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.
Growing Apart
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Where are you going, we should be growing now
Smoke to it nigga, smoke to it nigga
Where are we going, we should be slowing down
Where are you going, we should be growing now
That's what she said to me
That place I used to call home is just a bed to me
Meanwhile I'm in these streets with everybody, I'm trying to get it
And she know they got me, I watch her feelings watch me
As they staring with the saddest eyes of loneliness
Look each other in the face and barely blink
Tried to make it right but the pen ran out of ink
So if my letters don't reach you, I hope these lyrics in sync
Where are we going, why are we slowing down
Where are you going, we should be growing now
That's what it said to me but the place I call ambition now dead to me
Gone and forgotten, I'm off track like Dale Earnhardt, my liver rotten
Alcoholic tripping, fucking bad bitches and they got bad intentions
Club night, guys and dolls, balling out but I'm about to drop the ball
I'm calling out for help, my engineer called
Told me come to the studio but I wanna tell him nah
Where are we going, why are we slowing down
Where are you going, we should be growing now
That's what he said to but that place we call Heaven is unfair to me
Only 144 can go, seven billion people on planet Earth today
Is there something that I don't know
I know to follow Him rather than follow people or follow vanity
'Cause that means I'm following evil, guess I'm following evil
I should follow cathedral, blessings I need but live like I don't need you
Where are we going, why are we slowing down
Where are you going, we should be growing now
So in conclusion, we all seem to stumble, planning our own demise
Forgetting the big picture and making it wallet size
So to what is important in my life, I apologize
I promise to stay faithful, focused and sanctified
We all get distracted
The question is would you bounce back or bounce backwards?
Would you not know how to act or take action? It's just a part of life
And if your vision's impaired, you probably lose it all tonight
Trying to visualize how to get it right but my vision's so blurry
Trying to slow it down, stay close to the ground but we're always in a hurry
And if I could make this world spin a little slower then I would
Then we could grow a little closer, I think we're getting closer
I think we're getting closer...
The lyrics of Kendrick Lamar’s song Growing Apart explore the themes of growth, ambition, failure, and relationships. The first lines of the song, “Where are we going, why are we slowing down, where are you going, we should be growing now,” allude to a existential crisis of sorts. The singer is questioning why they are not making progress and growing as they should be. This lyric sets the stage for the remainder of the song, which discusses the various ways in which the singer and his partner have failed to grow individually and together.
Throughout the song, the singer highlights different areas of his life where he has failed to grow, such as his ambition, his drinking habits, and his relationship with God. He acknowledges the way that these failures have affected his partner, who is weeping while he is out pursuing his own goals. Despite his best efforts to make things right, he has been unable to, as he laments, “Tried to make it right but the pen ran out of ink.”
Ultimately, the song reflects on the importance of staying focused on what is truly important and not getting distracted by things that do not matter. The singer apologizes for his failures and promises to stay faithful and sanctified, to not follow vanity or evil. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer is trying to slow down and stay grounded, in the hopes of growing closer to the people and things that matter most.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are we going, why are we slowing down
Questioning the lack of growth and progress in their situation
Where are you going, we should be growing now
Urging the other person to strive for growth and progress
That's what she said to me
Recalling a conversation with a past acquaintance
That place I used to call home is just a bed to me
Expressing how their former home has lost its meaning and importance
We don't even sleep, neighbors can hear her weep
Describing a tumultuous and emotional relationship
Meanwhile I'm in these streets with everybody, I'm trying to get it
Focusing on their ambition and goals
And she know they got me, I watch her feelings watch me
Realizing how their actions affect others and how their partner feels about it
As they staring with the saddest eyes of loneliness
Observing the sadness in their partner's eyes due to their choices
Look each other in the face and barely blink
Acknowledging the tension and difficulty in their relationship
Tried to make it right but the pen ran out of ink
Trying to fix things but unable to do so effectively
So if my letters don't reach you, I hope these lyrics in sync
Hoping that their message comes across through their music
That's what it said to me but the place I call ambition now dead to me
Reflecting on how their priorities have shifted and their former dreams are no longer meaningful
Gone and forgotten, I'm off track like Dale Earnhardt, my liver rotten
Feeling lost and physically unhealthy
Alcoholic tripping, fucking bad bitches and they got bad intentions
Engaging in destructive behaviors and relationships
Club night, guys and dolls, balling out but I'm about to drop the ball
Partying and having fun but risking losing everything in the process
I'm calling out for help, my engineer called
Receiving an offer for assistance but hesitant to accept
Told me come to the studio but I wanna tell him nah
Considering refusing help and struggling to accept it
That's what he said to but that place we call Heaven is unfair to me
Acknowledging their frustration with religious beliefs and the concept of afterlife
Only 144 can go, seven billion people on planet Earth today
Questioning the fairness and practicality of religious beliefs
Is there something that I don't know
Expressing confusion and uncertainty
I know to follow Him rather than follow people or follow vanity
Choosing to prioritize religious faith over superficial values
'Cause that means I'm following evil, guess I'm following evil
Recognizing the consequences of not prioritizing faith
I should follow cathedral, blessings I need but live like I don't need you
Realizing the importance of faith and God's blessings but struggling to fully embrace it and live accordingly
So in conclusion, we all seem to stumble, planning our own demise
Reflecting on the self-sabotage and struggles faced by everyone
Forgetting the big picture and making it wallet size
Prioritizing materialistic and short-term goals over long-term growth and fulfillment
So to what is important in my life, I apologize
Acknowledging their mistakes and shortcomings
I promise to stay faithful, focused and sanctified
Committing to prioritize faith and self-improvement
We all get distracted
Recognizing the universal struggle of losing focus and getting sidetracked
The question is would you bounce back or bounce backwards?
