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Similarly, the message behind “i,” Lamar’s Grammy-winning single from TPAB, is clearly expressed in its uplifting chorus: “I love myself.”īut if Lamar has already earned a Grammy from what is arguably the most lyrically simple track from TPAB, then the poetic genius in some of the album’s other prodigious raps is certainly worth exploring. Lamar himself pointed out “King Kunta”’s clear-cut lyrics in a recent interview with MTV, saying, “I wanted to make real simplistic in a boastful way.” The self-assuring mantra “We gon’ be alright” that comprises over half of the hook in “Alright” is a testament to the aforementioned straightforward lyrics. And though these are certainly desirable qualities at a party, their lyrics are objectively simpler and shorter than many of the more hard-hitting, emotionally bulldozing tracks on TPAB. This trifecta frequents hip hop radio channels and college party playlists, bearing similarity to each other in feel-good vibes, uplifting messages and head-banger beats. The most popular TPAB songs, which have persevered for weeks on music charts like The Billboard Top 100 and Spotify’s Popular, are distinctly known: “Alright,” “King Kunta” and “i.”
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Within days of its release, celebrated music critics and acclaimed musicians also praised Kendrick on the profundity of his poetic lyrics, with many immediately breaking out the honored label of “instant classic.” The appeal of TPAB even crossed over into the literary world - Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Chabon ( The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay ) offered his interpretations of Lamar’s lyrics by annotating TPAB’s “The Blacker the Berry” on. He then gained a larger fanbase with its acclaimed 2012 follow-up, Good Kid, M.A.A.D City, and then last March with his release To Pimp A Butterfly (TPAB) - an album that fans and critics alike adored. Known as “K-Dot” before choosing to go by his birth name, Lamar proved his lyrical insight early in his career in 2011 debut studio album Section.80. Kendrick Lamar has the spotlight in the music industry for now - and for good reason. Photo Courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons