Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper. Regard… Read Full Bio ↴Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper. Regarded as one of the most influential hip-hop artists of his generation, and one of the greatest rappers of all time, he was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, becoming the first musician outside of the classical and jazz genres to receive the honor.

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.

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Kendrick Lamar Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

These metamorphic supernatural forces dominate what I see
A Gemini, do I let these personalities always conflict in me

Oh! But don't be scared of me, girl
I can't explain
I know it's foreign to you
I know it's hard to believe
God give me the favor

Let me can explain
More than a compliment
And I could use some assistance, let me show you
I can explain
Or should I know? I spend about two times
I'll be there with the answer
Let me explain
I reside
I want God
Both sides of me are evenly odd
It's attractive
You're intrigued
Am I mortal man or make believe?
Anything you want
I can explain
Any misunderstandings, baby
Let me explain
Why don't you sit and talk to me?
I can explain it
Let me explain

My mama told me that I was different the moment I was invented
Estranged baby, no I'm not ashamed
I recommend every inch of your lunatic ways
Praise the lord, you teach the kids how to be themself and plenty more

You know the male species can be redundant
I mean we love a woman and think we can satisfy her
Between sheets, covers and pillows
I'm promising your lack of tolerance stuck on a 0
I'm promising that I'm acknowledging you as my hero
Cause you believe in me
No you're not easily impressed
But I possess qualities that you need to see
Look at my flaws, look at my flaws
Look at my imperfections and all
Look how you think that my mystique is a round of applause
And yours equally valued
You stick out like an alien compared to those around you
And that's alright because I like it
You and me are the same
Hopefully I'm invited, hopefully you don't change
Because I know for sure who you are

I can explain
Your mama raised you, your daddy raised you
Hand washing your clothes on Sunday
Let me explain
Walking your brother to school, three miles away
To feed him knowledge
I can explain
Don't you explain that, don't you explain the reason why your mind can travel
Let me explain
I wanna know what you think
I wanna pick your brain when I see you
But don't you ever
Let me explain
Or should I know?
I spin around two times, a blessing in disguise
I can explain
I know for sure who you are
You're the goddess of the eye
I am yours
I can explain

I am yours

Overall Meaning

In this song, Kendrick Lamar talks about the different personalities he possesses and how they are constantly conflicting with each other. He likens himself to a Gemini, a zodiac sign that represents dual personalities, which gives him a sense of confusion about who he really is. He reassures the girl he is dedicating the song to, that she doesn't have to be scared of him as he cannot even explain who he is to himself. He goes ahead to confess his admiration for her and how he needs her in his life. He acknowledges the differences between them and how they complement each other.

Kendrick Lamar continues to sing about his upbringing and how his unique personality was apparent to his mother from the beginning. He expresses his gratitude for being raised in a way that allows him to be his true self, and how he admires the woman for being herself as well. He concludes the song with the statement, "I am yours”, surrendering to the fact that he belongs to the girl and the different personalities within him cannot hold on to him forever.

Line by Line Meaning

These metamorphic supernatural forces dominate what I see
My perception is controlled by powerful, transformative and other-worldly forces.

A Gemini, do I let these personalities always conflict in me
As a Gemini, I struggle with internal conflict caused by my multiple personalities.

Oh! But don't be scared of me, girl
Please don't be frightened by me.

I can't explain
I cannot express myself accurately with words.

I know it's foreign to you
I realize that my behavior may be unfamiliar to you.

I know it's hard to believe
I understand that it may be difficult for you to comprehend.

God give me the favor
I ask for God's grace and blessings.

Let me can explain
Allow me to provide clarification.

More than a compliment
My words carry more weight and significance than just praise.

And I could use some assistance, let me show you
I could benefit from your help, and I want to demonstrate that to you.

Or should I know? I spend about two times
Maybe I already know the answer, but still, I ponder on the question.

I'll be there with the answer
I promise to provide an explanation.

I reside
I exist.

I want God
I desire to have a closer relationship with God.

Both sides of me are evenly odd
I possess conflicting and unique qualities that balance each other out.

It's attractive
My complexity is alluring.

You're intrigued
You're fascinated by me.

Am I mortal man or make believe?
Do I seem like a regular human or an imaginary character?

Anything you want
I am willing to provide any information you require.

Any misunderstandings, baby
Any confusion can be cleared up between us.

Why don't you sit and talk to me?
Let's engage in conversation to resolve any issues.

My mama told me that I was different the moment I was invented
My mother recognized my uniqueness from the day of my birth.

Estranged baby, no I'm not ashamed
I feel distant, but I don't feel embarrassed or ashamed.

I recommend every inch of your lunatic ways
I admire the peculiar and extraordinary things that make you who you are.

Praise the lord, you teach the kids how to be themself and plenty more
I celebrate and commend your ability to inspire children to embrace their individuality and more.

You know the male species can be redundant
Men can be predictable and unoriginal at times.

I mean we love a woman and think we can satisfy her
Men often believe that they can meet all of a woman's needs and desires.

Between sheets, covers and pillows
In the privacy of the bedroom.

I'm promising your lack of tolerance stuck on a 0
I vow to leave you satisfied and content with no room for dissatisfaction.

I'm promising that I'm acknowledging you as my hero
I'm recognizing your exceptional qualities and emphasizing how important you are.

Cause you believe in me
Your confidence in me is inspiring.

No you're not easily impressed
You're not quickly swayed by others.

But I possess qualities that you need to see
I know I have certain traits that you would find valuable and worth recognizing.

Look at my flaws, look at my flaws
I'm acknowledging my imperfections.

Look how you think that my mystique is a round of applause
You appreciate the mysterious and interesting parts of my personality.

And yours equally valued
Your unique qualities are also highly appreciated.

You stick out like an alien compared to those around you
You're different and stand out compared to others.

And that's alright because I like it
I accept and embrace your individuality.

You and me are the same
In some ways, we have similarities.

Hopefully I'm invited, hopefully you don't change
I hope to be included in your life and hope that you remain true to yourself.

Because I know for sure who you are
I understand and admire the person that you are.

Your mama raised you, your daddy raised you
You were raised by both of your parents.

Hand washing your clothes on Sunday
You were taught to perform chores and duties on certain days of the week.

Walking your brother to school, three miles away
You took it upon yourself to assist your younger brother in getting an education.

To feed him knowledge
To provide him with information and education.

Don't you explain that, don't you explain the reason why your mind can travel
Don't justify or explain away your unique thought processes.

I wanna know what you think
I'm curious about your thoughts and opinions.

I wanna pick your brain when I see you
I want to learn from you and encourage intellectual discussions.

I spin around two times, a blessing in disguise
Sometimes setbacks can lead to unexpected blessings.

You're the goddess of the eye
You capture and captivate everyone's attention.

I am yours
I belong to you or will dedicated my efforts to you.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADRIAN YOUNGE, ALI SHAHEED MUHAMMAD, KENDRICK LAMAR, THOMAS DECARLO CALLAWAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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