Considering the resilience and ability to recover from setbacks
Would you not know how to act or take action? It's just a part of life
Questioning how one reacts to challenges and encouraging taking action to overcome them
And if your vision's impaired, you probably lose it all tonight
Suggesting that lack of clarity and focus can have serious consequences
Trying to visualize how to get it right but my vision's so blurry
Struggling to envision a clear path to success
Trying to slow it down, stay close to the ground but we're always in a hurry
Desiring to take things slow and steady but feeling pressure to move quickly
And if I could make this world spin a little slower then I would
Expressing a desire for a more relaxed and peaceful world
Then we could grow a little closer, I think we're getting closer
Believing that slowing down can lead to personal and communal growth
Lyrics © GREAT SOUTH BAY MUSIC GROUP INC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: KENDRICK LAMAR, DONTE PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@seacell4ever70
Where are we going? Why are we slowing down?
Where are you going? We should be growing now
Smoke to it nigga, smoke to it nigga
That's what she said to me
That place I used to call home is just a bed to me
And we don't even sleep, neighbors can hear her weep
Meanwhile I'm in these streets with everybody
I'm trying to get it and she know they got me, I watch her feelings watch me
As they staring with the saddest eyes of loneliness
Look each other in the face and barely blink
I tried to make it right but the pen ran out of ink
So if my letters don't reach you, I hope these lyrics in sync
That's what it said to me
But that place I call ambition now dead to me
Gone and forgotten, I'm off track like dale earnhardt
My liver rotten, alcoholic tripping
Fucking bad bitches and they got bad intentions
Club night, guys and dolls
Balling out, but I'm bout to drop the ball
I'm calling out for help, my engineer called
Told me come to the studio, I wanna tell him nah
That's what he said to me
But that place we call heaven unfair to me
Only a hundred and forty-four can go
Seven billion people on planet earth today
Is there something that I don't know?
I know to follow him, rather following people
Or follow vanity cause that means I'm following evil
Guess I'm following evil, I should follow cathedral
Blessings I need, but live like I don't need you
So in conclusion
We all seem to stumble, planning our own demise
Forgetting the big picture and making it wallet size
So to what's important in my life, I apologize
I promise to stay faithful, focused and sanctified
We all get distracted
The question is, would you bounce back or bounce backwards?
Would you not know how to act or take action? It's just a part of life
And if your vision's impaired, you probably lose it all tonight
I'm trying to visualize how to get it right
But my vision's so blurry
Trying to slow it down, stay close to the ground
But we're always in a hurry now
And if I could make this world stand a little slower
Then I would, then we could grow a little closer
I think we're getting closer
I think we're getting closer
@yoboygd
Cant Wait For World To Hear This Man . . . . -Dreams-
@Adrian-me9dt
George Dean bro that aged like the finest wine
@jaked8170
Adrian fr
@pluetoe
bro you still kickin?
@javiercortes814
Rejoice, your desire has been granted
@1bangdan121
Nah this comment needs an award 🥇
@cjbball04
I aint gonna lie.. no one is touching him lyrically right now.. A real artist... this is what i call real rap...
@lukelipscomb9248
@Harshpreet Malhari still
@drinksoap6827
This comment aged really well
@neelmoudgil4962
you aint gotta lie