DUCKWORTH.
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

It was always me versus the world
I have always felt like I'm constantly pitted against the world, facing challenges and obstacles.

Until I found it's me versus me
But then I realized that the biggest battle in life is actually against myself, my own fears, doubts, and insecurities.

Why, why, why, why?
I question why things happen the way they do, trying to understand the reasoning behind life's ups and downs.

Why, why, why, why?
Again, I find myself questioning the reasons behind certain events, searching for deeper meaning and purpose.

Just remember what happens on earth stays on earth!
I want to remind everyone that whatever occurs in this world, good or bad, remains confined to our earthly existence and does not carry over beyond it.

We gon' put it in reverse
Now, let's shift our perspective and reverse the negativity, seeking redemption and positive change.

Darling I told you many times
My dear, I have conveyed this message repeatedly in various ways.

And I am telling you once again
And now, I am reiterating it once more, emphasizing its importance and truth.

Just to remind you sweetheart that my—
Just so you remember, my words and actions come from a place of love, care, and authenticity.

Oh Lamar, Hail Mary and marijuana, times is hard
In this challenging world, I seek solace in both spiritual beliefs (Hail Mary) and the temporary relief provided by marijuana.

Pray with the hooligans, shadows all in the dark
I find companionship with my fellow outcasts and misfits, praying together in the midst of darkness and uncertainty.

Fellowship with demons and relatives, I'm a star
I engage in relationships with both negative influences (demons) and my own family, while also recognizing my own potential and stardom.

Life is one funny mothafucka
Life can be absurd and unpredictable, full of unexpected turns and ironic situations.

A true comedian, you gotta love him, you gotta trust him
Life is like a skilled comedian, making us laugh and challenging us to trust its twists and turns, embracing both its humor and uncertainties.

I might be buggin', infomercials and no sleep
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed or restless, affected by late-night infomercials and the inability to find proper rest or peace of mind.

Introverted by my thoughts
I often retreat inward, lost in my own thoughts and reflections, seeking solitude and introspection.

Children listen, it gets deep
I address the younger generation, urging them to pay attention because the message I'm about to share goes beyond surface-level understanding.

See once upon a time inside the Nickerson Garden projects
Let me take you back in time to a specific place, the Nickerson Garden housing projects.

The object was to process and digest poverty's dialect
In that environment, the goal was to cope with and understand the language of poverty, its challenges, and its impact on residents' lives.

Adaptation inevitable, gun violence, crack spot
Living there, one had to adapt and accept the harsh realities of gun violence and the prevalence of crack cocaine.

Federal policies raid buildings and drug professionals
The government's policies often involved conducting raids on buildings and targeting those involved in the drug trade.

Anthony was the oldest of seven
Anthony, a young man, was the eldest sibling among seven children.

Well respected, calm and collected
He was highly regarded by others, known for his composed nature and ability to remain calm in difficult circumstances.

Laughin' and joking made life easier
Humor and playful banter served as coping mechanisms, making life more bearable despite challenging circumstances.

Hard times, momma on crack
The family endured tough times, with Anthony's mother struggling with drug addiction.

A four-year-old telling his nanny he needed her
Even at a young age, Anthony expressed his need for his caretaker, relying on someone he could trust and depend on.

His family history pimpin' and bangin'
Growing up surrounded by relatives involved in the illegal activities of pimping and gang life, he was exposed to a troubled family history.

He was meant to be dangerous
Considering his family background, Anthony's upbringing seemed destined for a life of danger and criminality.

Clocked him a grip and start slangin'
He began making money by selling drugs, accumulating a decent amount and engaging in the street hustle.

Fifteen scrapin' up his jeans with quarter pieces
At the age of fifteen, he had to scrape together whatever loose change he could find, searching his pockets for valuable quarters.

Even got some head from a smoker last weekend
He even had a sexual encounter with a drug addict, highlighting the risky and chaotic nature of his lifestyle.

Dodged a policeman workin' for his big homie
He managed to avoid getting caught by a police officer who was working for a higher-ranked member of his criminal circle.

Small time hustler, graduated to a brick on him
Starting as a low-level hustler, he eventually moved up in the ranks and gained control over a significant quantity of drugs (represented by a 'brick').

Ten thousand dollars out of a project housing
He managed to accumulate a substantial sum of ten thousand dollars while living in public housing projects.

That's on the daily, seen his first mil twenty years old
Earning that amount of money was a regular occurrence for him, and by the age of twenty, he had made his first million dollars.

Had a couple of babies, had a couple of shooters
He became a father to multiple children and surrounded himself with a few close associates who were willing to resort to violence if necessary.

Caught a murder case, fingerprints on the gun
Unfortunately, he found himself implicated in a murder case, with his fingerprints present on the weapon used in the crime.

They assumin', but witnesses couldn't prove it
Despite assumptions and suspicions, witnesses were unable to provide concrete evidence to prove his involvement in the murder.

That was back when he turned his back
During that time, he distanced himself from his criminal activities and tried to leave that life behind.

And they killed his cousin
Tragically, his cousin was murdered, which had a profound impact on him.

He beat the case and went back to hustlin'
After successfully avoiding conviction, he returned to his former lifestyle of hustling and engaging in illegal activities.

Bird shufflin', Anthony rang
Continuing his illicit activities, Anthony accumulated wealth (symbolized by 'bird shufflin') and gained notoriety.

The first in the projects with the two-tone Mustang
He became the first person in the housing projects to own a distinctive two-tone Mustang car, a symbol of his success.

That 5.0 thing, they say 5-0 came
The presence of police (often referred to as '5-0') was indicated when word spread that they noticed his car and began surveilling him.

