers
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got my cross-trainers on, motherfucker, I run shit
All I do is rap, make dough for the dumb shit
The return of that 808 trunk hit
Cash in my palm, I'mma pass the baton, GO!
Cross trainers on my motherfuckin' feet (go!)
Cross trainers on my motherfuckin' feet (go!)
Cross trainers on my motherfuckin' feet
You be on that fuck shit, I'm tryin' to make bucks quick
Don't talk to me if money ain't the subject
93's laced up, we about to run shit
Mibbs right beside me, BeYoung got the blunt lit
Shawn on the cut, Swiff D on the drum kits
Standin' on your table with a bottle and a drunk bitch
Fallin' all over spillin' drinks, tryin' to tongue kiss
Money over hoes, so you know I ain't the one, Miss
Take her home, make her moan, and when I get done: (Switch!)
Pass her off like a basketball
Stay with dimes, I'm like Nash to y'all
My living room look like a casting call
Don't be bringing hoes where (?) are
A sweet talkin' nigga, ask your mom
My nigga, that's your squad?
We treat line-ups like that's Lebron
Push backwards like the bush whackers
We ain't just kush rappers - we max it out like Foot Action
[Chorus]
Nigga hand over fist, bring some cash in this bitch
Y'all niggas picture near puttin' swag in your spliffs
My niggas cop the 7 just to laugh at the 6
Like "nigga, do you know how much ass I'mma get?"
Wrote a plan out, let's dip, we can market and sing
Put that cash in a stash, save that part for the rent
Only way niggas swingin' is to target the fence
That's why everything we're singing hit the target like Prince, man
I'm talkin' vanity and "Can it be?"'s
Stickin' to the strategy, how simple can it be?
Niggas comin' home we gon' put them on the salary
Niggas think they cold 'til we push our shit to Calgary
Yea, you're who-blah and your shoe rot
You're too shy to be Rah Rah, your due ska
You're new job from Calgary to the new spot
Threw that 2pac on, but couldn't ride like we used 'ta
Used up, you're new guy's shoe size
Drew ties, never move pies move lines
She do lines why we shoot rhymes, shoo fly
Don't bother the father, just let me do mine
[Chorus]
It's notorious, peep it
Y'all niggas is Victoria's Secret
Soft as Mom's lingerie
It's a man's world boy, put the pom-poms away
It's only right we got our palms on LA
Cause if Pac was alive, you'd get bombed on today
Bombs bombs away, like 'Bron 'Bron and Wade
We been had next, now it's our time to play, nigga
Your false prophets will never jump in my pockets
You're poppin' your gums and I'm poppin' your optics
Optimus Prime when I'm done
And the topic of music is me
And the logic is usually
You should stop in and grab a degree
In the science of how to emcee
And I'm watchin' the critic critique
When I'm climbing the valleys and peaks
And aligning myself
While I'm riding Orion's belt
In the street and defiling this beat
As a dead bitch that lay at my feet
This is King shit
[Chorus]
The song "Cross Trainers" by Kendrick Lamar talks about his financial success in the rap industry and how he runs the game with ease. He mentions his cross trainers, which are running shoes, as a metaphor for how he moves forward in life, always striving towards his goals. He also talks about the importance of making money and how it's the only thing that matters to him. He dismisses women as mere objects and brags about the luxury items he owns, like a living room that looks like a casting call.
Throughout the song, Kendrick exudes confidence and self-assuredness, likening himself to basketball legend Steve Nash and calling himself a king. He expresses his disdain for false prophets and critics who attempt to bring him down as he climbs his way to the top of the rap game. Kendrick's message is clear: he's here to make money and run the game, ignoring any obstacles in his path.
The chorus of "Cross Trainers" is catchy and emphasizes the idea of constantly moving forward, with cross trainers on his feet and baton in hand. The beat is energetic and fast-paced, adding to the song's message of never slowing down. Overall, "Cross Trainers" is a triumphant anthem about success in the rap industry and the importance of staying focused on one's goals.
Line by Line Meaning
I got my cross-trainers on, motherfucker, I run shit
I'm prepared and ready to dominate and take over everything in my sight
All I do is rap, make dough for the dumb shit
My only line of work is rapping and making money from foolishness
The return of that 808 trunk hit
The revival of the booming 808 bass line in hip-hop music
Cash in my palm, I'mma pass the baton, GO!
I have the money and I'm ready to pass on the success to the next generation
You be on that fuck shit, I'm tryin' to make bucks quick
You're wasting your time doing nonsense while I'm trying to make money fast
Don't talk to me if money ain't the subject
If we're not talking about money, don't even bother speaking to me
93's laced up, we about to run shit
We're ready to take control now, with our sneakers tied tight and ready for action
Mibbs right beside me, BeYoung got the blunt lit
My team mates are supporting me, smoking marijuana beside me
Standin' on your table with a bottle and a drunk bitch
I'm standing on your table, partying with a bottle of alcohol and a drunken girlfriend
Fallin' all over spillin' drinks, tryin' to tongue kiss
We're so drunk and wild that we're spilling drinks and making out with strangers
Money over hoes, so you know I ain't the one, Miss
I value my money more than I value women, so don't even try to pursue me
Take her home, make her moan, and when I get done: (Switch!)
