Complexion
Kendrick Lamar feat. George Clinton & Thundercat Lyrics
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Complexion don't mean a thing (it's a Zulu love)
Complexion (two-step)
It all feels the same (it's a Zulu love)
Dark as the midnight hour or bright as the mornin' sun
Give a fuck about your complexion, I know what the Germans done
Sneak (dissin’)
I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you
You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down
Even if master listenin', cover your ears, he 'bout to mention
Complexion (two-step)
Complexion don't mean a thing (it's a Zulu love)
Complexion (two-step)
It all feels the same (it's a Zulu love)
Dark as the midnight hour, I'm bright as the mornin' Sun
Brown skinned, but your blue eyes tell me your mama can't run
Sneak (dissin')
Sneak me through the back window, I’m a good field nigga
I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you
You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down
Even if master's listenin', I got the world's attention
So I'mma say somethin' that's vital and critical for survival
Of mankind, if he lyin', color should never rival
Beauty is what you make it, I used to be so mistaken
By different shades of faces
Then wit told me, "You're womanless, women love the creation"
It all came from God then you was my confirmation
I came to where you reside
And looked around to see more sights for sore eyes
Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times with
Complexion (two-step)
Complexion don't mean a thing (it's a Zulu love)
Complexion (two-step)
It all feels the same (it's a Zulu love)
You like it, I love it
You like it, I love it
You like it, I love it
You like it, I love it
You like it, I love it
You like it, I love it
You like it, I love it
Let me talk my Stu Scott, ‘scuse me on my 2pac
Keep your head up, when did you stop? Love and die
Color of your skin, color of your eyes
That’s the real blues, baby, like you met Jay’s baby
You blew me away, you think more beauty in blue green and grey
All my Solomon up north, 12 years a slave
12 years of age, thinkin’ my shade too dark
I love myself, I no longer need Cupid
And forcin’ my dark side like a young George Lucas
Light don’t mean you smart, bein’ dark don’t make you stupid
And frame of mind for them bustas, ain’t talkin’ “Woohah!”
Need a paradox for the pair of dots they tutored
Like two ties, L-L, you lose two times
If you don’t see you beautiful in your complexion
It ain’t complex to put it in context
Find the air beneath the kite, that’s the context
Yeah, baby, I’m conscious, ain’t no contest
If you like it, I love it, all your earth tones been blessed
Ain’t no stress, jigga boos wanna be
I ain’t talkin’ Jay, I ain’t talkin’ Bey
I’m talkin’ days we got school watchin’ movie screens
And spike yourself esteem
The new James Bond gon’ be black as me
Black as brown, hazelnut, cinnamon, black tea
And it’s all beautiful to me
Call your brothers magnificent, call all the sisters queens
We all on the same team, blues and pirus, no colors ain’t a thing
Barefoot babies with no cares
Teenage gun toters that don’t play fair, should I get out the car?
I don’t see Compton, I see something much worse
The land of the landmines, the hell that’s on earth
The song Complexion is Kendrick Lamar's way of addressing colorism, the discrimination based on the shades of skin color within the same race. The opening lines "complexion don't mean a thing, it's a Zulu love" is his attempt to disassociate love and unity from the color of the skin. The song puts emphasis on various themes such as colorism, self-love, inequality, civil rights, and cultural identity.
In the first verse, James Fauntleroy opens by noting how Deutsche Nazis dividing people made race a central divisive issue. Kendrick Lamar then alludes to the master-slave era by speaking of himself as a "good field n***a" and makes a flower out of cotton for his lover to show his commitment. The artist encourages listeners to remain steadfast even when the ruling class is listening and highlights their struggles amid racism.
The second part of the song speaks of the beauty of diversity, how people use complexion to define beauty, and the need to embrace one's complexion. Kendrick Lamar urges listeners to live beyond color and challenge the conditioning that people have been subjected to since birth. He mentions 2pac's "Keep Your Head Up" and uses Stu Scott to remind people to hold on to their convictions.
