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.
Pay For It
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you're gonna pay for it
I don't know if I can stop myself
And you're gonna pay for it
Oh, you'll never learn
I touch fire, little burn
This ain't no game, I'm taking all you have
And you're gonna pay for it
It's a heavy load, I stole on a bumpy road
No jacket when I was cold, becoming one with my soul
Stand tall and toe with my foes, these wolves in sheep clothes
No weapon on me, should prosper, nigga, you better watch it
You playin' with fire, burning you slow, hold up
I hear the whispers wishin', it's all cheap voodoo
I keep it cool to keep from going coo-coo
With a cal, aiming at fake smiles and turn them upside down
Came too far for my feet to fail me
Lord, if I'm wrong you can help me now, hold up
Wait a minute, what am I sayin'?
The Devil he busy, tryna get me everyday in every way
I won't let up, I won't shut up
You can't stop me, you won't knock me, ten-four now copy
Live almighty, my declaration been written
In hieroglyphics on top of the highest mountain, I listen
Ain't no game, I'm taking all you have
And you're gonna pay for it
I don't know if I can stop myself
And you're gonna pay for it
I tell 'em all hail King Kendrick, resurrecting my vengeance
Been dissecting your motormouth until I break down the engine
This ain't no warning shot, this a relevant henchman
See my opponent then, cease your existence
Endin' our friendship, baby, I'd rather die alone
Your diaphragm is dietary, what you eatin' on?
Capture your audience with these words, boy
The holy Chapel, the tabernacle
The book of Matthew and Jesus starin' at you, take your turn, boy
See it's going to take a whole lotta ya'll to kill me
See it's going to take a whole tribe of ya'll to kill me
I never die
My pedigree apparently only to idolize
Ahead of me is only my future and idle time
Longevity, I gotta get used to making you mine
You tellin' me I only get used to livin' if fine
You can never live in my shoes, permanently paid from God
When the sun goes down, I scream loud and sleep when I die
But I will never die, my legacy is alive
When the sun goes down, I scream loud and sleep when I die
But I will never die, my legacy is alive
I die to get it off my chest, push words just like weight
I die to eat, tellin' shows on my face
Tragedy turn to triumph, I'm tryin' just to relate
Jumpin' off of them towers, I'm takin' that leap of faith
Playin' at high stakes
Now when I speak, they pupils, they'll dilate
Through speakers'll vibrate
Know you feelin' the vibe, that vine couldn't relate
This next clip is long, a sun of a gun, big numbers
Do the math now, cover the sum
I come from the slums, we come for the funds
Like run it
Under the sun where niggas livin' they life blunted
Countin' the ones, but truthfully nothin' like hundreds
Keep it 100
Roadblock in-front of me, look I'm runnin' through it
Stick and move it, sippin' that Hennessy, this my gutter fluid
Nothin' to it
What we lost we gone make it back
Like it wasn't missin', now listen, you bout to pay for that
Oh, you'll never learn
I touch fire, little burn
This ain't no game, I'm taking all you have
And you're gonna pay for it
The opening lyrics of Kendrick Lamar's "Pay For It" set the tone for the rest of the song: "Ain't no game, I'm taking all you have / And you're gonna pay for it / I don't know if I can stop myself / And you're gonna pay for it." As the song's title suggests, this is a song about demanding what you're owed, and the lines that follow explore the many ways in which that demand can manifest. The verses, which alternate between Lamar and Jay Rock, detail their paths to power and their reluctance to let anyone stand in their way.
Lamar's verse is characterized by his signature confessional style, with lines like "I die to get it off my chest, push words just like weight" and "I come from the slums, we come for the funds / Like run it." Rock's verse, on the other hand, is more aggressive, with lines like "Been dissecting your motormouth until I break down the engine" and "Endin' our friendship, baby, I'd rather die alone." Both rappers emphasize the importance of staying true to oneself in the face of adversity, whether that means being vulnerable or being ruthless.
In the chorus, Lamar repeats, "Oh, you'll never learn / I touch fire, little burn / This ain't no game, I'm taking all you have / And you're gonna pay for it." Here, we see the resolution of the tension that has been building throughout the song: Lamar is taking what he's owed, come what may, and his subjects will have to pay the price. The final lines of the song, "What we lost we gone make it back / Like it wasn't missin', now listen, you bout to pay for that," further emphasize this theme of demanding what is deserved.
