Kendrick Lamar

conflict; a bold challenge

Tell me what you gon' do to me

Confrontation ain't nothin' new to me

You can bring a bullet, bring a sword, bring a morgue

calm down; cause to be more favorably inclined; gain the good will of

Tommy Hilfiger stood out, but FUBU never had been your collection

I make music that electrify 'em, you make music that pacify 'em

I can double down on that line, but spare you this time, that's random acts of kindness

worsen; grow worse

The famous actor we once knew is lookin' paranoid and now spiralin'

You're movin' just like a degenerate, every antic is feelin' distasteful

I calculate you're not as calculated, I can even predict your angle

prior; denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important

Reaping everything I sow, so my karma comin' heavy

No preliminary hearings on my record

I'm a motherfucking gangster in silence for the record, uh

wander; lose clarity or turn aside from the main subject in writing or speaking

Spoke my truth, paid my debt, can't you see I'm a wreck? (Ah-yah)

Let me loose, I digress, this is me, and I'm blessed (ah-yah, ah-yah)

This is me and I'm blessed (ah-yah)

lying while under oath; criminal offense of making false statements under oath

'Cause you lied about religious views, you lied about your surgery

You lied about your accent and your past tense, all is perjury

You lied about your ghostwriters, you lied about your crew members

disgrace; cause to be distrusted or disbelieved

But you fucked up the moment you called out my family's name

Why you had to stoop so low to discredit some decent people?

Guess integrity is lost when the metaphors doesn't reach you

scatter; distribute loosely

Fear, what happens on Earth stays on Earth

And I can't take these feelings with me, so hopefully, they disperse

Within 14 tracks, carried out over wax

award; a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction

My newfound life made all of me magnified

How many accolades do I need to block denial?

The shock value of my success put bolts in me

native; originating where it is found

Smiles and cold stares, the temperature goes there

Indigenous disposition, feel like we belong here

I know the walls, they can listen, I wish they could talk back

law; an act passed by a legislative body

So that's why we get chastised, that's why we're in the position we're in

Until we come back to these laws, statutes and commandments

And do what the Lord says, these curses is gonna be upon us

poor; of or characteristic of low rank or importance

Promises are broken and more resentment come alive

Race barriers make inferior of you and I

See, in a perfect world, I'll choose faith over riches

pride; overbearing pride evidenced by a superior manner toward inferiors

Popping a bottle of Claritin (whoa)

Is it my head or my arrogance? (Whoa)

Shaking and moving, like, what am I doing?

commonplace; a trite or obvious remark

Pay me later, wear those gators

Cliché and say, "Fuck your haters"

I can see the baller in you

endanger; pose a threat to; present a danger to

If that money got in the hands of a crash dummy

Could jeopardize my family and burden the ones who love me

Niggas mad 'cause I decided not to pretend

wall painting; a painting that is applied to a wall surface

♪

Yesterday, somebody whacked out my mural

That energy'll make you niggas move to Europe

cruel; disposed to seek revenge or intended for revenge

But the type of bullet that stuck had went against his will

As blood spilled on your hands, my plans rather vindictive

Everybody's a victim in my eyes

dominant; most frequent or common

Killin' us, crime, intelligent, felonious

Prevalent proposition with 9's

Ducky was well-aware

a striking or unlikely combination of events

Then you start remindin' them about that chicken incident

Whoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence?

Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin' life

constant; repetitive and persistent

A demon, you're better off killing her

What is a relative making repetitive narratives, on how you did it first?

That is a predator, hit reverse, all of your presidents' evil thirst

combine; unite into one

I can debate on my theories and sharing it (whoa)

Consolidate all my comparisons

Humblin' up because time was imperative (whoa)

story; a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events

A demon, you're better off killing her

What is a relative making repetitive narratives, on how you did it first?

That is a predator, hit reverse, all of your presidents' evil thirst

legal summons; serve or summon with a subpoena

Church, religion, token blacks, and bondage

Lawsuit visits, subpoena served in concert

Fuck your feelings, I mean this for imposters

sympathetic; showing empathy or ready comprehension of others’ states

You better off to have one woman, never think tricky right now

You niggas live in denial, ay, fuck anybody empathetic to the other side, I vow

A bitch nigga love bitch niggas, they exist with them in style

doubtful; subject to question

Irony, I think my hard work let Lil Wayne down

Whatever, though, call me crazy, everybody questionable

Turn me to an eskimo, I drew the line and decimals

quarrelsome; inclined to dispute, even to engage in law suits

Ego and pride had me lookin' at him with resentment

I close my eyes hopin' that I don't come off contentious

I'm yelling, "Father, did I finally get it right? Everything I did was selfless

distrustful; believing the worst of human nature and motives

Truth be told, I've been battlin' my soul, tryna navigate the real and fake

Cynical about the judgment day

I did past life regression last year and it fucked me up

remain; remain present although waning or gradually dying

"Son you do well but your heart is closed

I can tell residue that linger from your past creates itself"

