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.
KING KUNTA itemprop=offers
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't want you monkey-mouth motherfuckers sittin' in my throne again
Ayy, ayy, nigga, what's happenin'? K-dot back in the hood, nigga!
I'm mad (he mad!), But I ain't stressin'
True friends
One question
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
Kunta, black man taking no losses, oh yeah
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
When you got the yams (what's the yams?)
The yam is the power that be (that be, that be, that be, that be, that be)
You can smell it when I'm walkin' down the street
(Oh yes, we can, oh yes, we can)
I can dig rappin'
But a rapper with a ghost writer?
What the fuck happened? (Oh no)
I swore I wouldn't tell (tell, tell, tell, tell)
But most of y'all sharing bars
Like you got the bottom bunk in a two-man cell (a two-man cell)
Something's in the water (something's in the water)
And if I gotta brown-nose for some gold
Then I'd rather be a bum than a motherfuckin' baller (oh yeah)
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
King Kunta, black man taking no losses, oh yeah
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him (King Kunta)
When you got the yams (what's the yams?)
The yam brought it out of Richard Pryor (Pryor, Pryor, Pryor, Pryor)
Manipulated Bill Clinton with desires
24/7, 365 days times two, I was contemplatin' gettin' off stage
Just to go back to the hood, see my enemy, and say (oh yeah)
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
King Kunta, black man taking no losses, oh yeah
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
You goat-mouth mammyfucker
I was gonna kill a couple rappers, but they did it to themselves
Everybody's suicidal, they ain't even need my help
This shit is elementary, I'll probably go to jail
If I shoot at your identity and bounce to the left
Stuck a flag in my city, everybody's screamin', "Compton!"
I should probably run for mayor when I'm done, to be honest
And I put that on my momma and my baby boo too
20 million walkin' out the court buildin', woo-woo!
Aw, yeah, fuck the judge
I made it past 25, and there I was
A little nappy-headed nigga with the world behind him
Life ain't shit but a fat vagina
Screamin', "Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay?"
Limo tinted with the gold plates
Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast
From a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin' king (oh yeah)
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
By the time you hear the next pop
The funk shall be within you
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
King Kunta, black man taking no losses, oh yeah
Bitch, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta, everybody wanna cut the legs off him
Funk
Funk, funk
Funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk
We want the funk!
We want the funk!
Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it?
We want the funk!
Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it?
We want the funk!
Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it?
We want the funk!
Do you want the funk?
We want the funk!
Do you want the funk?
We want the funk
Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it?
We want the funk!
I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence
The above lyrics belong to the song 'King Kunta' by Kendrick Lamar, which was released in 2015. The song narrates the story of Kendrick and his rise to fame, where he questions the loyalty of his friends who were not there when he started. It also discusses the cultural significance and influence of black people in America. The song starts with a message that Kendrick has a "bone to pick" with the people who have been trying to take his identity, throne, and success away from him. He asks where they were when he was on his way up, and now that he is on top, everyone wants to cut his legs off.
Kendrick uses the metaphor of yams to describe power and influence. When he asks "What's the yams?", he is referring to the power structures that exist - the people, the systems, the institutions, and how they all contribute to the success of a person. He references other famous black people like Richard Pryor and Bill Clinton, whom he believes were manipulated by the yams or the people in power.
The final lines of the song mention the famous funk musician George Clinton, and his famous song "We Want the Funk." This line serves as a call to action for black people to reclaim their power, their identity, and their place in society. Kendrick is reminding his listeners of their cultural significance and influence and urging them to take it back.
Line by Line Meaning
I got a bone to pick
I have something to say/someone to confront
I don't want you monkey mouth motherfuckers sittin' in my throne again
I don't want insecure people trying to take my place of power again
I'm mad (He mad), but I ain't stressin'
I'm upset but not letting it get to me
True friends, one question
Real friends ask one straightforward question
Bitch where you when I was walkin'?
Where were you when I was struggling?
Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta
I have succeeded and now have the world's attention
Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta
Everyone wants to bring me down
Black man taking no losses
I'm a Black man who refuses to lose
When you got the yams (What's the yams?)
When you have power and influence
The yam is the power that be
The yam represents power and influence
You can smell it when I'm walking down the street
My power and influence is noticeable
I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghost writer?
