Born in Compton, California, Lamar began releasing music under the stage name K.Dot while attending high school. He signed with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2005, and co-founded the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy there. Following the 2011 release of his alternative rap debut album Section.80, Lamar secured a joint contract with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. He rose to fame with his gangsta rap-influenced second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D City (2012), which became the longest-charting hip hop studio album in Billboard 200's chart history. In 2015, Lamar scored his first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single, after featuring on the remix of Taylor Swift's "Bad Blood", and released his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly, which infused hip-hop with historical African-American music genres such as jazz, funk, and soul, and became his first of five consecutive number-one albums on the Billboard 200 chart.
Lamar's critical and commercial success continued with his R&B and pop-leaning fourth album Damn (2017), yielding his second US number-one single, "Humble". He curated original songs for the soundtrack of the 2018 film Black Panther, earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the US top-ten single "All the Stars". Lamar's 2022 double album Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers concluded his tenure with TDE and Aftermath. His feud with Drake and subsequent sixth album GNX (2024) spawned the Hot 100 number-ones "Like That" and "Squabble Up", as well as "Not Like Us", which became the most-awarded song in the Grammy Awards history, with five wins, including Song of the Year and Record of the Year.
Lamar has received various accolades, including 22 Grammy Awards (the third-most won by a rapper), a Primetime Emmy Award, a Brit Award, 4 American Music Awards, 7 Billboard Music Awards, 11 MTV Video Music Awards (including 2 Video of the Year wins), and a record 37 BET Hip Hop Awards. Time listed him as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016. Three of his works were included in Rolling Stone's 2020 revision of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Outside of music, Lamar co-founded the creative company PGLang and ventured into film with his longtime creative partner, Dave Free.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born on June 17, 1987, in Compton, California. He is the first child of former gang hustler Kenneth "Kenny" Duckworth and hairdresser Paula Oliver. Both of his parents are African Americans from the South Side of Chicago. When they were teenagers, they relocated to Compton in 1984, due to his father's affiliation with the Gangster Disciples. Lamar was named after singer-songwriter Eddie Kendricks of the Temptations. He was an only child until the age of seven and was described as a loner by his mother. Eventually, his parents had his two younger brothers and younger sister, businesswoman Kayla Sawyer (nรฉe Duckworth). His cousins include basketball player Nick Young and rapper Baby Keem. He considered studying psychology and astronomy in college, but suspended his academic pursuits to focus on his music career.
Tupac Shakur is Lamar's biggest influence, having impacted both his professional and personal lives. One of his earliest childhood memories is watching him and Dr. Dre film the second music video for their single "California Love" with his father at the Compton Swap Meet. Lamar has described himself as an "offspring" of Shakur's artistry and sociopolitical views. Although some publications have regarded him as the Shakur of his generation, he has strived to maintain his individuality.
Lamar maintains a low public profile, and is known to be reserved. He is reluctant to publicly discuss his personal life and generally avoids using social media. He is also decisive when engaging with mainstream media outlets, although journalists have complimented his "Zen-like" calmness and down to earth personality. According to Lamar, he has become "so invested in who I am outside of being famous, sometimes that's all I know. I've always been a person that really didn't dive too headfirst into wanting and needing attention. I mean, we all love attention, but for me, I don't necessarily adore it." His lyrics have been a topic of media scrutiny, leading to both praise and controversy.
Lamar's public perception has also been influenced by the various rap feuds he has been involved with. Although some journalists declared him the winner of his highly publicized conflict with Drake, some felt that his victory was pyrrhic due to the severity of accusations introduced and the spread of online misinformation. Following the release of Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, media outlets have described Lamar as the "modern hip hop messiah". Some critics dislike his "grating" political infusions, causing him to be viewed as having a savior complex. However, Lamar has declared himself to be the "greatest rapper alive" due to his personal connection to hip hop. "I'm not doing it to have a good song, or one good rap, or a good hook, or a good bridge," he explained to Zane Lowe. "I want to keep doing it every time, period. And to do it every time, you have to challenge yourself and you have to confirm to yourselfโnot anybody else, confirm to yourself that you're the best, period. [...] That's my drive and that's my hunger, I will always have".