Father, I'm not perfect I got urges, but I hold them down

amaze; an overwhelming feeling of wonder or admiration

My present life is Kendrick Lamar

A rapper lookin' at the lyrics to keep you in awe

The only factor I respected was raisin' the bar

disturbance; unstable flow of a liquid or gas

It's the Ben Frank murderer, mister, I ain't heard of ya

Gulf streams, back to back, flyin' through the turbulence

Who is he? Free lunch, hm, Kraft Services

severity; something hard to endure

(He dead), I killed him (amen), bitch

And this is rigor mortis, and it's gorgeous when you die

Ali recorded, and I'm Morpheus, the matrix of my mind

destruction; an event (or the result of an event) that completely destroys something

Really too vicious, the permanent beast

And the demolition breaking up the street

Better partition, better dot your T

divide; a vertical structure that divides (as a wall divides one room from another)

And the demolition breaking up the street

Better partition, better dot your T

And I gon' mention how the far you see

distant; remote in manner

I'd be lyin' if I said I wouldn't give this shit away

The aloof Buddha, I'm Christ with a shooter

Praise to Muhammad, I might nigga-news you

government; the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

I can feel it, the dream is more than process

I can put a regime that forms a Loch Ness

I can feel it, the scream that haunts our logic

shared; common to or shared by two or more parties

Feel like only me and the music, though

I feel like your feelin' ain't mutual

I feel like the enemy you should know

examine; to look at critically or searchingly, or in minute detail

Feel like my thought of compromise is jaded

Feel like you wanna scrutinize how I made it

Feel like I ain't feelin' you all

quarrel; a quarrel about petty points

Mando, let me know what the play

Squabble up, squabble up

Squabble up, squabble up

inherent; not established by conditioning or learning

Bitch, I deserve it all

It's innate to mind my business

Writin' words, tryna elevate these children

blessing; a desirable state

"Hey, Dot, can I get a drop?" I'm like, "Nigga, nah"

Ace boon coon from the Westside to Senegal

It's a full moon, let the wolves out, I been a dog (ah)

harmful; (sometimes followed by `to’) causing harm or injury

How much a dollar really cost?

The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts

Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y'all

temporary; one who stays for only a short time

Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment

I never met a transient that demanded attention

They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin'

swivel; turn on a pivot

Walk, walk, walk, walk

Tip, toe, pivot, walk

Tip, toe, pivot, walk

healing; tending to cure or restore to health

The Black Noah, I just strangled me a goat

I walked in with a therapeutic flow

Put a few hundred up, let 'em go, let 'em go

recognize; declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

And, you know, while as I said it can be scary, it can also be a little bit comfortin'

Because I've learned that when I get to that point, and I can acknowledge

"Okay, you know, Audrey, that's as much as you can do", I can actually let it

compete; compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

Si-si, wait a minute

Ven aquí (ven aquí), c'est la vie (c'est la vie)

I tell the whole truth from A to Z, ayy

obvious; clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

Once I finish this, witnesses will convey just what I mean

I mean, it's evident that I'm irrelevant to society

That's what you're tellin' me, penitentiary would only hire me

reason; something that shows an action to be reasonable or necessary

This plot is bigger than me, it's generational hatred

It's genocism, it's grimy, little justification

I'm African-American, I'm African

forward-thinking; a person who favors reform and the protection of civil liberties

Now I can lend all my ear into how to stack these residuals tenfold

The liberal concept of what men'll do

2006, he didn't hear me

think over; reflect deeply on a subject

Fox News wanna use my name for percentage

My latest muse is my niece, she worth livin'

See me on the TV and scream, "That's Uncle Kendrick!"

live in; make one’s home in a particular place or community

Yeah, I'm out the way, are you happy for me?

Truth, it resides in the fire

The need of it's dire

humorous imitation; a composition that imitates somebody’s style, usually in a humorous way

But you think it's all love

And the girls gon' neglect you once your parody is done

Repetition can't protect you if you never had one

construct; put together out of artificial or natural components or parts

I blew cool from AC, ayy, Obama just paged me, ayy

I don't fabricate it, ayy, most of y'all be fakin', ayy

I stay modest 'bout it, ayy, she elaborate it, ayy

working together; accomplished by collaboration

Strategies on how to be great amongst the averages

I picked his brain on what was ordained, highly collaborative

Rep pushed the label the same, amongst the savages

unclear; open to two or more interpretations

I find it just as difficult to love thy neighbors

Especially when people got ambiguous favors

But they hearts not in it, see, everything's for the paper

guarantee; make certain of

Top used to record me back when it was poor me

And now we at the round table for what assures me

I guess my motivation was the yearnin' for independence

excuse; excuse, overlook, or make allowances for; be lenient with

Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what is meant to be

Shades of gray will never change if I condone, oh yeah

Turn this page, help me change, so right my wrong

second rate; moderate to inferior in quality

Nigga you're babblin', your words ain't flatterin', I'm imaginin' Denzel be lookin' at O'Neal

Kazaam is sad thrills, your gimmick is mediocre, the jig is up

I seen you from a mile away losin' focus

beautiful or artistic; relating to or dealing with the subject of aesthetics

I never ask for too much credit

Seeking validation just for the aesthetics, bitch

I deserve it all

legal identification; any authorization to pass or go somewhere

The constant big money talk about mansions and foreign whips

The private jets and passports, presidential glass floor

Gold bottles, gold models, sniffin' up the ass for

expectation; a proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations

Remind me of the homies that used to know me, now follow this

I'll tell you my hypothesis, I'm probably just way too loyal

K Dizzle would do it for you, my niggas think I'm a god

expected; capable of being foretold

I could see your insecurities written all on your face

So predictable your words, I know what you gonna say

Who you foolin'? Oh, you assuming you can just come and hang

motionless; not circulating or flowing

The result?

