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 (née 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 yourself—not anybody else, confirm to yourself that you're the best, period. [...] That's my drive and that's my hunger, I will always have".
In November 2024, Kendrick Lamar released his sixth studio album, GNX, marking his first project after departing from Top Dawg Entertainment and Aftermath Entertainment. The album features collaborations with artists such as SZA, Roddy Ricch, and emerging Los Angeles rappers, and includes production contributions from Jack Antonoff. GNX blends elements reminiscent of his previous works, combining mainstream appeal with complex themes, and introduces new influences like the West Coast club sound. The album's release intensified Lamar's ongoing feud with Drake, particularly with the track "Not Like Us," which became a massive hit and won multiple Grammy awards. Following his performance at the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 2025, GNX returned to the top of the Billboard 200 chart, solidifying Lamar's status as a dominant force in contemporary hip-hop.
Opposites Attract
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people
I'm inspired
So get inspired
And so he said
Why you gotta be so kind hearted
Why you couldn't be a con artist
Why you couldn't, why you couldn't be mischievous
Or just a lil devious the moment that we first started
Why you never ask for nothing, just a lil time
Why you let me use yours 'cause I don't got mines
Why you always lift me up, when I'm completely giving up
Or when niggas holla what's up, you give a dry response
Why you giving me your last knowing you ain't got it
Why you always buy me something when you going shopping
Why you tell me that you love me
Why you always thinking of me when my company rather than going club hopping
Why you treatin' my momma like she your momma too
Why you making promises that you'll forever do
Whatever just to make me happy, wanting us to have a family
These are exactly the reasons why I cheat on you
Sometimes
We hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt usSometimes I, sometimes I feel we share
Nothing in common, it ain't fair
But where do we seem to fall
Where do we seem to fall
Tender love and care, once upon a time
Once upon a time, we was there
And so she said
Why you gotta be so mean to me
Why you don't know what you mean to me
Why you always playing games
Why I feel like you ashamed
Out in public curse me out and make a scenery
Why you got other bitches rolling their eyes at me
My text messages poppin up saying "Hi Daddy"
Why you treat me like I'm nothing
Why you always outta function
I be wanting to go out but you don't ever ask me
Why you slip and say her name when we having sex
Why you always assuming that I still love my ex
Every time we get into it I'm the one that's feeling stupid
You don't need me, you gon' leave me
That's ya favorite threat
Why you never know how it feel to be lonely
Why I feel I'm the last option after ya homies
Why you always gotta know that I will never let you go
Even though you get violent and put your hands on me
Sometimes
We hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Hurt people that love us
Love people that hurt us
Sometimes I, sometimes I feel we share
Nothing in common, it ain't fair
But where do we seem to fall
Where do we seem to fall
Tender love and care, once upon a time
Once upon a time, we was there
In the lyrics of Kendrick Lamar’s song “Opposites Attract,” he explores the complexities of romantic relationships. Lamar points out the confusions and contradictions of love and why they tend to appear in certain relationships. He addresses how people tend to hurt those who love them, love those who hurt them, and why we tend to fall into certain patterns of behavior. He acknowledges the importance of recognizing these cycles and patterns before we can make the necessary change to break them.
The song begins with Lamar admitting the self-destructive aspects of love, where we tend to hurt those who love us and love people who hurt us. He notes that this discrepancy causes people to go through an emotional rollercoaster, and he encourages others to get inspired and make changes in their behavior. In the following lines, Lamar highlights his insecurities, questioning why his significant other always puts his needs first, while he doesn’t have much to offer her in return. At the same time, he recognizes that his partner loves him unconditionally, which often leads them both to take the other for granted.
In the second verse, Lamar switches the focus to his partner, who complains about his behavior. She questions why he has to be so mean to her, why he always plays games, and why he gets angry with her in public. She also wonders why he constantly reminisces about his ex and why he violently puts his hands on her. The whole song concludes with the fact that no matter how much they hurt each other, they are still in love and share a tender love and care that once nurtured their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
We hurt people that love us
We are capable of causing pain and harm to those who love and care for us
Love people that hurt us
We often find ourselves drawn to those who cause us pain and suffering
Hurt people that love us
We may unconsciously act out and hurt those who love us due to personal issues or our own pain and hurt
Love people
Despite the hurt and pain we may experience, we still have the ability to love and care for others
I'm inspired
The artist is feeling inspired and motivated to express their thoughts and feelings about their relationships
So get inspired
The singer is urging others to also seek inspiration and express themselves
And so he said
The singer is transitioning to a different perspective or voice
Why you gotta be so kind hearted
The artist questions why their partner has to be so compassionate and loving, making them vulnerable to harm
Why you couldn't be a con artist
The artist wonders why their partner couldn't be more deceitful and manipulative to protect themselves from harm
Why you couldn't, why you couldn't be mischievous
The artist questions why their partner couldn't be more playful and less serious in their approach to the relationship
Why you never ask for nothing, just a lil time
The singer is questioning why their partner never asks for anything from them except for their time and attention
Why you let me use yours 'cause I don't got mines
The artist wonders why their partner is so generous and willing to share with them even though they don't have much themselves
Why you always lift me up, when I'm completely giving up
The singer is questioning their partner's unwavering support and encouragement even when the singer is feeling hopeless
Or when niggas holla what's up, you give a dry response
The singer is feeling jealous and suspicious of their partner's interactions with other people, including when they give a nonchalant response to others
Why you giving me your last knowing you ain't got it
The singer is questioning their partner's selflessness and willingness to give even when they don't have much to give
