Uptown81
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

Right
Let's get started

Gather ′round hustlas that's if ya still livin′
Listen up, hustlers, if you're still alive and grinding

And get on down with this THC vision
Get involved in this vision fueled by THC (marijuana) inspiration

The last of a dying breed too many whack artists
I represent the dying breed of talented artists amidst a sea of mediocre ones

So tell em Parappa the Rapper nigga rap harder
Tell those other rappers to step up their game and rap with more intensity

Like being garbage some type of disease
Being untalented or mediocre is like a contagious disease

I take em out their misery, make it harder to breathe
I eliminate these mediocre artists from their misery and make it hard for them to succeed

Ain't no problem to me, call me Father MC
It's no issue for me, you can call me the superior MC

Pay homage to a God, bitch fall on your knees
Show respect to a rap god, everyone should bow down

Hood booga wannabe house wife gassed off nini
A hood girl pretending to be sophisticated, deluded and influenced by superficial things

High sadity meanie tryna emulate the TV
An arrogant and mean girl trying to imitate what she sees on TV

But this real, fuck how you feel
But what I represent is real, I don't care about your opinions

Call of Duty mode with these verses, lot of kills
I'm in a mode where my rap verses are like a deadly video game, achieving many kills

First niggas doubted the flow, now how you feel?
The haters initially doubted my rap skills, now how do they feel about my success?

If this was back in the days you'd get a lot of gills
If this was in the past, you would receive a lot of negative criticism

Gimme mines, I really rhyme
Give me what's rightfully mine, I am truly talented

Yup really I′m, one of the illest niggas doin′ it
Yes, I really am one of the most skilled artists in the game

Or these niggas is losin' it, silly minds
Or these other artists are losing their minds, they're foolish

They try to style on a New York nigga
They attempt to show off and overshadow a rapper from New York

Like my flow ain′t cold like a New York winter
As if my rap flow isn't as cold and impactful as a winter in New York

I don't stunt, I regulate
I don't show off, I maintain control and authority

Seen empires separate
I have witnessed great empires falling apart

Best friends kill best friends everyday
Even close friends turn on each other and cause harm on a daily basis

For petty sake not even heavyweight, it′s never good
They fight and harm each other over insignificant matters, which is never a good thing

There's a Rich Porter story in every hood, DZA
Every neighborhood has its own story of betrayal and tragedy, like the Rich Porter incident

No matter how far we go
Regardless of how successful we become

We forever be real, we′ll never fold
We will always remain genuine and never break under pressure

Know my niggas stay down, we all we know
My friends remain loyal, we only rely on each other

We gotta get it so we live it just remember what we do and won't stop
We strive to achieve success, living the lifestyle we choose, and we won't give up

My turbulence put a burden on young herbs
My success and fame have put pressure on inexperienced artists

Once it's crackin′ it′s a chain reaction minus Yung Berg
Once the music scene becomes lively and thriving, it spreads like a chain reaction regardless of any obstacles

I'm on the verge of excellence kill em off with no evidence
I am so close to reaching greatness that I eliminate other artists without leaving any trace of their existence

Take a shot at the Excorcist then X em out with these words
I attack and weaken my adversaries like the Exorcist would with demonic possession, and then defeat them with my powerful lyrics

Panoramic views be tumblin′ out my mind
I have a vast range of thoughts and ideas continuously flowing through my mind

This ain't 1992 bullets tumblin′ out no nines
This is not the era of gang violence like in 1992, where bullets were fired frequently from guns

Big AK's like Alicia Keys abbreviated
Powerful AK-47 rifles are as significant as a shortened version of Alicia Keys' name

And nowadays niggas stand behind em like Clive Davis
In current times, artists support the use of AK-47s just like how Clive Davis supports upcoming musicians

Clyde Drexler, before the hood got dribbled niggas right up on the stretcher
Similar to how Clyde Drexler (a basketball player) evaded defenders, individuals in the neighborhood engage in violent conflict that leads to injuries

An understatement said that K. Lamar was under pressure
It's an understatement to say that I, K. Lamar, was facing immense pressure

Don′t press ya luck when I'm pressed for time
Don't try your luck when I'm in a hurry, because I won't tolerate it

Cause when the press get this verse, their sure to press rewind
When the media gets their hands on this verse, they will definitely hit the rewind button to play it again

The president's prayer can′t save us in my cul-de-sac
Even the president's prayers cannot protect us from the violence and problems of my neighborhood

There′s codeine, crack and cognac enough violence to keep the devil smilin' while we whilin′ on them corners with them ropes and rats
There is an abundance of drug abuse, violence, and chaos in the neighborhood that brings joy to the devil, while we engage in reckless activities on the streets surrounded by danger

Nigga build a trap house, hope his homies don't run his trap
Someone builds an illegal drug house, hoping that his friends don't betray him and reveal his operation to law enforcement

See the Feds and tap out that′s wrestler shit
When encountering law enforcement officers, quickly surrender and give up, just like in professional wrestling

Don't rest your case as a gangsta because you wrestled your bitch
Don't claim to be tough because you had a physical altercation with your partner

We move in silence, like the potato tip when we ridin′
We operate discreetly and quietly, similar to the sound of a potato on the barrel of a gun when we're driving around

And we ride rotten, 2 choppers found dirty sirens
We drive through dangerous areas, armed with illegal firearms, and the police are always chasing after us

You ain't been where I been, I know where I'm goin′
You haven't experienced what I've been through, but I have a clear vision of my future

And life's a bitch, I know that she hoing
Life is difficult and unpredictable, just like a woman who engages in promiscuous behavior

I know what I'm sewing, what I reap
I am aware of what I am planting and what I will eventually harvest

I know that I'm flowing like water from sea or water from creek
I am aware that my rap flow is smooth and continuous, just like water flowing from the sea or a creek

And if I don't speak, I know you ain′t growin
If I don't speak, it means you haven't progressed or evolved

Cause I'm a leader, respect it when you see em
I am a leader, so show respect when you encounter someone like me

Accepted by yo new bitch, yo old bitch and yo BM
I am accepted and respected by your current girlfriend, your ex-girlfriend, and your child's mother

Y′all always on that BS and PS I'm takin all things
You are always involved in useless and petty matters, while I am taking control of everything

I'm takin off first, this G6 is on it′s way
I'm flying away and leaving first, as this private jet (G6) is preparing for takeoff