Complexion
Kendrick Lamar feat. Rapsody Lyrics

Complexion (two-step)
Acknowledges the song's title

Complexion don't mean a thing (it's a Zulu love)
Complexion should not be a determining factor in love or relationships. Mentions the concept of "Zulu love" which means that race and complexion should not divide people

Ooh complexion (two-step)
Repeats acknowledgement of the song's title

It all feels the same (it's a Zulu love)
Repeats the idea of Zulu love that, when presented correctly, love should not discriminate or distinguish between individuals based on complexion or racial identity. Humans will all experience the same feelings.

Dark as the midnight hour or bright as the mornin' sun
Applies an inclusive context to people of different shades and tones, with Kendrick rejecting the notion of a standard stereotype or expectation

Give a fuck about your complexion, I know what the Germans done
He believes that complexion discrimination is wrong and that it creates or reinforces divisions within individuals. On the other hand, when one has an awareness of past events, it is clear that Germans discriminated against Jews that had no real division, to begin with.

Sneak (dissin')
This is a sound effect imitating Kendrick Lamar making a 'sneak diss.'

Sneak me through the back window, I'm a good field nigga
This is in reference to films like Django or 12 Years a Slave, whereby slaves try to escape to freedom as they are chasing their lives' dream. Kendrick feels like a field nigga wanting to sneak into the house to see his love.

I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you
Kendrick has made a flower out of the cotton and wants just to spend some time with his black beau. Cotton not only signifies how African-Americans were oppressed to pick cotton for most of their lives during slavery, but it also signifies hope.

You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down
Kendrick would go to any lengths to express his love, indicating that he is serious and dedicated in his relationship

Even if master listenin', cover your ears, he 'bout to mention
Even if the slave master is present, Kendrick doesn't care and will go ahead with his proclamation of love. This shows bravery and courage.

Complexion (two-step)
Repeats acknowledgement of the song's title

Complexion don't mean a thing (it's a Zulu love)
Repeats the view that complexion is insignificant in love and relationships

Ooh, complexion (two-step)
Repeats acknowledgement of the song's title

It all feels the same (it's a Zulu love)
Reiterates the concept of Zulu love

Uh
Implies that the song is transitioning into a new thought.

Dark as the midnight hour, or bright as the mornin' sun
Repeating previous lines for emphasis, humanity is diverse and should not be separated.

Brown skinned, but your blue eyes tell me your mama can't run
Kendrick highlights how someone's physical appearance may not necessarily correlate to any preconceived prejudice that people should have.

Sneak (dissin')
Same as before.

Sneak me through the back window, I'm a good field nigga
Same as before.

I made a flower for you outta cotton just to chill with you
Same as before.

You know I'd go the distance, you know I'm ten toes down
Same as before. Ten toes down indicates standing your ground or showing unwavering support.

Even if master's listenin', I got the world's attention
Kendrick is not worried about the slave master but instead is focused on delivering his message to the world.

So I'ma say somethin' that's vital and critical for survival, Of mankind, if he lyin', color should never rival
This is a message that says if mankind hopes to survive, color and skin complexion should never be opposed or pitted against one another.

Beauty is what you make it, I used to be so mistaken
Beauty is a matter of individual definition and a subjective term. Kendrick used to be naive in defining beauty and linking it to skin color, but he's past that now.

By different shades of faces, Then Whit' told me, "A woman is woman, love the creation"
He used to be too focused on complexion to realize that a woman is a woman despite her color. His perspective was altered by his friend named Whit who taught him to look at the bigger picture.

It all came from God, then you was my confirmation
God created everything and as such, each race, gender, and color has been chosen by God. He confirms this by saying that he never needed any person or thing to make him believe that everyone is equal.

I came to where you reside, And looked around to see more sights for sore eyes
Kendrick visits his love interest and describes the things he sees around in the neighborhood, which makes him realize that this love can be found anywhere and everywhere.

Let the Willie Lynch theory reverse a million times with
This is a reference to the Willie Lynch theory, which is a fake document that focuses on how to control slaves based on division. Kendrick wishes this theory would be reversed a million times.

Complexion (two-step)
Repeats the title again.

Complexion don't mean a thing (it's a Zulu love)
Restates the concept of Zulu love where skin shade, hair texture, or culture should never divide people.

Ooh, Complexion (two-step)
Restates the song's title again.

It all feels the same (it's a Zulu love)
Says once more that the feeling involved in the concept of Zulu love is the same, devoid of differences in complexion or race.