Line by Line Meaning
Ain't no game, I'm taking all you have
I am serious about taking everything from you
And you're gonna pay for it
There will be consequences for crossing me
I don't know if I can stop myself
My anger and desire for retribution are consuming me
And you're gonna pay for it
You will face the repercussions of your actions
Oh, you'll never learn
You are too foolish to ever understand
I touch fire, little burn
I have been burned before, but it has made me stronger
This ain't no game, I'm taking all you have
You should take my threats seriously and fear my wrath
It's a heavy load, I stole on a bumpy road
My life has been difficult and hard-fought
No jacket when I was cold, becoming one with my soul
I have had to endure harsh conditions that have forced me to become a stronger person
Stand tall and toe with my foes, these wolves in sheep clothes
I am confident and ready to face my enemies, even if they are deceitful
No weapon on me, should prosper, nigga, you better watch it
No matter what weapons my enemies bring against me, I will not be defeated
You playin' with fire, burning you slow, hold up
You are putting yourself in danger by crossing me
I hear the whispers wishin', it's all cheap voodoo
My enemies are trying to use dark magic to defeat me
I keep it cool to keep from going coo-coo
I remain calm and composed to avoid losing my mind
With a cal, aiming at fake smiles and turn them upside down
I am ready to confront those who pretend to be friendly but are actually my enemies
Came too far for my feet to fail me
I have come too far to give up or be defeated
Lord, if I'm wrong you can help me now, hold up
I turn to a higher power for guidance and support
Wait a minute, what am I sayin'?
I am questioning my own thoughts and impulses
The Devil he busy, tryna get me everyday in every way
My enemies are always trying to bring me down
I won't let up, I won't shut up
I will never give up or back down
You can't stop me, you won't knock me, ten-four now copy
I cannot be stopped or defeated by anyone
Live almighty, my declaration been written
I am powerful and my intentions are clear to all
In hieroglyphics on top of the highest mountain, I listen
I am always searching for the truth and looking for guidance from a higher power
I tell 'em all hail King Kendrick, resurrecting my vengeance
I am powerful and determined, and my enemies should fear me
Been dissecting your motormouth until I break down the engine
I have been studying my enemies and learning how to defeat them
This ain't no warning shot, this a relevant henchman
I am not issuing empty threats, I am a powerful force to be reckoned with
See my opponent then, cease your existence
If you cross me, you will face swift and brutal punishment
Endin' our friendship, baby, I'd rather die alone
If you betray me, I would rather be alone than associate with you
Your diaphragm is dietary, what you eatin' on?
You will not be able to breathe easily if you cross me
Capture your audience with these words, boy
I am a powerful speaker and can captivate my listeners
The holy Chapel, the tabernacle
I am a holy figure and should be respected
The book of Matthew and Jesus starin' at you, take your turn, boy
I am guided by a higher power and will not be defeated
See it's going to take a whole lotta ya'll to kill me
My enemies will need to work together in order to defeat me
See it's going to take a whole tribe of ya'll to kill me
My power and determination cannot be defeated by one person alone
I never die
I am powerful and immortal
My pedigree apparently only to idolize
My ancestry and lineage are important and respected
Ahead of me is only my future and idle time
I am focused on my future and have no time to waste
Longevity, I gotta get used to making you mine
I am determined to succeed and live a long life
You tellin' me I only get used to livin' if fine
I refuse to settle for a mediocre life
You can never live in my shoes, permanently paid from God
My power and success are given to me by a higher power and cannot be duplicated
When the sun goes down, I scream loud and sleep when I die
I am always active and driven, never resting
But I will never die, my legacy is alive
My power and influence will live on forever
I die to get it off my chest, push words just like weight
I am willing to die for my beliefs and will not be silenced
I die to eat, tellin' shows on my face
I am willing to work hard and make sacrifices in order to succeed
Tragedy turn to triumph, I'm tryin' just to relate
I have faced many challenges in my life, but I have always come out on top
Jumpin' off of them towers, I'm takin' that leap of faith
I am willing to take big risks in order to achieve my goals
Playin' at high stakes
I am always taking on challenging and risky ventures
Now when I speak, they pupils, they'll dilate
I am a commanding presence and my listeners are captivated by my words
Through speakers'll vibrate
My power is evident in my voice and my message
Know you feelin' the vibe, that vine couldn't relate
My energy and power cannot be compared to anything else
This next clip is long, a sun of a gun, big numbers
My next venture will be long and difficult, but will bring great success
Do the math now, cover the sum
I have carefully planned and calculated my success
I come from the slums, we come for the funds
I have faced many challenges and have worked hard to achieve my success
Like run it
I am confident and ready to take on any challenge
Under the sun where niggas livin' they life blunted
Many people in my community are struggling and living difficult lives
Countin' the ones, but truthfully nothin' like hundreds
Despite my success, I am still aware of the struggles that many people face
Keep it 100
I am always honest and true to myself
Roadblock in-front of me, look I'm runnin' through it
No challenge or obstacle can stop me from achieving my goals
Stick and move it, sippin' that Hennessy, this my gutter fluid
I am able to navigate difficult situations and stay true to myself
Nothin' to it
I am confident and unafraid
What we lost we gone make it back
Despite setbacks, I am determined to recover and succeed
Like it wasn't missin', now listen, you bout to pay for that
You will face consequences for your actions and you will regret crossing me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnny Reed McKinzie, Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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