Circlin' parkin' lots and parking spots
The police continuously patrolled the area, driving around parking lots and monitoring potential suspects.

And hoppin' out while harrasin' the corner blocks
They would frequently exit their vehicles to intimidate and harass individuals on street corners.

Crooked cops told Anthony he should kick it
The corrupt police officers advised Anthony to stop his criminal activities and give up his lifestyle.

He brushed them off and walked back to the Kentucky Fried Chicken
However, he ignored their advice and nonchalantly returned to his usual spot at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

See at this chicken spot
Let me tell you about what happened at this particular fast-food restaurant.

There was a light-skinned nigga that talked a lot
Working at the restaurant was a talkative, light-skinned individual.

With a curly top and a gap in his teeth
This person had curly hair and a noticeable gap between their teeth.

He worked the window, his name was Ducky
Ducky was his name, and he worked as the cashier at the drive-thru window.

He came from the streets the Robert Taylor Homes
Ducky was no stranger to the rough streets, having grown up in the infamous Robert Taylor Homes housing project.

Southside Projects, Chiraq, the Terror Dome
These locations, including the Southside Projects and Chicago's dangerous neighborhoods (often called 'Chiraq'), were known for violence and crime.

Drove to California with a woman on him and 500 dollars
Ducky left his hometown and traveled to California with a female companion, having only 500 dollars to his name.

They had a son hoping that he'd see college
Together, they had a child, hoping that their son would have the opportunity to pursue higher education.

Hustlin' on the side with a nine to five to freak it
To support their dreams and make ends meet, Ducky worked a regular nine-to-five job while also engaging in some illicit hustle on the side.

Cadillac Seville, he'd ride his son around on weekends
Making the most of the little success he achieved, he would drive his son around in a Cadillac Seville on their weekend outings.

Three-piece special with his name on the shirt pocket
Ducky took pride in his job, wearing a three-piece uniform with his name embroidered on the shirt pocket.

'Cross the street from the projects
The Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant was conveniently located across the street from the housing projects.

Anthony planned to rob it
Anthony formulated a plan to rob the fast-food establishment.

Stuck up the place before back in '84
He had previously committed a robbery at that same location in 1984.

That's when affiliation was really eight gears of war
During that time, gang affiliation and rivalry were intense, often escalating into violent conflicts.

So many relatives telling us, selling us devilish works
Both Anthony and Ducky had numerous family members involved in the drug trade, luring them into a dangerous and immoral world.

Killing us crime, intelligent, felonious
The prevalence of crime in their community was detrimental, affecting their lives and fostering a culture of intelligence within criminal activities.

Prevalent proposition with nines
Firearms were readily available and frequently used as instruments of criminal activity.

Ducky was well aware, they robbed the manager
Having knowledge of the previous robbery, Ducky was aware that someone had stolen from the restaurant's manager.

And shot a customer last year
Furthermore, another incident had occurred where a customer was shot inside the restaurant the previous year.

He figured he'd get on these niggas good sides
Ducky believed that by befriending Anthony and his associates, he could gain favor and secure his safety.

Free chicken every time Anthony posted in line
Whenever Anthony visited the restaurant and queued in line, Ducky would give him free chicken as a gesture of their newfound friendship.

Two extra biscuits, Anthony liked him and then let him slide
As a sign of their growing camaraderie, Ducky would occasionally give Anthony two extra biscuits with his meal, and Anthony appreciated this kindness, allowing certain things to go unnoticed or overlooked.

They didn't kill him, in fact it look like
Contrary to expectations, Anthony's group did not harm Ducky; in fact, it seemed as though they spared him.

They're the last to survive
When considering the fate of various individuals associated with their criminal activities, it appears that Ducky and Anthony are the only ones who are still alive.

Pay attention, that one decision changed both of they lives
This overarching story teaches us to be attentive because one pivotal decision, such as sparing Ducky's life, has the power to transform the lives of individuals involved.

One curse at a time, reverse the manifest
By reversing the negative impact one curse or bad choice at a time, we can reshape our destiny and change our circumstances for the better.

And good karma and I'll tell you why
This shift towards positive actions and good karma will result in positive consequences, and I'll explain why.

You take two strangers
Imagine two individuals who are complete strangers to each other.

And put 'em in random predicaments
They are placed in unpredictable situations without any prior knowledge or control over what is happening to them.

Give 'em a soul so they can
Equipped with consciousness and the ability to feel and make choices, they possess a soul.

Make their own choices and live with it
They can exercise their free will and make their own decisions, and then must face the consequences of those choices.

Twenty years later them same strangers
Jump ahead twenty years, and these two individuals, who were once strangers, are now mature adults.

You make 'em meet again
Their paths unexpectedly cross again, connecting them in a way that seems beyond mere coincidence.

Inside recording studios where they reaping their benefits
They happen to meet in recording studios, enjoying the rewards and success that adulthood has brought them.

Then you start reminding them 'bout that chicken incident
At that moment, someone recalls the past chicken incident, triggering memories of their previous encounter at the fast-food restaurant.

Whoever thought the greatest rapper
In this unexpected reunion, who could have imagined that the greatest rapper

Would be from coincidence
Would emerge from such a coincidental series of events and encounters.

Because if Anthony killed Ducky
If Anthony had chosen to harm or kill Ducky during their initial encounter

Top Dawg could be servin' life
Anthony, also known as Top Dawg, could have ended up serving a lifelong prison sentence.

While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight
In that alternate reality, I would have grown up without a father figure and likely met my end in a fatal gunfight.

So I was taking a walk the other day
Recently, I went out for a walk on a regular day.