I can appreciate rapping, but not when it's inauthentic
What the fuck happened? (Oh no) I swore I wouldn't tell
What went wrong? I promised not to say anything
But most of y'all share bars, like you got the bottom bunk in a two man cell
Most of you are unoriginal and sound like prisoners sharing the same small space
Something's in the water (Something's in the water)
Something is changing in the music industry
And if I got a brown nose for some gold then I'd rather be a bum than a motherfuckin' baller
If I have to betray my values to be successful, I'd rather be broke
The yam brought it out of Richard Pryor
Richard Pryor influenced my power
Manipulated Bill Clinton with desires
Manipulated Bill Clinton with his own desires
24/7, 365 days times two
Constantly working
I was contemplatin' gettin' on stage
I was considering performing
Just to go back to the hood see my enemies and say
Just to return to my neighborhood and confront my enemies
I was gonna kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves
I was planning to take out some competition but they took themselves out
Everybody's suicidal they don't even need my help
Everyone's self-destructing without any input from me
This shit is elementary, I'll probably go to jail
This is simple, I might get in trouble for saying it
If I shoot at your identity and bounce to the left
If I criticize you and run away quickly
Stuck a flag in my city, everybody's screamin' "Compton"
I've made a name for myself and everyone knows where I'm from
I should probably run for Mayor when I'm done, to be honest
I would make a good candidate for Mayor once I'm finished with music
Twenty million walkin' out the court buildin', woo woo!
I just won a lot of money
Ah yeah, fuck the judge
I don't care about the authority figure
I made it past 25 and there I was
I survived past a young age despite potential struggles
A little nappy headed nigga with the world behind him
A young Black man with the world supporting him
Life ain't shit but a fat vagina
Life is difficult but it doesn't have to be
Screamin' "Annie are you ok? Annie are you ok?"
Referencing a Michael Jackson song to ask if people are okay
Limo tinted with the gold plates
Golden material on the car windows
Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast
Coming from a difficult background
From a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin' king
From nothing to royalty
We want the funk
We want the good vibes and fun times
Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it
If I provide the fun times, will you enjoy it?
I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence
I remember when you were unsure and using your power incorrectly
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ahmad A. Lewis, David Blake, Johnny Burns, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears, Michael Joe Jackson, Stefan Kendal Gordy
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
សុផល សៀម
មុននិងគួរត្រូវគិត ការនិយាយស្តីអំពីអ្វីមួយត្រូវគិតសិនចាំនិយាយ បើយើងចេះតែនិយាយមិនបានទេ ព្រោះយើងជាថ្នាក់ដឹកនាំប្រទេសជាតិសំខាន់ណាស់ដើម្បីអោយកូនខ្មែររបស់យើងយកគំរូតាម អំពើដែលលោកបានធ្វើឡើងដើម្បីជួយដល់កុមារនិងមនុស្សទាំងឡាយក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជាយើង
Khun Vannsuy
ខំតែស្ដាប់សំឡេងគ្មានបានប្រយោជន៍
Frod Honda
បេីហ៊ុន សែន ថាមិនពិតគឺពិត បេីថាពិតគឺមិនពិត ប្រជាជនខែ្មរដឹងអស់ហេីយគេនៅចាំតែដល់ពេល នាយសែនបានធ្លាប់និយាយថាបេីទប់ស្គាត់រឿងព្រៃឈេីមិនបានទេកាត់ក៏កគាត់ចោល តែឥឡូវក៏កនៅដ៏ដែល ក្បត់ពាក្យខ្លួនឯង
Jacky Chan
រឿអារង្ស៊ី វិញ មានសំរាម ធ្វើខុស រាប់មិនអស់ , តុលាការ ភ្នំពេញ រត់ មុខ អារង្ស៊ី មក ចូលខ្លូន កាត់ ទោស .
OVannsuy khim
យកជាការកំណត់មិនបានទេព្រោះវាជារឿងដែលមិនមានការពិត។រកជឿមិនកើត
Wotu Svr
Yes
Appiu Appiu
តាមពិតមើល៍មិនឃើញទង្វើខ្លួនឯងថាបានធ្វើអ្វីដែលមនុស្ស
ជាតិមិនទទួលយលបាន ចេះតែឯងរៀនមិនចប់ផងនឹងរៀនមិនស្មើរបុគ្គលិកវិទ្យុអាស៊ីសេរីផងតាមពិតឆ្លើយមិនរួចៗ
Hdhd Hdh
នៅក្នុងស្រុកគ្មានទេប្រជាធិបតេយ្យពិត.តែបើទៅអួតនៅអង្កាសហប្រជាជាតិថាខ្លួនកំពង់អនុវត្តប្រជាធិបតេយ្យ។
Jacky Chan
និយាបទៅ ពូក អាខ្មែរ ឧទ្ទាម ប្រឆាំ ក្រុម នេះ ធ្វើខុស , មិនទទួល ខ្លួនឯង , បើ គឹម សុខា ខុសពី និយាយ តាម ក្នុង វីដេអូ នៅ អូស្ត្រាលី ខុស យ៉ាង ធំ . ក្បត់ ស្រុកខ្មែរ ,បាន គេ ចាប់ ចូល ដេកក្នុង គុក .
Tox Seang
ទៅសំភាសសម្តេចចប់😂