Why you always buy me something when you going shopping
The artist is questioning why their partner always buys them gifts and indulges them even when it may not be financially responsible
Why you tell me that you love me
The artist is questioning their partner's expressions of love and affection towards them
Why you always thinking of me when my company rather than going club hopping
The singer is questioning why their partner always wants to spend time with them instead of going out and partying with other people
Why you treatin' my momma like she your momma too
The singer is questioning why their partner is so close to their mother and treats her as if she is their own mother
Why you making promises that you'll forever do
The artist is questioning their partner's promises and commitments to the relationship and their future together
Whatever just to make me happy, wanting us to have a family
The artist is questioning their partner's desire to make them happy and start a family together
These are exactly the reasons why I cheat on you
The artist reveals that these same qualities that they once admired and questioned are now the reasons why they cheat on their partner
Sometimes I, sometimes I feel we share
The singer expresses their doubts and uncertainty about the shared connection and compatibility they have with their partner
Nothing in common, it ain't fair
The artist feels that they have nothing in common with their partner, which is unfair to both parties
But where do we seem to fall
The singer is questioning where their relationship may eventually lead or where it has gone wrong
Tender love and care, once upon a time
The singer reminisces about the love and care that they once shared with their partner
Once upon a time, we was there
The singer confirms that there was a time when their relationship was filled with love, care, and tenderness
And so she said
The artist transitions to a different perspective or voice
Why you gotta be so mean to me
The artist questions why their partner is often cruel and hurtful towards them
Why you don't know what you mean to me
The singer is frustrated and hurt that their partner doesn't seem to understand how much they mean to them
Why you always playing games
The singer is frustrated with their partner's tendency to play games and manipulate them in the relationship
Why I feel like you ashamed
The artist senses that their partner is ashamed of them or their relationship
Out in public curse me out and make a scenery
The artist is hurt and embarrassed by their partner's tendency to curse them out and cause a scene in public
Why you got other bitches rolling their eyes at me
The artist is jealous and frustrated that their partner may be attracting the attention of other women
My text messages poppin up saying "Hi Daddy"
The singer is upset and hurt by the fact that other women are sending inappropriate messages to their partner
Why you treat me like I'm nothing
The artist is upset and hurt by how their partner treats them as if they are unimportant and irrelevant
Why you always outta function
The singer is frustrated that their partner is often absent or unavailable during important events or functions
I be wanting to go out but you don't ever ask me
The singer wishes that their partner would ask them to go out and spend time together more often
Why you slip and say her name when we having sex
The singer is hurt and suspicious that their partner may be thinking or fantasizing about someone else while they are having sex
Why you always assuming that I still love my ex
The artist is upset that their partner may be jealous or suspicious of their past relationships and may not fully trust them
Every time we get into it I'm the one that's feeling stupid
The artist feels that they are often the ones who feel embarrassed or guilty after arguments or fights with their partner
You don't need me, you gon' leave me
The singer is afraid and convinced that their partner may not need them or love them anymore, and may leave them soon
That's ya favorite threat
The singer is familiar with their partner's tendency to threaten or imply that they may leave or end the relationship
Why you never know how it feel to be lonely
The artist is frustrated that their partner may not understand how lonely they sometimes feel in the relationship
Why I feel I'm the last option after ya homies
The artist feels like they are always the last priority or option after their partner's friends and acquaintances
Why you always gotta know that I will never let you go
The artist is frustrated that their partner assumes that they will never leave or end the relationship, despite the issues and problems they may be experiencing
Even though you get violent and put your hands on me
The singer is revealing that their partner may be physically violent and abusive towards them, despite their assurances that they will never leave them
Sometimes I, sometimes I feel we share
The artist expresses their doubts and uncertainty about the shared connection and compatibility they have with their partner
Nothing in common, it ain't fair
The singer feels that they have nothing in common with their partner, which is unfair to both parties
But where do we seem to fall
The singer is questioning where their relationship may eventually lead or where it has gone wrong
Tender love and care, once upon a time
The singer reminisces about the love and care that they once shared with their partner
Once upon a time, we was there
The artist confirms that there was a time when their relationship was filled with love, care, and tenderness
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Kendrick Lamar Duckworth, William T. Brown
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gnarly2165
She says she loves me, she says she loves me
so she clings to me even when I want to be left alone
But she's beautiful
Like sometimes when I have things on my mind, she's the perfect person to listen
and she only gives advice, she says when I give her a cue
She says she loves me
Like when I wake up in the morning
she's sitting on the edge of the bed with a plate of food, wanting to feed me
She says she needs me, she says she loves me
Or like when I'm stepping out of the shower
she's standing there with the towel, wanting to, wanting to dry me off
She says, she says she loves me
So instead of admitting that she has made another mistake
she says, she says she loves me
And I don't know about love
@raybrown1199
Seriously one of his best songs ever. Dude’s musical talent is absolutely absurd in every aspect.
@purepat4017
I keep going back to it..
@Petergcmdy
This is what I been saying he’s a goddamn alien
@surfboarding5058
Vibes pure nostalgia 2010-2013 era
@Dum-e1v
That's the thing, he is so good that this masterpiece doesn't make it as one of his best songs
@officialconch
🚫 no dikriding allowed here.
@AK-qh4yy
"So instead of admitting that she has made another mistake she says, she says she loves me And I don't know about love"
Oh. My God. That hit the spot.
@yungpedro17
Damnnnn that hit the hardest 5 years later rainin and windy hearing it
@fatalmenace3566
Wow, read this n it hit me, no lie my brotha.
@AngelaRose444
Damn this still hits hard.