Murder
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You'd probably see a boat
Floating in my quotes
Fluid like sewer drain, too insane -
Like everything Edgar Allan Poe wrote
Call the Olympics
I can't even spit it - I pole-vault
And your team's like makingLove for the slowpokes
Here we go though - Soul
Got a blunt rolled up
Chocolate Thai got me right
Yeah I Cocoa Puff -
Time to time? Shit, I'm high all day
Like the sun
You could catch me in the sky all day
Money like pre-algebra - multiply all day
My style cayenne pepper so I spit like Dylan
Whenever the mic gone -
Got sick and tired of asking
For shit to write on
Now the only pen that I grip -
Exists in my cerebral cortex
The future is like a quartet
- I fore-see it bitch
You know I'd really hate to
Murder you rappers - (really though)
I wish I never heard of you rappers -
(really though)
Shit's whack man you need more practice -
(really though) so go practice -
Go practice
Shit - my impact is flammable gaseous in
Rumor has it I'm hazardous -
Rap Lazarus, the hip hop Jesus of Nazareth
Polaroid couldn't capture this
I'm candidating like an activist
Back to this
I'm profound, you niggas lost like Angeles
I'm fierce like a wildebeest -
Built like a million-piece puzzle
Put together by hustle, who wanna scuffle?
We laugh to the bank and you
Chuckle - keep the change
My genetic makeup's too different to
Be the same as y'all
Like sending instant messages when I
Aim at y'all - i'm hitting you up
Like graffiti on the wall
Hope you get what you ask for
As for Ab-Soul, I'm a asshole - that's all
Shut them down like Ctrl - Alt - Delete
Capisce?
Mind-boggling, word gargling word-ologist
What you hollerin'?
I got enough spit to form my very own island
My friend wanna take a swim?
Step into the booth
You'll probably need a bathing suit
Skinny-dipping, my thoughts inside a
Pool of sharks do
You hesitate to test the waters
Of a fish tank you first-timer - You need
More than one-liners
Your color scheme is undone
All you have is the primer
Paint pictures like art designers -
Architect when I often draw the tech
Then put your carcass over your
Set when the words eject celibacy flow -
Really don't matter the sex
Just letting you know -
Women could get it quicker
Like chlamydia nigga
Disease-infested, please consider -
The piece of her comprehension
Inside my jurisdiction
And you can't deliver
If you could see my thoughts I
Recollect in the booth -
Self genocide rhyme
Hang yourself from the noose -
To spit iodine from a spectator's view
Punch is off his rocker
Locked in Davy Jones' locker
Un-controllable urge to splurge on the verse
Baptize them with the words
Shall return as the first
Born immaculate birth, dog
Cuz what I'm worth -
Is the earth's first garden and that's
Only when I'm starvin' nigga
Yeahi'ma stop right there
K-Dot, Ab-Soul, Punch murder you rappers
In "Murder," Kendrick Lamar provides a tour of historical assassinations, celebrity deaths, and violent murders as a commentary on the state of society. Lamar starts with Marilyn Monroe, Marvin Gaye, Elvis Presley, and Bob Marley, to ask questions about how and why they died. He also references several African-American leaders who were killed, such as Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., and Huey P. Newton. Lamar's allusions to these figures come with a sense of anger, as he points out the white perpetrators responsible for their deaths.
