Shot Down
Kendrick Lamar & Punch Lyrics

C4, KDot, let's get it
I'm Kendrick Lamar and I'm ready to make music with Punch, also known as KDot.

Yeah, Punch wanted me to come
Punch has asked me to collaborate on a song with him.

Right in on the one I didn't want to
I didn't want to be part of this particular song at first.

I love this beat I love it so much
However, I really like the instrumental and can't resist using it.

I can just listen to the instrumental
In fact, I could just listen to the instrumental and not even rap if I wanted to.

And don't rap but I won't do that
But I won't do that because I'm inspired to write lyrics and perform them as well.

Light an incense for little Kendrick
I'm taking a moment to honor and remember my younger self.

Little, oh, Kendrick
I'm reflecting on how much I've grown and changed since I was a child.

Determination, my drive is like a thousand convertible engines
I have an unrelenting determination to succeed, like the power of a thousand car engines.

My adrenaline pump the blood of a warrior
I feel like a fierce warrior, ready to take on anything.

Chump, the apprentice grown to be a man, 21 now
I've grown up and come into my own as a man since my younger days.

My heart in my hand, don’t get gunned down, I’m from Compton
I'm always cautious because of the violence and danger that comes from being from Compton.

Bitch fuck a 6-4, we hit the kill switch
I don't care about a fancy car, let's focus on getting rid of our enemies.

The other day I seen my nigga Snows in the casket
I recently attended the funeral of my friend Snows, who was killed.

Darker skin tone, you can only imagine the type of shit we on
I'm reflecting on the challenges and obstacles that black people face every day, and how they contribute to the harsh reality of life in Compton.

Murdered them dumb bastards, kill 'em inside their kitchen, and then stuffed them inside their cabinets
We take matters into our own hands and eliminate our enemies in brutal ways.

Death before dishonor, put that on my mama
I would rather die than be dishonorable, and I'm willing to swear that on my mother's name.

I'mma ride till I see the promise land, that’s a promise
I'm determined to succeed, no matter what, and I won't stop until I reach my goals.

Llamas in the unfamiliar minivan, more drama only make more problems, but
We're on the move, ready to take action, but we know that more violence will only lead to more problems.

They gotta get shot down, 'cause we riding, we riding, we riding
Our enemies need to be eliminated because we're on a mission.

Like a black rodeo, 44’s, calicos, chop 'em up, stop 'em up like a stuffy nose
We're ruthless and merciless, ready to use any means necessary to take down our enemies.

We supposed to be brothers, motherfuck ya, tuck your tail, bitch, hell is waiting on ya
We should be united as a community, but instead we're fighting each other to the death.

While I’m praying on ya, not on my knees though, I mean preying on ya
I'm praying for my enemy's downfall, but I'm not begging or pleading, I'm aggressively pursuing their destruction.

I gotta feed, ho, and your death is nutritious to my appetite
I need to survive, and your death will satisfy my hunger for revenge and power.

After I eat, you’re sure to see afterlife, Jesus Christ, forgive me for my sins
Once I've taken down my enemy, they'll be dead and gone, and I'll ask for forgiveness for the violence I've committed.

Because when you forgive me, I’m sure to sin again, I guess I’m a sinner
I know that I'm flawed and will continue to make mistakes, even if I ask for forgiveness.

Especially when I found out somebody killed my nigga, nigga, does anybody killer, fuck
The loss of my friend has made me even more ruthless and willing to use violence to get what I want.

Your creed, race, or color, son, daughter, sister, mother, brother gotta suffer, bitch, I’m cold hearted
I don't care who you are or what you look like, if you're in my way, you'll suffer the consequences.

Till my arteries freeze, please hand me the keys to the G-ride, they outside then
I'm willing to do anything to get what I want, even if it means risking my own life, and I need a car to help me do it.

Somebody get ready for a murder, no more further announcements, Mac-11 bouncing, the murder scene, coroner, yellow tape surrounding
We're about to commit a violent crime, and there won't be any warning, just the aftermath that the police and coroner will have to handle.

Either I retaliate or find self counseling, somebody got to die, simple mathematics, semi-automatic, watch them niggas panic
I'll either take revenge on those who wronged me or find a way to deal with my emotions, but someone has to pay for what happened.

And their hearts perish, or let's be diplomatic and less melodramatic
I can either destroy my enemy but risk hurting myself in the process, or try to find a peaceful solution, but either way, I need to be less dramatic about it.

Everything is vanity, think Ecclesiastic, but what’s it all for, or what’s it all mean?
I'm reflecting on the fleeting nature of life and questioning the point of all the violence and destruction I'm involved in.

An eye for an eye means you and I won’t live to see, as our hearts bleed, we proceed cautiously, shoot them niggas down consciously, that’s how
If we keep retaliating with violence, we'll never achieve peace, and we need to proceed with caution and intention if we want to make a real difference.

They gotta get shot down, 'cause we riding, we riding, we riding
We need to eliminate our enemies to accomplish our mission, and we won't stop until we succeed.