(Uh)
Marks the transition to another theme.

You like it, I love it
This is a callback to a famous American football quote, meaning he is indifferent to another person's opinion

You like it, I love it
Reiterates the idea of not letting other people's opinions affect you

You like it, I love it
Reiterates the idea for a third time

You like it, I love it
Reiterates the idea for the fourth time

You like it, I love it
Reiterates the idea for the fifth time

You like it, I love it
Reiterates the idea for the sixth time

You like it, I love it
Reiterates the idea for the seventh time

Where the homegirl Rapsody at?
Kendrick is calling out friend Rapsody to contribute a verse to the song

I need you to speak your mind real quick, loved one!
Kendrick wants his friend to express her opinion about the issues he is touching on.

Let me talk my Stu Scott, 'scuse me on my 2Pac
Referring to two culturally influential figures (the late Stuart Scott and Tupac Shakur), Kendrick uses hyperbole to indicate his intention to speak about issues from his own unique perspective.

Keep your head up, when did you stop, loving thy
Encouraging listeners to keep their heads up and stay confident, this line explores the idea of self-love.

Color of your skin? Color of your eyes
Asks questions about identity to highlight how appearance should not matter to people.

That's the real blues, baby, like you met Jay's baby, uh
Uses wordplay to compare real issues facing dark skin people to a famous rap artist's daughter.

You blew me away, you think more beauty in blue, green and grey
Expresses admiration for someone who views beauty more broadly than just skin color.

All my solemn men up north, 12 years a slave
A reference to slaves from the North who lived through the horrors of being enslaved, shows that slavery was not limited to the American South.

12 years of age, thinkin' my shade too dark
Reflects on childhood experiences when Kendrick was ashamed of being too dark-skinned.

I love myself, I no longer need Cupid
Rejects the idea of seeking validation in the form of love and realizes he only needs to love himself.

Enforcin' my dark side like a young George Lucas
Kendrick is celebrating his African heritage and is intent on encouraging others to do the same.

Light don't mean you smart, bein' dark don't make you stupid
Skin tone is not reflective of one's intelligence or personality.

And frame of mind for them bustas, ain't talkin' 'Woo-hah!'
Having a particular frame of mind differentiates between those who are authentic and those who are not.

Need a paradox for the pair of doc's they tutored
Paradoxical conversations are needed to figure out real truths about a subject.

Like two Todd's, L-L, you lose two times
A play on words (using two famous Todds- Todd Bridges and Todd Palin) to emphasize redundancy between both of their names.

If you don't see you beautiful in your complexion
If people do not accept their complexion and see beauty in it, how can they love themselves?.

It ain't complex to put it in context
It should be easy to understand how complexion should not dictate the way people treat each other.

Find the air beneath the kite, uh that's the context, yeah, baby, I'm conscious
Find the significance in life that makes everything come together.

Ain't no contest
There should be no competition about or discrimination against complexion.

If you like it, I love it, all your earth tones been blessed, Ain't no stress
It means that people's skin color should be celebrated and not held against them

jiggaboos wanna be, I ain't talkin' Jay hm-hm, I ain't talkin' Bey
This line identifies how some are ashamed of their heritage and will try to adopt other people's culture.

I'm talkin' days we got school watchin' movie screens, And spike your self-esteem
Growing up, watching influential movies with positive messages spikes self-esteem and the way you view the world.

the new James Bond gon' be black as me
Refers to the popular character James Bond and how an upcoming portrayal of the character is set to be a black man.

Black as brown, hazelnut, cinnamon, black tea
Various shades of African Americans that are diverse but still deserve equality.

And it's all beautiful to me
To Kendrick, every shade and color of African American is beautiful.

Call your brothers magnificent, call all the sisters queens
Celebrates and emphasizes calling all African Americans with the honorifics of royalty.

We all on the same team, blues and pirus, no colors ain't a thing
Locality and gang association should not negate that everyone is part of the same team in their quest for universal equality.

Barefoot babies with no cares
There are children living in poverty who are dependent on others as they have many unfulfilled dreams.

Teenage gun toters that don't play fair
Teenagers that are violent and don't play by the rules complicate life for the already disadvantaged children.

Should I get out the car?
Kendrick is contemplating whether he should get out of the car to help others who are suffering

I don't see Compton, I see something much worse
Kendrick sees poverty and people living in difficult situations beyond just the urban area of Compton in California.

The land of the landmines, the hell that's on earth
The phrase signifies the dangers and viciousness of everyday life in these situations.