Throughout the song, Lamar also critiques the traditional educational curriculum and how it frequently ignores these important moments in history. He refers to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Tupac Shakur, and Michael Jackson as examples of people who were killed rather than died naturally. At the end of "Murder," Lamar exhorts all social groups to stop the senseless killings as is rampant in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Yo, if you could see what I was thinking
If you could understand the depth of my thoughts
You'd probably see a boat
You would see the flow and fluidity in my lyrics
Floating in my quotes
Expressed within my poetic lines
Fluid like sewer drain, too insane -
Smooth and crazy in a unique manner
Like everything Edgar Allan Poe wrote
Comparable to the brilliance of Edgar Allan Poe's work
Call the Olympics
Recognize my exceptional skill
I can't even spit it - I pole-vault
I effortlessly surpass expectations
And your team's like making
Love for the slowpokes
Your group's skills are inadequate and slow-paced
Here we go though - Soul
Now, let's begin with Ab-Soul's verse
Got a blunt rolled up
I have a marijuana joint prepared
Chocolate Thai got me right
The strain of marijuana enhances my state of mind
Yeah I Cocoa Puff -
Metaphorically, I am indulging in the effects of weed
Time to time? Shit, I'm high all day
I am constantly under the influence
Like the sun
Just like the sun, constantly present
You could catch me in the sky all day
I am always in a state of elevation
Money like pre-algebra - multiply all day
I constantly increase my wealth
My style cayenne pepper so I spit like Dylan
My rap style is hot and fiery, like Bob Dylan
Whenever the mic gone -
When the microphone is not available
Got sick and tired of asking
I grew weary of requesting
For shit to write on
For something to creatively express myself with
Now the only pen that I grip -
My only instrument of expression is my mind
Exists in my cerebral cortex
It resides within my brain
The future is like a quartet
I can foresee what lies ahead
- I fore-see it bitch
I can see it clearly, addressing someone disrespectfully
You know I'd really hate to
Murder you rappers - (really though)
I have strong disdain for other rappers
I wish I never heard of you rappers -
(really though)
I regret knowing about the existence of these rappers
Shit's whack man you need more practice -
(really though) so go practice -
Your skills are terrible, suggesting they improve through practice
Shit - my impact is flammable gaseous in
A room full of lit matches
My influence is powerful in a room full of talented individuals
Rumor has it I'm hazardous -
Rap Lazarus, the hip hop Jesus of Nazareth
There are rumors about my dangerous skills, comparing myself to a resurrected rap legend
Polaroid couldn't capture this
A Polaroid camera would not do justice in capturing my essence
I'm candidating like an activist
I am promoting my candidacy like a political activist
Back to this
Returning to the topic at hand
I'm profound, you niggas lost like Angeles
I am profound while others are confused and misguided
I'm fierce like a wildebeest -
My intensity is comparable to a wildebeest
Built like a million-piece puzzle
I am intricately composed, like a challenging puzzle
Put together by hustle, who wanna scuffle?
I am a product of hard work and challenge anyone who wants to fight me
We laugh to the bank and you
Chuckle - keep the change
I am successful and make money, whereas others can only laugh with less financial gain
My genetic makeup's too different to
Be the same as y'all
My inherent qualities make me distinct from others
Like sending instant messages when I
Aim at y'all - i'm hitting you up
I attack you with precise and rapid assaults through my lyrics
Like graffiti on the wall
My impact is visible and undeniable, like graffiti
Hope you get what you ask for
I hope you receive the consequences you requested
As for Ab-Soul, I'm a asshole - that's all
Ab-Soul acknowledges his own flaws and personality
Shut them down like Ctrl - Alt - Delete
I overpower and silence my opponents
Capisce?
Do you understand?
Mind-boggling, word gargling word-ologist
I am a master of manipulating words and creating complex thoughts
What you hollerin'?
What are you shouting about?
I got enough spit to form my very own island
I have an abundance of lyrical prowess
My friend wanna take a swim?
Are you willing to immerse yourself in my lyrical world?
