m.A.A.d city
Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

If Pirus and Crips all got along
If the rival gangs Pirus and Crips were able to find common ground and collaborate peacefully

They'd probably gun me down by the end of this song
The singer believes that if the gangs united, they would likely target and kill him before the song ends

Seem like the whole city go against me
The singer feels like the entire city is against him and constantly working against his interests

Every time I'm in the street I hear
Whenever the artist is outside in the neighborhood, he hears

"Yawk! Yawk! Yawk! Yawk!"
The sound of gunfire, symbolizing the dangerous and violent environment

"Man down Where you from, nigga?"
Someone is asking where the singer is from and referring to a person who got shot

"Fuck who you know, where you from, my nigga?"
The importance of one's hometown and background over connections and acquaintances

"Where your grandma stay, huh, my nigga?"
Inquiring about the artist's grandmother's address, possibly as a threat to his safety

"This m.A.a.d city I run, my nigga"
Asserting dominance and control over the chaotic and dangerous city

Brace yourself, I'll take you on a trip down memory lane
Prepare yourself as I take you through a journey of reminiscing about the past

This is not a rap on how I'm slingin crack or move cocaine
The song is not about glorifying drug dealing or illegal activities

This is cul-de-sac and plenty Cognac and major pain
The song is about growing up in a cul-de-sac, drinking Cognac, and experiencing significant hardships

Not the drill sergeant, but the stress that weighing on your brain
Referencing the intense pressure and stress that affects the mind

It was me, L Boog, and Yan Yan, YG Lucky ride down Rosecrans
The singer recalls specific people and their shared experiences cruising down Rosecrans Avenue

It got ugly, waving your hand out the window, check yo self
Things escalated quickly, as the act of waving a hand out the window became a warning to be cautious

Uh, Warriors and Conans
Possibly referring to gangs or influential figures known for their power and violence

Hope euphoria can slow dance with society
Expressing a desire for feelings of euphoria and happiness to coexist peacefully with society

The driver seat the first one to get killed
The person in the driver's seat is usually the first target for violence

Seen a light-skinned nigga with his brains blown out
Witnessed a light-skinned person getting fatally shot in the head

At the same burger stand where-, hang out
Referring to a specific location where the artist and others often spend time and socialize

Now this is not a tape recording saying that he did it
Clarifying that the artist is not claiming to have recorded evidence of the crime

But ever since that day, I was lookin' at him different
Since witnessing the violent incident, the artist's perspective on the person involved has changed

That was back when I was nine
The traumatic event took place when the singer was only nine years old

Joey packed the nine
Joey, a known person, carried a 9mm handgun

Pakistan on every porch is fine
Referencing the availability and prevalence of illegal drugs (Pakistan being slang for drugs) in the neighborhood

We adapt to crime, pack a van with four guns at a time
Out of necessity, the singer and his peers engage in criminal activities, transporting multiple guns in a van

With the sliding door, fuck is up?
Curious about the purpose or intention behind the sliding door on the van

Fuck you shootin' for if you ain't walkin up you fuckin' punk?
Questioning someone shooting randomly if they aren't confrontational or brave enough to approach directly

Pickin' up the fuckin' pump
Grabbing the shotgun (pump-action) for defense or retaliation

Pickin' off you suckers, suck a dick or die or sucker punch
Engaging in violence against enemies with a choice to either submit or face severe consequences

A wall of bullets comin' from
Being under attack by a barrage of gunfire

Ak's, AR's, "Aye y'all. Duck"
Weapons being used include AK-47s and AR-15s, with a warning to take cover

That's what momma said when we was eatin' that free lunch
Referencing the dangerous circumstances and violence the artist's mother warned about while they were eating free lunch

Aw man, God damn, all hell broke loose
A chaotic and intense situation unfolded, leading to complete disorder

You killed my cousin back in '94, fuck yo' truce
Addressing someone who killed the singer's cousin in 1994, rejecting any notion of reconciliation or peace

