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.
X
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody on they way (hol' up)
I wore the crown all day (hol' up)
Somebody can't relate (Black Panther) (hol' up)
Stay down, with no faking
Go up, top-down
I've been racing (go up)
She wild and dangerous (go up)
Yeah!
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (wait)
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet?
I live on ten (wait)
But are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (hol' up)
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck-up indawo (whoa)
Come tear this shit down
I see double cups (Yonke indawo)
O'volovolo (Yonke indawo)
Benjamin Franklin phezulu koMadiba (No-more)
So tough on the jungle
I keep the piece on me, I leave you puzzled
Ngiphethe ucherry we ngamla, black card on her
Money longer than hair on her
In her mouth like cavity
And I'm higher than her dad's salary
Saudi, are you on ten yet?
Phuza i-Lean, smoking, you know popping Xanax
Ngiphaphazeke ngathi i-10 nil
You're soul-searching if you're looking for me
Somebody ngiph' indwangu netissue, I'm drippin'
Somebody's daughter finna swallow all these children
Imali is my Achilles heel, yeah
I race you to a hundred million
Somebody pop all day (hol' up)
Somebody on they way (hol' up)
I wore the crown all day (hol' up)
Somebody can't relate (hol' up)
Stay down, with no faking
Go up, top-down
I've been racing (go up)
She wild and dangerous (go up)
My crowd in rotation
Yeah!
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (wait)
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet?
I live on ten (wait)
But are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (hol' up)
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Are you on ten yet? (hol' up, hol' up)
Do you have Henn' yet?
Jewelry on Windex (woo!)
Eighty, my Rolex
Might Maybach the Benz
Two door coming out, black on black again
I might gold the trim
I might built the wind
I don't exit here
Too much flexing here
(Go-go gadget this)
Too much bread to get
I've been stretching up, ain't no catching up
I don't rest enough, ugh
I don't plan for luck
I keep working hard
Who keep blessing us, ugh?
I'm on the ten and I need a ten
Nigga, done made 'em a M a week
Nigga, December been good to me
Not even Kendrick can humble me
Nigga too rich to go do the lease
Tryna become a way bigger Meech
Nigga, my tooth is like ten a piece
TDE family, the Genevesse
Her tits are C cup, her ass an A-plus
I got my grades up
I had no backup
Now run the check up
Now run the check up
And fuck the place up
Fuck the place up, woo!
Somebody pop all day (hol' up)
Somebody on they way (hol' up)
I wore the crown all day (hol' up)
Somebody can't relate (hol' up)
Stay down, with no faking
Go up, top-down
I've been racing (go up)
She wild and dangerous (go up)
My crowd in rotation
Yeah!
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (wait)
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet?
I live on ten (wait)
But are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (hol' up)
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Somebody, somebody, somebody, on ten
Originality, couple fatalities
Candied my car and it's sweet like a cavity
Saying they after me, ain't no one after me
Baby mama used to work at the Applebee's
Somebody call my phone, yeah
I'ma send their ass to voicemail
I don't even check my voicemail
Big weight, I'ma need a horse scale
F12, Berlinetta
I can wear shorts in the winter
Wore turtlenecks in the summer
This here is not for beginners
Digi-scale, fingernail, went to Hell, came back, went to jail
Left jail, went to Benihana, Kenny count the corner, got the swagger on me, yeah
Different fabric on me, yeah
Different choppers only, yeah
Married to the game, yeah
Holy matrimony, yeah
Boots upside your cranium
Fucked up someone's stage again
From strip clubs to stadiums
I took my shot and made it in
Somebody pop all day (hol' up)
Somebody on they way (hol' up)
I wore the crown all day(hol' up)
Somebody can't relate (hol' up)
Stay down, with no faking
Go up, top-down
I've been racing (go up)
She wild and dangerous (go up)
My crowd in rotation
Yeah!
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (wait)
Are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet?
I live on ten (wait)
But are you on ten yet?