I'll take her home, have sex with her and then move on to the next person
Pass her off like a basketball
I'm treating women like they're objects, passing them off to my friends like they're toys
Stay with dimes, I'm like Nash to y'all
I like to be around the finest women, just like Steve Nash was a great basketball player
My living room look like a casting call
My living room is filled with beautiful women, as if I'm casting for a movie
Don't be bringing hoes where (?) are
Don't bring women to where the artists are blasting loud music
A sweet talkin' nigga, ask your mom
I'm a charming guy, ask your mother and she'll tell you the same thing
My nigga, that's your squad?
Is that really your group of friends? They're not very impressive
We treat line-ups like that's Lebron
We handle situations like we're LeBron James on the basketball court
Push backwards like the bush whackers
We're attacking with such force that it seems like we're pushing backwards
We ain't just kush rappers - we max it out like Foot Action
We're not just people who smoke marijuana and make music, we elevate ourselves and push ourselves to the limit
Nigga hand over fist, bring some cash in this bitch
I'm making money quickly and easily, let's bring some of that success here
Y'all niggas picture near puttin' swag in your spliffs
You all seem like you're trying to be cool with your rolled up marijuana cigarettes
My niggas cop the 7 just to laugh at the 6
My friends bought expensive cars just to mock people who can only afford slightly less expensive cars
Like 'nigga, do you know how much ass I'mma get?'
They're laughing at other people and saying 'do you know how much sex I'll have with this car?'
Wrote a plan out, let's dip, we can market and sing
I have a business plan, let's leave now, and we'll be able to successfully sell our music
Put that cash in a stash, save that part for the rent
Let's put some of that money away for our living expenses
Only way niggas swingin' is to target the fence
We're only willing to fight back if we're being directly attacked
That's why everything we're singing hit the target like Prince, man
That's why everything we do and sing is accurate and sharp like Prince's music
I'm talkin' vanity and 'Can it be?'s
I'm talking about my personal desires and my doubters
Stickin' to the strategy, how simple can it be?
I'm sticking to my plan, which is a simple and easy one
Niggas comin' home we gon' put them on the salary
When our incarcerated friends come home, we'll provide them with a steady source of income
Niggas think they cold 'til we push our shit to Calgary
People underestimate us until we take our music to Calgary and show them what we're capable of
Yea, you're who-blah and your shoe rot
You're unimpressive and your shoes are falling apart
You're too shy to be Rah Rah, your due ska
You're not outgoing enough to be a cheerleader, you're more of a ska fan
You're new job from Calgary to the new spot
Your new job location is moving from Calgary to somewhere else
Threw that 2pac on, but couldn't ride like we used 'ta
You played 2pac's music but you couldn't handle it like we used to be able to
Used up, you're new guy's shoe size
You're worn out and tired, like a brand new shoe that doesn't fit right
Drew ties, never move pies move lines
I'm making connections and building relationships to grow my business, not selling drugs
She do lines why we shoot rhymes, shoo fly
She's doing drugs and we're creating music, mind your own business
Don't bother the father, just let me do mine
Don't get in my way, let me handle my own business
It's notorious, peep it
It's famous and easily noticeable, take a look
Y'all niggas is Victoria's Secret
You guys are soft and delicate like Victoria's Secret clothing
Soft as Mom's lingerie
You're as weak and gentle as a woman's underwear
It's a man's world boy, put the pom-poms away
This is a male-dominated world, stop behaving like a cheerleader
It's only right we got our palms on LA
It's only fair that we are in control of Los Angeles
Cause if Pac was alive, you'd get bombed on today
If Tupac were alive, he would attack you today
Bombs bombs away, like 'Bron 'Bron and Wade
We'll attack with full force, like LeBron James and Dwayne Wade
We been had next, now it's our time to play, nigga
We've been waiting in line, and now it's our turn to succeed
Your false prophets will never jump in my pockets
People who pretend to be my mentors will never be able to control my finances
You're poppin' your gums and I'm poppin' your optics
You're talking nonsense and I'm making you look foolish
Optimus Prime when I'm done
I'm a transformer and I will change your perception of me
And the topic of music is me
When people talk about music, they're talking about me
And the logic is usually
The common sense is usually
You should stop in and grab a degree
You should come and learn from me
In the science of how to emcee
In the art and technique of rapping
And I'm watchin' the critic critique
I'm observing the person who critiques my work
When I'm climbing the valleys and peaks
As I'm experiencing the ups and downs of my career
And aligning myself
And positioning myself
While I'm riding Orion's belt
While I'm taking a journey through the galaxy
In the street and defiling this beat
I'm out in public and ruining this instrumental
As a dead bitch that lay at my feet
As a lifeless woman who's been defeated by me
This is King shit
This is the behavior of royalty
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GABE STEVENSON, UNKNOWN UNKNOWN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fraicheness
Underrated AF! Still slapping in 2023
Black Snow
Clasick 🔥
Ben Drowned
2023 STILL SLAPPIN
Sean O'Neil
Got me doin the Biz Markie dance and shit 💥
usman malik
King Kendrick!
Lawz
IMA PASS THE BATON GO!!
Janaee
Songs so good
JRM Media
9 year's later.
GoodxJ
k.Dot whaddup!!!!!
Matty H
If u know u know