Now crawl yo' head in that noose
Retribution will be severe, with the artist metaphorically suggesting the person should hang themselves

You wind up dead on the news
Implying that the person will meet a violent end and make headlines

Ain't no peace treaty, just piecin'
There is no agreement or truce, only constant conflicts and violence

Bgs up to pre-approve, bodies on top of bodies
Gangs called Bloods (Bgs) monitoring and authorizing actions, resulting in many deaths and bodies piling up

Iv's on top of IV's
Intravenous drug use and injections, possibly referring to high drug addiction rates

Obviously the coroner between the sheets like the Isleys
The coroner frequently dealing with dead bodies, a reference to the Isley Brothers' song 'Between the Sheets'

When you hop on that trolley
Metaphorically referring to embarking on a dangerous and unstable path

Make sure your color's correct
Warning to ensure one's allegiance and association with the correct gang or group

Make sure you're corporate, or they'll be calling your mother collect
Emphasizing the importance of being part of a reputable organization to avoid negative consequences and protect loved ones

They say the governor collect, all of our taxes except
Highlighting the corruption and inequality in society, where politicians collect taxes but fail to address community issues

When we in traffic and tragic happens, that shit ain't no threat
Violent incidents and tragedies in the neighborhood are common occurrences and not a surprising or alarming threat

You movin' backwards if you suggest that you sleep with a TEC
Implying that carrying a firearm for protection is regressive and perpetuates violence rather than finding peaceful solutions

Go buy a chopper and have a doctor on speed dial, I guess
Ironically suggesting that resorting to violence and having access to medical help readily available is the norm in the artist's environment

M.a.a.d city
Referring to the chaotic and dangerous city the singer lives in

"Man down Where you from, nigga?"
Repeating the earlier lines, questioning the origin of the person who got shot

"Fuck who you know, where you from, my nigga?"
Reiterating the importance of one's hometown and background over social connections

"Where your grandma stay, huh, my nigga?"
Repeating the threat or curiosity about the location of the artist's grandmother

"This m.A.a.d city I run, my nigga"
Reasserting control and dominance over the chaotic and dangerous city

Wake yo' punk ass up!
Commanding someone to wake up and pay attention

It ain't nothin but a Compton thang
Stating that the situation is representative of life in Compton

Chyea
Expression of agreement or affirmation

Real simple and plain
The situation is straightforward and easy to understand

"Let me teach you some lessons about the street (Smoke somethin', nigga) Hood ('sup, cuz? Wassup? nah, nah, nah, fuck that, nah)"
Offering to educate someone about the realities of the streets while engaging in casual conversation and dismissing other topics

Ain't nothin but a Compton thang
Reiterating that the current situation is representative of life in Compton

Chyea (we got five on it)
Again, expressing agreement or affirmation, possibly referring to a shared slang phrase 'we got five on it' meaning to contribute money

How we do
Asking in a rhetorical manner how the situation or lifestyle is experienced

Fresh outta school 'cause I was a high school grad
Since the singer just graduated from high school, he transitions to the following experiences

Sleeping in the living room of my momma's pad
The singer was forced to sleep in the living room of his mother's house due to limited space or other circumstances

Reality struck I seen the white car crash
The artist witnesses a car accident involving a white vehicle, representing a significant wake-up call or realization

Hit the light pole two nigga's hopped out on foot and dashed (watch out cuz)
After the car crash, two individuals quickly exited on foot, potentially indicating they were involved in illegal or suspicious activity

My Pops said I needed a job I thought I believed him
The singer's father advised him to find employment, and although he initially agreed, his perspective has changed

Security guard for a month and ended up leaving
The singer took on a job as a security guard but quit after just a month

In fact I got fired 'cause I was inspired by all of my friends
The artist got fired from the security guard job because he was influenced and inspired by his friends to engage in criminal activities