Are you on ten yet? (hol' up)
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
Fuck the place up
In Kendrick Lamar's song X, he celebrates his success and wealth. The lyrics reference his accomplishments, including his status as a Black Panther and wearing a crown all day. He talks about staying authentic and not faking, but also living life to the fullest and enjoying the fruits of his labor. The chorus "Are you on ten yet?" suggests that he is at the top of his game and others should strive to reach his level of success.
Throughout the song, Kendrick also references his upbringing and the struggles he faced. He mentions his baby mama's past job at Applebee's and his time spent in jail. These references serve as a reminder of where he came from and how far he's come. Kendrick also touches on societal issues, such as race and inequality, mentioning that he is a Black Panther and referencing Benjamin Franklin and Madiba (a reference to Nelson Mandela).
The overall message in the song is about striving for greatness and celebrating success while staying true to oneself. It's about overcoming obstacles and achieving one's goals, no matter where one comes from.
Line by Line Meaning
Somebody pop all day (hol' up)
Someone is continuously drinking and partying
Somebody on they way (hol' up)
Someone is on their way to join the party
I wore the crown all day (hol' up)
I dominated the rap game all day
Somebody can't relate (Black Panther) (hol' up)
Someone cannot understand or relate to what I do, symbolized by Black Panther
Stay down, with no faking
Stay true and real to oneself
Go up, top-down
Drive in a convertible car and embrace the rockstar lifestyle
I've been racing (go up)
I've been hustling and striving for success
She wild and dangerous (go up)
She's wild and risky to be with
My crowd in rotation
My fans are always rotating and changing
Are you on ten yet?
Are you fully hype and energized yet?
Are you on ten yet? (wait)
Hold on, let me get you hyped up first
I live on ten (wait)
I always live my life at a 10/10 level of hype
But are you on ten yet?
Are you still with me, are you fully hyped up yet?
Fuck the place up
Cause chaos and destruction
Fuck-up indawo (whoa)
Cause destruction everywhere
Come tear this shit down
Let's destroy this place together
I see double cups (Yonke indawo)
I see a lot of people drinking lean
O'volovolo (Yonke indawo)
Everything is in chaos and out of control
Benjamin Franklin phezulu koMadiba (No-more)
I have a lot of money and my wealth is increasing
So tough on the jungle
I'm tough and successful in the rap game
I keep the piece on me, I leave you puzzled
I always carry a gun and it confuses my enemies
Ngiphethe ucherry we ngamla, black card on her
I court a wealthy woman with a black card
Money longer than hair on her
My money is endless, just like her hair
In her mouth like cavity
She's always talking about me and my success
And I'm higher than her dad's salary
My drug use and success makes me richer than her father's salary
Saudi, are you on ten yet?
Hey, Saudi, are you hyped up and ready to go yet?
Phuza i-Lean, smoking, you know popping Xanax
Drink lean, smoke, and pop Xanax with me
Ngiphaphazeke ngathi i-10 nil
I'm as hyped up as a number 10, all the way there
You're soul-searching if you're looking for me
You won't find me easily, I'm always grinding and hustling
Somebody ngiph' indwangu netissue, I'm drippin'
Someone is jealous of my success, but I'm still flaunting my wealth
Somebody's daughter finna swallow all these children
Someone's daughter is looking to have sex with me and my crew
Imali is my Achilles heel, yeah
Money is my weakness, but I still love it
I race you to a hundred million
I'm racing someone to reach a net worth of a hundred million dollars
Do you have Henn' yet?
Do you have Hennessy yet?
Jewelry on Windex (woo!)