Line by Line Meaning
Complexion don't mean a thing
One's skin color is irrelevant
It all feels the same
Everyone is equal regardless of complexion
Dark as the midnight hour or bright as the mornin' sun
Skin color can be very different—it's a fact
Give a fuck about your complexion, I know what the Germans done
I don't care about your skin color because history has shown that it is insignificant
Sneak me through the back window, I'm a good field nigga
I know my place as a servant and will do whatever it takes to be near you
I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you
I want to share my creation with you and be your friend regardless of our different backgrounds
You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down
I am committed to our relationship and will stand by you no matter what
Even if master listenin', cover your ears, he 'bout to mention
I am aware of the hierarchy and power dynamics at play, but I still want to speak my truth
Brown skinned, but your blue eyes tell me your mama can't run
Although your skin tone may not typically indicate privilege, I recognize that race is a social construct and that other factors like eye color can imply power dynamics
So I'mma say somethin' that's vital and critical for survival
I have an important message to share that is crucial for people's well-being
Of mankind, if he lyin', color should never rival
Race should never be used to pit people against each other or to determine worth
Beauty is what you make it, I used to be so mistaken
Society's ideas of beauty can be misguided and harmful, and I have been wrong in the past
Then wit told me, 'You're womanless, women love the creation'
I have learned that women are more interested in finding someone who can treat them with kindness and respect rather than someone with a certain skin color
Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times with
We need to break free from the damaging cycle of racism and oppression
That's the real blues, baby, like you met Jay's baby
The struggles and pain caused by racism are very real—we need to acknowledge this instead of pretending that everything is fine
Light don't mean you smart, bein' dark don't make you stupid
Skin color has nothing to do with intelligence or worth
If you don't see you beautiful in your complexion
It's important to learn to love oneself regardless of skin color
Find the air beneath the kite, that's the context
Look beyond surface-level differences and find deeper connections
We all on the same team, blues and pirus, no colors ain't a thing
We need to recognize that we are all human, and that the arbitrary categories we place ourselves into—like skin color—should not keep us from working towards a common goal
Barefoot babies with no cares
In some communities, children are not aware of race and discrimination
Teenage gun toters that don't play fair, should I get out the car?
Although some people may be violent and dangerous, it's important to continue the work of breaking down barriers and connecting with others
I don't see Compton, I see something much worse
The violence and oppression in some communities can be overwhelming
The land of the landmines, the hell that's on earth
The situation in some communities is dire and requires urgent action
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK ANTHONY SPEARS, STEPHEN BRUNER, KENDRICK LAMAR, MARLANNA EVANS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Kendrick Lamar Spotlight
⬇️LIKE IF YOU BUMPING THIS IN 2020! 👍👍
youtub3magic
October 2022 and still bumping!🔥🔥🔥
BizzoMane G.O.S
2023 and beyond
Chris Don't Miss
Rapsody did one of the best features ever in hip hip music I'm not kidding. It's just unbelievable how smoothly she rides on that beat with such a powerful message like it's nothing. Her verse could cure diseases.
En 352
the song is so good but as soon as she starts it turns into sh*t
Chris Don't Miss
@En 352 wtf? You really need to check your ears if you think this is shit.
IceHot 900
waittt ive been listening to this album for 2 years straight and only now im discovering the voice is a girl! Props to her
Baran Sevim
This was the song that made me fall in love with this album. What a beautiful track with a beautiful message—love all no matter the race, color, or complexion.
I think that’s why I love this album so much. There is a story here, but it’s not so clear to the naked eye. You gotta look deeper, and underneath is this journey that Kendrick partakes on of great enlightenment and self discovery that’s so damn raw and vulnerable it makes you emotional. What a work of art.
Baguenaudeur
"it’s not so clear to the naked eye"
fucking lol
Malcolm Keough
First time listening to this in over two years, and I still remember Rapsody's verse in its entirety. Powerful stuff.