To stage a robbery the third Saturday I clocked in
On the third Saturday of working as a security guard, the artist and his friends planned to commit a robbery

Projects tore up, gang signs get thrown up (wassup?)
Referring to the run-down nature of the housing projects and the display of gang signs

Cocaine laced in marijuana
Marijuana being mixed with cocaine, potentially referring to drugs being sold or used in the singer's environment

And they wonder why I rarely smoke now
The artist used to smoke marijuana but has become wary of it due to the potential dangers and negative consequences

Imagine if your first blunt had you foaming at the mouth
Reflecting on a negative experience of smoking marijuana, where the singer experienced extreme side effects or intoxication

I was straight tweaking the next weekend we broke even
The following weekend, the singer and his friends engaged in similar activities and reached a point of attaining equal profits from their actions

I made allegiance that made a promise to see you bleeding
The singer pledged his loyalty to a group or cause, vowing to witness harm being done to others

You know the reasons but still won't ever know my life
Although others may understand some of the motivations behind the artist's actions, they will never fully comprehend his life experiences

Kendrick AKA Compton's human sacrifice (yeah)
The artist, known as Kendrick, symbolizes how those living in Compton often become victims or sacrifices of the harsh environment

Cocaine, weed
Listing drugs commonly used or sold in the singer's community

Nigga's been mixing shit since the 80's, loc
Drugs have been mixed and combined in various ways since the 1980s, loc (local slang for someone who is familiar with the neighborhood)

Sherm sticks, butt-nakeds, dip
Referring to specific drug-related substances or paraphernalia often used in Compton: sherm sticks, laced cigarettes (butt-nakeds), and PCP (dip)

Make a nigga flip
The drugs mentioned can have severe effects on individuals, causing them to lose control or behave erratically (flip)

Cluck heads all up and down the block and shit
Drug addicts (cluck heads) can be seen throughout the neighborhood, causing disturbances or engaging in erratic behavior

One time's crooked and shit
The police (One time) are corrupt and dishonest

Block a nigga in
Police officers trapping or preventing someone from leaving an area

Alondra, Rosecrans, Bullis, it's Compton
Referencing specific streets in Compton, highlighting its reputation and identifying it as the singer's hometown

I'm still in the hood
Despite the challenges and dangers in the neighborhood, the singer remains present and active in the community

Loc yeah that's cool (chyea)
Acknowledging someone's familiarity or understanding of the situation in a positive manner

The hood took me under so I follow the rules
The artist has become deeply entrenched in the neighborhood and adheres to its unwritten laws and codes

But yeah that's like me, I grew up in the hood where they bang
The artist accepts that his upbringing in a gang-affiliated neighborhood has shaped his identity and lifestyle

And niggas that rep colors is doing the same thing
People who represent specific gang colors or affiliations are often engaged in the same activities and share the same circumstances

Pass it to the left so I can smoke on me
Requesting to be passed the marijuana joint in order to smoke

A couple drive-bys in the hood lately (chyea)
There have been recent incidents of drive-by shootings in the neighborhood

Couple of IV's with the fucking spray-can
Using aerosol spray cans to create 'tags' or graffiti, alongside the presence of intravenous drug use represented by IV's

Shots in the crowd then everybody ran
Gunfire erupts in a crowded area, causing panic and people to run for safety

Crew I'm finna slay, the street life I crave
The singer plans to defeat or eliminate a rival gang or group, driven by his desire for the dangerous street life

Shots hit the enemy, harsh turn brave
When the artist's shots hit the opponents, it emboldens and strengthens their own resolve to fight back

Mount up regulators in the whip
Forming a group or gang (regulators) inside a vehicle in preparation for violent actions

Down the boulevard with the pistol grip (chyea)
Driving down the street with a firm grip on a pistol, depicting readiness for confrontation

Trip, we in the hood still
Despite engaging in violent actions, the singer remains rooted and active in the neighborhood