My jewelry shines so bright that it looks like it's been wiped with Windex
Eighty, my Rolex
My Rolex watch is worth 80 thousand dollars
Might Maybach the Benz
I might trade in my Mercedes Benz for a Maybach
Two door coming out, black on black again
I'm getting a new black luxury car
I might gold the trim
I might accessorize my car with gold
I might built the wind
I might build or customize my car
I don't exit here
I'm not leaving this lifestyle and success behind
Too much flexing here
I'm showing off my wealth and success too much
(Go-go gadget this)
I'm using a reference from Inspector Gadget, saying I'm always ready and versatile
Too much bread to get
I have too much money to make
I've been stretching up, ain't no catching up
I've been improving and getting ahead, no one can catch up to me now
I don't rest enough, ugh
I don't take enough breaks or time off
I don't plan for luck
I don't rely on luck, I make my own success
I keep working hard
I keep hustling and working tirelessly
Who keep blessing us, ugh?
Who is the one who keeps blessing us with success?
I'm on the ten and I need a ten
I'm always at maximum hype and excitement, but I need even more
Nigga, done made 'em a M a week
I've made a million dollars a week
Nigga, December been good to me
I've had a good month and made a lot of money
Not even Kendrick can humble me
Even someone as talented as Kendrick Lamar can't bring me down
Nigga too rich to go do the lease
I'm too rich to lease a car, I buy them outright
Tryna become a way bigger Meech
I'm trying to become as legendary and successful as Meech, a famous drug lord
Nigga, my tooth is like ten a piece
Each of my teeth is worth ten thousand dollars
TDE family, the Genevesse
I'm part of the TDE crew, symbolized as wealthy royalty from Geneva, Switzerland
Her tits are C cup, her ass an A-plus
She has average-sized breasts but an amazing butt
I got my grades up
I improved and became successful despite my poor background
I had no backup
I didn't have anyone supporting me, I made it on my own
Now run the check up
Now I'm making a lot of money and cashing in
Somebody, somebody, somebody, on ten
Someone is hyped up and ready to party
Originality, couple fatalities
My unique style and creativity can have deadly consequences for my rivals
Candied my car and it's sweet like a cavity
I've customized my car to be fancy and luxurious
Saying they after me, ain't no one after me
People claim they're trying to take me down, but no one can stop me
Baby mama used to work at the Applebee's
My former girlfriend used to work at a basic restaurant like Applebee's
Somebody call my phone, yeah
Someone is trying to reach me by phone
I'ma send their ass to voicemail
I'll ignore their call and send them to voicemail
I don't even check my voicemail
I don't have time to listen to my messages
Big weight, I'ma need a horse scale
I have so much money and drugs that I need a large scale to weigh them
F12, Berlinetta
I have a Ferrari F12 Berlinetta sports car
I can wear shorts in the winter
I'm so rich that I can wear whatever I want, even shorts in cold weather
Wore turtlenecks in the summer
I'm so fashionable that I can wear turtlenecks, even in hot weather
This here is not for beginners
My lifestyle and success is not easy to achieve, it takes real skill and hard work
Digi-scale, fingernail, went to Hell, came back, went to jail
I've been involved with illegal activities, including drug dealing and time in jail
Left jail, went to Benihana, Kenny count the corner, got the swagger on me, yeah
After my release from jail, I celebrated by going to a fancy Japanese restaurant with my crew
Different fabric on me, yeah
I have unique and expensive clothing
Different choppers only, yeah
I have a variety of expensive weapons
Married to the game, yeah
I'm devoted to my success in the rap game
Holy matrimony, yeah
I'm committed to my success, it's like a marriage
Boots upside your cranium
I'll hurt you with my powerful kicks
Fucked up someone's stage again
I caused a disturbance or damage at a concert or performance again
From strip clubs to stadiums
I've gone from performing in small strip clubs to large stadiums
I took my shot and made it in
I succeeded and achieved my dreams through hard work and dedication
I wore the crown all day(hol' up)
I was the top rapper and leader of the pack all day long
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ANELE MBISHA, ANTHONY TIFFITH, KENDRICK LAMAR, MARK SPEARS, QUINCY MATTHEW HANLEY, RAMON IBANGA, TAUHEED EPPS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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