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.
Now or Never
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A'ight
One, two, three, go!
Waking up in a dream
Sleepwalking on another big stage
You never heard peace 'til you hear people scream
Your name in unison, I'm so far away
Look at the newer me, fate pursuing me
I can feel the energy in the air
It feel like I'm supposed to be here
Everywhere I go I'm getting so much love
Fans, the stars, everyone
Sayin' how they can't wait for the LP
And I'm gonna blow, hey believe in me
Feel so good in what you do
Helps somebody else get through
That's why I do the best I can
Because I know how blessed I am
I'm so high I can touch the sky
I know it's my time
And it's now or never
I shine so bright I light the night
And it feels so right, ain't nothing better
A fool if I take it all for granted
A smart man if I keep my feet planted
To the earth 'cause the people that hurt can understand it
You speakin' outlandish
I'ma show you how to make it all work
Another planet, it's a short term goal for me
A record sold for me
It's just more of me in your ear
For you to hear Kendrick persevere
Defenses I feel relentless
Ambition with a clear vision
Takin' off I ain't takin' off these Pistons
I'm takin' off on the inner me, you're distance
Came across me, how much it'a cost me
To get you out my business
I said a planet is a short term goal, no sky is the limit
I'm past that, now pass that
Award, not one but four
Times two plus yours
I see myself performing there, (K.dot)
Sold out shows where the room is packed
Sitting at the Grammy's winning five awards
See myself on big billboards
Traveling around the world with endorsement deals
Can't imagine how it feels
That's why I'm smiling everyday
Because my dream ain't far away
I'm so high I can touch the sky
I know it's my time
And it's now or never
I shine so bright I light the night
And it feels so right, ain't nothing better
You looking at me and you tell me I'm blessed
Calculated my steps, my heart, my breath
Breathe in lungs of a victory and vividly
You see me when at my best, my worst
This verse dedicated to the days that I slept
With a curse research my paid dues I'm reimbursed
I burst in the crowd with a voice and a crown
I'm a King on the prowl and I see mama smile
And I vow on the tape that I'll never break
You can break bread with me now
We can all take a bow on the edge of the pedestal
Then scream out loud that we made it off the avenue
And walked that mile
In the darkness I often sit back
And get lost in the rap that I wrote
When you told me that it spoke to your soul
I was talking to you
I was walking it through every ghetto
Tell success hello, we here
And I'm so happy I cry
'Cause I can't believe
All the things I ever wanted
Are finally happening for me
And it's so surreal
That I almost feel
That any minute I can wake up
From this fantasy
When you pray so hard
And you've come so far
And you know that it's the time for you to lift your bar
And I'm gonna do it, watch me!
I'm so high I can touch the sky
I know it's my time
And it's now or never
I shine so bright I light the night
And it feels so right, ain't nothing better
I'm so high I can touch the sky
I know it's my time
And it's now or never
I shine so bright I light the night
And it feels so right, ain't nothing better
The lyrics of Kendrick Lamar's "Now or Never" are all about his pursuit of success and the difficulties he encountered along the way. In the opening lines, he describes waking up in a dream and feeling like he's sleepwalking through life, always performing on big stages but feeling so far away from the person he used to be. Despite these challenges, Kendrick Lamar remains confident that he's on the right path and that he's meant to be here.
Along the way, Kendrick has encountered plenty of love and support from fans, other artists, and even stars. People are excited to see what he will do next and are eagerly anticipating his upcoming album. Kendrick acknowledges that he's been blessed and recognizes the importance of doing the best he can to help others. He also recognizes that he can't take anything for granted and must remain focused and grounded.
