The chorus interpolates Jay Z’s infamous Roc-A-Fella Records maxim from 2000’s “Get Your Mind Right Mami,” a line that Kendrick previously referenced on “The Heart Part 2”; while Rihanna alludes to ODB’s “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” in verse three.
In the outro, Rihanna references the struggle of staying humble within success, which may be a nod to the first single from this album, “HUMBLE.”
A music video, directed by Dave Meyers, was released on July 28, 2017.
The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 2018 Grammys held on Jan. 28, 2018.
LOYALTY. FEAT. RIHANNA.
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All I want tonight is just get higher (high, high, high)
Girl, you look so good, it's to die for (die for)
Ooh, that pussy good, it's to die for (on fire)
It's a secret society
All we ask is trust
(All we ask is trust)
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Kung Fu Kenny now
My resume is real enough for two millenniums
A better way to make a wave, stop defendin' them
I meditate and moderate all of my wins again
I'm hangin' on the fence again
I'm always on your mind
I put my lyric and my lifeline on the line
And ain't no limit when I might shine, might grind
You rollin' with it at the right time, right now
(Only for the dollar sign)
Bad girl RiRi now
Swerve, swerve, swerve, swerve, deeper now
On your pulse like it's EDM
Gas in the bitch like it's premium
Haul ass on a bitch all in the fast lane
Been a bad bitch way before any cash came
I'm established
Hundred carats on my name
Run the atlas, I'm a natural, I'm alright
I'm a savage, I'm a asshole, I'm a king
Shimmy-yeah, shimmy-yeah, shimmy-yeah, rock (yeah)
You can tell your nigga he can meet me outside (yeah)
You can babysit him when I leave him outside
Ain't no other love like the one I know
I done been down so long lost hope
I done came down so hard I slowed
Honesty forever, all a real nigga want
I said I'm geeked and I'm fired up (fired, fire)
All I want tonight is just get higher (yeah)
(All I want is, all I want is)
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
10-4, no switchin' sides
Feel somethin' wrong
You actin' shifty, you don't ride
With me no more, I need
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Tell me who you loyal to
Is it money? it is fame? Is it weed? Is it drink?
Is it comin' down with the loud pipes and the rain?
Big chillin', only for the power in your name
Tell me who you loyal to
Is it love for the streets when the lights get dark?
Is it unconditional when the 'Rari don't start?
Tell me when your loyalty is comin' from the heart
Tell me who you loyal to
Do it start with your woman or your man? (Mmm)
Do it end with your family and friends? (Mmm)
Or you're loyal to yourself in advance?
I said, tell me who you loyal to
Is it anybody that you would lie for?
Anybody you would slide for?
Anybody you would die for?
That's what God for
I said I'm geeked and I'm fired up (fired, fire)
All I want tonight is just to get high up
(All I want is, all I want is)
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
10-4, no switchin' sides
Feel somethin' wrong
You actin' shifty, you don't ride
With me no more, I need
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
It's so hard to be humble
It's so hard to be
Lord knows is I'm tryin'
Lord knows is I'm dyin', baby
In "LOYALTY.," Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna collaborate to discuss loyalty and trust. The opening lines are about being excited and wanting to feel high, both in terms of the feeling of pleasure and the mental state of happiness. Rihanna sings about the secret society that only asks for trust and loyalty, and how those two things are all they have. Kendrick uses his verse to boast about his accomplishments and how he has achieved them by meditating and moderating his actions. He talks about being on the fence and always on people's minds, putting his lyrics and lifeline on the line. Rihanna then comes in to boast about herself, using the metaphor of driving to talk about how she has been a bad bitch way before she had money. She goes on to say that she is always honest and wants loyalty from others, and the song ends with both artists discussing what loyalty means to them.
Overall, the song is about trust and loyalty, both in relationships and in life in general. Kendrick and Rihanna both want people to understand that the only thing they have is trust and loyalty, and they want others to be honest with them so they can be honest in return. This song is a powerful message about trust, loyalty, and honesty, and it is sure to resonate with many people.