Step into the booth
Enter the recording booth
You'll probably need a bathing suit
You will need to protect yourself from my intense flow
Skinny-dipping, my thoughts inside a
Pool of sharks do
Taking risks, expressing bold ideas surrounded by formidable competition
You hesitate to test the waters
Of a fish tank you first-timer - You need
More than one-liners
You are inexperienced and need a more substantial approach than simple one-liners
Your color scheme is undone
Your style and identity are incoherent
All you have is the primer
You only possess the basics
Paint pictures like art designers -
I craft vivid imagery like professional artists
Architect when I often draw the tech
I am skilled at constructing intricate rhymes and wordplay
Then put your carcass over your
Set when the words eject celibacy flow -
I overpower your performance with my lyrical skill and leave you defeated
Really don't matter the sex
Gender is irrelevant
Just letting you know -
Informing you
Women could get it quicker
Women can comprehend my lyrics faster
Like chlamydia nigga
In a similar way to how one contracts a sexually transmitted infection
Disease-infested, please consider -
The piece of her comprehension
My words may infect and challenge your intellectual understanding
Inside my jurisdiction
Within my area of influence
And you can't deliver
You are unable to match my skills
If you could see my thoughts I
Recollect in the booth -
If you could glimpse my creative process while recording
Self genocide rhyme
I am metaphorically killing my competition with my lyrics
Hang yourself from the noose -
You are metaphorically destroying yourself
To spit iodine from a spectator's view
To release powerful and impactful lyrics from the perspective of an observer
Punch is off his rocker
Punch (a rapper) is in a state of frenzy
Locked in Davy Jones' locker
Confined in a state of chaos and imprisonment
Un-controllable urge to splurge on the verse
An overpowering desire to express myself through rap
Baptize them with the words
To cleanse and enlighten others with my lyrics
Shall return as the first
I will come back as a superior version
Born immaculate birth, dog
Symbolizing a rebirth with incredible talents
Cuz what I'm worth -
Because my value and abilities are significant
Is the earth's first garden and that's
Only when I'm starvin' nigga
I have the power to create and influence, but only when I am hungry and motivated
Yeahi'ma stop right there
At this point, I will conclude
K-Dot, Ab-Soul, Punch murder you rappers
Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, and Punch collectively overpower and defeat other rappers
Lyrics ยฉ O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@joshua2400
@@hmmmm5895 uh my friend are you okay? your speaking in hate :" )
remember God wants people to speak in love, patience, to always have forgiveness, to never hold grudges/animosity towards others
and its not bad to listen to music :" )
(its only bad if its teaching you and making you live a life God doesnt want you to live)
i like a band named Chon for instance, they play wonderful guitar instrumentals, theres nothing wrong with listening to them, infact there csn be benefits to listening to them, such as connecting with friends who may like it so you can share the LOVE of Jesus
God did not call us to condemn people like how pharisees did my brother, I love you, and I say this in worry and care that you are letting yourself become dogmatic missing the point that Jesus cares about your relationship Him far more than if you perfectly obeyed every command
God cares about you, and He wants you to Love
@gabepoirot
FOR MY FULL REACTION WATCH HERE: https://youtu.be/fJY3rYLk-cI
@RedCCWLN
Itโs just a joke and god will forgive him
@MAL_YTT
@@RedCCWLN well the "joke" is not funny
@MAL_YTT
@@RedCCWLN and not cool like he is MOCKING JESUS like bro come on
@MAL_YTT
@@RedCCWLN and how do you know God will forgive him?
@sky-i3j
Jesus is powerful that that dude will be punished by god
@prxshafv
Bruhhh Kendrick is down bad all that pain Jesus went through on the cross for our sins and rose from the dead 3 days later. ๐
@MFBUMBUM
BRUHHH HE IS HONORING HIM STUPID
@silusmkhwananzi3121
He's a god, he can overcome it. This is nothing compared to what humans go through everyday.
Jesus will never understand the pain of irreversible consequences, because he can undo death.
I have no idea why people use Jesus as an excuse.
@Brandxwz
โ@@silusmkhwananzi3121when Jesus was on earth, he took on human form and took every brutal beating, roman torture is a different breed : he had chunks of his flesh on his back whipped by a whip that had spikes all over the tip, he had to carry a cross 2 times his weight for over a mile all while getting spit on and humiliated, he had a sharp crown of thorns smashed into his skull, he was nailed on the hands and feet to hang onto a cross, they had mutilated his genitals, his front organs were hanging out while on the cross, his spine was exposed and rubbing on the cross, he was given vinegar with a bitter wine to drink and finally was stabbed in the chest with a spear.