Despite the obstacles he's faced, Kendrick is determined to reach his goals and is prepared to work as hard as it takes to make them a reality. He sees himself performing to sold-out crowds, winning awards, and traveling the world with lucrative endorsement deals. His dreams are becoming reality, and he's overjoyed that he's finally made it this far. Ultimately, the song is a celebration of hard work and perseverance in the pursuit of one's dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
Waking up in a dream
Starting to realize his aspirations have become reality
Sleepwalking on another big stage
Feels like he is living in a dream
You never heard peace 'til you hear people scream
The joy and energy of the crowd silences his worries
Your name in unison, I'm so far away
Feels like he is experiencing something bigger than himself
From the place I used to be, struggling usually
Reflecting on how far he has come from his past struggles
Look at the newer me, fate pursuing me
Recognizing his growth and believing in destiny
I can feel the energy in the air
The electricity of the moment is palpable
Everywhere I go I'm getting so much love
Feeling appreciated by fans and colleagues
Fans, the stars, everyone
Receiving adoration from people at all levels of fame
Sayin' how they can't wait for the LP
Anticipation for his next album is high
And I'm gonna blow, hey believe in me
Confident in his abilities and the support of his fans
Feel so good in what you do
Loving his craft and the positive impact it has
Helps somebody else get through
Acknowledging the motivational impact his art can have
That's why I do the best I can
Motivated by his fans and personal fulfillment
Because I know how blessed I am
Recognizing his good fortune and opportunities
A fool if I take it all for granted
Acknowledging the importance of staying humble
A smart man if I keep my feet planted
Being grounded is wise and helps maintain authenticity
To the earth 'cause the people that hurt can understand it
Staying relatable to those who may not share his same experiences
You speakin' outlandish
Calling out those who have unrealistic expectations
I'ma show you how to make it all work
Confident in his ability to succeed despite obstacles
Another planet, it's a short term goal for me
Having loftier aspirations beyond conventional success
A record sold for me
Viewing record sales as merely a step towards greater success
It's just more of me in your ear
Believing that his music has a positive influence on listeners
For you to hear Kendrick persevere
Using his experiences to inspire others to persevere
Defenses I feel relentless
Unfazed by obstacles and challenges
Ambition with a clear vision
Striving towards a specific goal with determination
Takin' off I ain't takin' off these Pistons
Continuing to work hard even when success is achieved
I'm takin' off on the inner me, you're distance
Growth and progress are inner and personal achievements
Came across me, how much it'a cost me
Gaining success has required significant effort and sacrifice
To get you out my business
Determined to succeed regardless of naysayers or detractors
I said a planet is a short term goal, no sky is the limit
Believing that there are endless opportunities and possibilities for personal growth and success
I'm past that, now pass that
Moving beyond conventional goals and expectations
Award, not one but four
Already having achieved significant recognition and success
Times two plus yours
Believing that even greater success is yet to come
I see myself performing there, (K.dot)
Envisioning future success and achievement
Sold out shows where the room is packed
Envisioning success and popularity
Sitting at the Grammy's winning five awards
Fantasizing about achieving the highest honors in his field
See myself on big billboards
Envisioning his name and face on prominent advertising
Traveling around the world with endorsement deals
Anticipating worldwide success and lucrative partnerships
Can't imagine how it feels
Underscoring the magnitude of the success he envisions
That's why I'm smiling everyday
Anticipating future success and fulfillment
Because my dream ain't far away
Believing that his aspirations are within reach
You looking at me and you tell me I'm blessed
Others recognizing and appreciating his good fortune
Calculated my steps, my heart, my breath
Acknowledging the hard work and dedication required for success
Breathe in lungs of a victory and vividly
Feeling triumphant and accomplished
You see me when at my best, my worst
Recognizing that success is not achieved in a vacuum
This verse dedicated to the days that I slept
Paying homage to the hard work and struggles that paved the way for success
With a curse research my paid dues I'm reimbursed
Viewing hardships as a necessary investment for success
I burst in the crowd with a voice and a crown
Taking control of his destiny and recognizing his power
I'm a King on the prowl and I see mama smile
Achieving success and making loved ones proud
And I vow on the tape that I'll never break
Committed to staying true to himself and his vision
You can break bread with me now
Inviting others to share in his success and accomplishments
We can all take a bow on the edge of the pedestal
Sharing success with those who helped and supported him
Then scream out loud that we made it off the avenue
Celebrating the journey and the obstacles overcome
And walked that mile
Reflecting on the hard work and determination required for success
In the darkness I often sit back
Reflecting on the journey and its impact
And get lost in the rap that I wrote
Finding personal fulfillment in his craft and journey
When you told me that it spoke to your soul
Feeling gratified by the impact of his music on others
I was talking to you
Using his music as a means of connection and communication
I was walking it through every ghetto
Using his experiences to inspire and motivate others
Tell success hello, we here
Celebrating his achievements and success
And I'm so happy I cry
Grateful and overwhelmed by his success
'Cause I can't believe
Recognizing the magnitude of his success
All the things I ever wanted
Realizing that his hard work and aspirations paid off
Are finally happening for me
Celebrating the realization of his dreams and aspirations
And it's so surreal
Understandably shocked by his success
That I almost feel
Pinning his success as a dream or fantasy
That any minute I can wake up
Worried that his success is only temporary
From this fantasy
Acknowledging the unbelievable nature of his success
When you pray so hard
Reflecting on his journey and hard work
And you've come so far
Recognizing the progress he has made towards achieving his goals
And you know that it's the time for you to lift your bar
Motivated to continue pushing towards greater success and achievement
And I'm gonna do it, watch me!
Confident in his ability to achieve his goals and chart his own path
I'm so high I can touch the sky
Feeling on top of the world
And it's now or never
Emphasizing the importance of seizing the moment
I shine so bright I light the night
Celebrating his success and the brightness it brings
And it feels so right, ain't nothing better
Feeling fulfilled and satisfied with his success
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Matthew Kahane, Jazmine Sullivan, Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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