Line by Line Meaning
I said I'm geeked and I'm fired up (fired, fire)
I'm excited and energized about what's going on around me
All I want tonight is just get higher (high, high, high)
I just want to keep feeling good and go to the next level
Girl, you look so good, it's to die for (die for)
You look amazing and I'm completely taken with you
Ooh, that pussy good, it's to die for (on fire)
You're amazing in bed and I can't get enough of you
It's a secret society
All we ask is trust
(All we ask is trust)
All we got is us
We're all in this together and we need to trust each other to make it work
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Being loyal to each other is the most important thing we need to keep going
Kung Fu Kenny now
My resume is real enough for two millenniums
A better way to make a wave, stop defendin' them
I meditate and moderate all of my wins again
I'm hangin' on the fence again
I'm always on your mind
I put my lyric and my lifeline on the line
And ain't no limit when I might shine, might grind
You rollin' with it at the right time, right now
(Only for the dollar sign)
I'm always thinking, always pushing myself. I don't need to defend myself because my work speaks for itself. I always put everything on the line, but I don't do it for money
Bad girl RiRi now
Swerve, swerve, swerve, swerve, deeper now
On your pulse like it's EDM
Gas in the bitch like it's premium
Haul ass on a bitch all in the fast lane
Been a bad bitch way before any cash came
I'm established
Hundred carats on my name
Run the atlas, I'm a natural, I'm alright
I'm confident in who I am and what I've accomplished, and I'm living my life to the fullest
I'm a savage, I'm a asshole, I'm a king
Shimmy-yeah, shimmy-yeah, shimmy-yeah, rock (yeah)
You can tell your nigga he can meet me outside (yeah)
You can babysit him when I leave him outside
Ain't no other love like the one I know
I done been down so long lost hope
I done came down so hard I slowed
Honesty forever, all a real nigga want
I have a lot of flaws, but I'm still confident in myself. I'm not afraid of confrontation and I know what I want in life
10-4, no switchin' sides
Feel somethin' wrong
You actin' shifty, you don't ride
With me no more, I need
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
I'm noticing a change in your behavior, and if you're not going to be loyal to me, we can't be together
Tell me who you loyal to
Is it money? it is fame? Is it weed? Is it drink?
Is it comin' down with the loud pipes and the rain?
Big chillin', only for the power in your name
Tell me who you loyal to
Is it love for the streets when the lights get dark?
Is it unconditional when the 'Rari don't start?
Tell me when your loyalty is comin' from the heart
What is most important to you? Is it material possessions, or is it the relationships you have in your life?
Tell me who you loyal to
Do it start with your woman or your man? (Mmm)
Do it end with your family and friends? (Mmm)
Or you're loyal to yourself in advance?
I said, tell me who you loyal to
Is it anybody that you would lie for?
Anybody you would slide for?
Anybody you would die for?
That's what God for
Where do your loyalties lie? Are they with others or just with yourself?
It's so hard to be humble
It's so hard to be
Lord knows is I'm tryin'
Lord knows is I'm dyin', baby
It's difficult to stay grounded in the midst of success, but I'm doing my best
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
10-4, no switchin' sides
Feel somethin' wrong
You actin' shifty, you don't ride
With me no more, I need
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Loyalty, loyalty, loyalty
Being loyal is everything, and if you're not going to stick with me, we can't be together
I said I'm geeked and I'm fired up (fired, fire)
All I want tonight is just to get high up
(All I want is, all I want is)
I'm still hyped up and I just want to keep enjoying myself
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Anthony Tiffith, Chris Brown, Dacoury Natche, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears, Peter Hernandez, Philip Lawrence, Robyn Fenty, Terrace Martin
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TheManofThings777
Couple of gems i think people missed:
A. In the intro he's blindfolded, playing into the whole loyalty thing with him being surrounded by hoes and not paying attention. That's one form of loyalty.
B. People were sinking in the streets and he made no effort to help. Another form (lack there of) of loyalty.
C. The way it syncs with the intro of pride "Love is gonna get you killed" which, with this video fits pretty well.
There's a lot more, but overall i feel like this video tops Humble in symbolism.
Also, I feel like people just assumed all the video did was depict what the song was saying, If you did that go back and watch, it does deviate.
@aleksslopanovs
Devanshi.V 2015 yo yo yo yo mu lala bbhmm
2014 ooooh ooooh
2013 po it up p.o. it up
2012 ooooooo
2011 nanana c'mon
2010 oh nana
2009 take it take it
2008 bam bam bidi bo bidamdem
2007 ella ella
2006 SOS
2005 hey Mr dj
@RonaldHuckaby
Kendrick the only rapper that don’t have to die for all of his old songs to start trending again
@eneokweobianuju9659
true😂😂
@meoutthispiece9015
That's crazy
@ar-vy1je
but someone had to die - rip drake
@Talkaboutitbihh
lol 😂😂😂😂
@jahmailepalmer3712
Cap ,50 jay z nas busta jada kiss fabolous ect.....
@morganw2656
rihanna and kendrick said lets disappear after this💀
@Xennyballs
They had to hide from Drake😂
@alejandroortega5769
They killed it
@ryanrussell3287
Rip