So loc, grab a strap 'cause chyeah, it's so real (chyea)
Encouraging someone familiar with the neighborhood to arm themselves due to the harsh and dangerous reality of the surroundings

Deal with the outcome, a strap in the hand
Prepare to face the consequences of their actions, armed with a gun

And a bird and ten grand's where motherfuckers stand
In this dangerous environment, individuals display their willingness to engage in crime for a significant reward, depicted through a slang term 'bird' (kilogram of drugs) and a large sum of money

If I told you I killed a nigga at sixteen, would you believe me?
Questioning the credibility of the singer's claim that he took someone's life at the age of sixteen

Or see me to be innocent Kendrick you seen in the street
Comparing the public perception of Kendrick (the artist's real name) as an innocent person seen in the streets to the possibility of him committing such a violent act

With a basketball and some Now & Laters to eat
Contrasting the image of the artist playing basketball and enjoying sugary candy as a child with the idea of him being a killer

If I mentioned all of my skeletons, would you jump in the seat?
Asking if someone would be interested in hearing about the artist's past mistakes, secrets, or dark experiences

Would you say my intelligence now is great relief?
Wondering if someone would find comfort or reassurance in acknowledging the singer's intelligence and growth despite his troubled past

And it's safe to say that our next generation maybe can sleep
Expressing hope that future generations, including children, will be able to live in peace and without the same hardships

With dreams of being a lawyer or doctor
Envisioning a future where children aspire to become professionals like lawyers or doctors

Instead of boy with a chopper that hold the cul de sac hostage
Contrasting the commonly held dreams of success with the reality of the current generation being involved in criminal activities and controlling the neighborhood

Kill 'em all if they gossip, the Children of the Corn
Suggesting a willingness to harm or eliminate anyone who spreads rumors or information about the singer and his associates, referring to themselves as the Children of the Corn

They vandalizing the option of living a lie
Their actions represent a rebellion against the idea of living in a false or deceptive manner

Drown their body with toxins
Engaging in substance abuse or harmful lifestyles that lead to their demise

Constantly drinking and drive, hit the powder then watch this flame
Engaging in intoxicated behavior, driving while under the influence, and incorporating drug use into their daily lives

That arrive in his eye, listen coward, the concept
Referring to the effects of drug use and intoxication that become apparent in a person's appearance, and addressing someone with cowardly tendencies

is aim and then bang it and slide out that bitch with deposit
The artist emphasizes the notion of aiming and shooting, quickly leaving the scene with a sense of accomplishment

A price on his head, the tithes probably go to the projects, I
The artist suggests that there is a bounty or reward offered for harming their enemies, and the predicted outcome would benefit the community

live inside the belly of the rough
The artist resides in the dangerous and harsh environment of Compton, symbolized as the belly or core of a beast

Compton, U.S.A. made me an angel on angel dust, what? (Compton)
The singer attributes their current state or mindset to growing up and living in Compton, which transformed them into an angel-like figure while under the influence of angel dust, a powerful hallucinogenic drug

Nigga, pass Dot the bottle, damn
Requesting someone to pass Kendrick the bottle, expressing frustration or impatience

You ain't the one that got fucked up
The singer clarifies that the frustration or anger isn't directed at the person they're speaking to, but towards someone else

What you holdin' it for?
Questioning why the person is still holding onto the bottle instead of passing it

Niggas always actin' unsensitive and shit
Expressing a dislike for how some individuals lack sensitivity or empathy in their actions

Nigga, that ain't no word
Dismissing or mocking someone's attempt at using a made-up word

Nigga, shut up
Bluntly telling someone to be quiet or stop talking

Hey, Dot, you good, my nigga?
Asking Kendrick if he's alright or doing well

Don't even trip
Reassuring Kendrick not to worry or be concerned

Just lay back and drink that
Advising Kendrick to relax and enjoy his drink