Wings begin to emerge, breaking the cycle of feeling stagnant

Finally free, the butterfly sheds light on situations that

shaking; a violent disturbance

That's crazy, because me being one of your offspring of the legacy

You left behind I can truly tell you that there's nothing but turmoil

Goin' on so I wanted to ask you what you

ill famed; known widely and usually unfavorably

Bitches want you, but they ain't strong enough

I heard her talkin' we notorious

It's so much, I can only

arrogant; intended to attract notice and impress others

The media's the new religion, you killed the consciousness (what the fuck?)

Your jealousy is way too pretentious, you killed accomplishments (what the fuck?)

Niggas killed freedom of speech, everyone sensitive (what the fuck?)

revenge; action taken in return for an injury or offense

I said, "I might be racist"

Ancestors watchin' me fuck was like retaliation

I'm a killer, he's a killer, she's a killer, bitch

prior example; an example that is used to justify similar occurrences at a later time

Text messaging bitches got my thumbs hurt

Set precedent for a new sacrilegion

Writer's block for two years, nothin' moved me

amusing; humorously sarcastic or mocking

Rush a nigga quick and then we laugh about it

That's ironic, 'cause I've never been violent

Until I'm with the homies

unplanned; happening or arising without apparent external cause

Ooh, just gotta let you know

You were spontaneous, firecracker, plus our love is dangerous

Life of passion, laughin' at you lose your temper, slightly crashin'

creation; a deliberately false or improbable account

Of course I had to wrap it up, I didn't fully trust you

Fabrication, I disgust you, then you blocked me, I said, "Fuck you"

Nigga, what? I gave you life

reasonable; capable of or reflecting the capability for correct and valid reasoning

Both is true, it take some tough skin just to deal with you

Logical explanation don't exist, flippin' pages

Chapter after chapter, probably remarry and head to Vegas

apparent contradiction; (logic) a statement that contradicts itself

And frame of mind for them bustas, ain't talkin' "Woo-hah!"

Need a paradox for the pair of daughters they tutored

Like two Todds, L-L, you lose two times

skill; subtly skillful handling of a situation

Ayy, I remember syrup sandwiches and crime allowances

Finesse a nigga with some counterfeits, but now I'm countin' this

Parmesan where my accountant lives in fact, I'm downin' this

experimental; under terms not final or fully worked out or agreed upon

My innocence limited the experience lacked

Ten of us with no tentative tactic that cracked

The mind of a literate writer, but I did it in fact

bargain; discuss the terms of an arrangement

The industry has killed the creators, I'll be the first to say (what the fuck?)

To each exec', "I'm saving your children", we can't negotiate (what the-)

I caught a couple of bodies myself, slid my community

speak up for; push for something

If you resist, I'll back off quick, go catch a flight or two

But if you pick destiny over rest in peace then be an advocate

Tell your homies especially to come back home

add detail; mark by complexity and richness of detail

I don't fabricate it, ayy, most of y'all be fakin', ayy

I stay modest 'bout it, ayy, she elaborate it, ayy

This that Grey Poupon, that Evian, that TED Talk, ayy

use; eat immoderately

Let these words be your earth and moon

You consume every message

As I lead this army make room for mistakes and depression

nonbelieving; denying or questioning the tenets of especially a religion

Her favorite cousin Demetrius is irrepetible

Family history of gangbangin' did make me skeptical

But not enough to stop me from gettin' a nut

hatred; a feeling of ill will arousing active hostility

I got ate alive yesterday

I got animosity buildin', it's probably big as a buildin'

Me jumpin' off of the roof is me just playin' it safe

victim; a person who is the aim of an attack

As the record spin, I should pray

For the record, I recognize that I'm easily prey

I got ate alive yesterday

respect; the condition of being honored (esteemed or respected or well regarded)

I'm talkin' days we got school watchin' movie screens

And spike your self esteem the new James Bond gon' be black as me

Black as brown, hazelnut, cinnamon, black tea

understanding; understanding and entering into another’s feelings

King of the answer, king of the problem, king of the forsaken

King of the empathy, you resent me, king of remorse

King of my enemies, may they father feed, I rejoice

essential; having superior power and influence

"Where you stay?" She said "Down the street from Dominguez High"

Okay, I know that's borderline Compton or Paramount

"Well is it Compton?"

huge; of great force or power

Not only from the rap game, I'm includin' the planet

Cats so watered-down, clowns can sink Titanic

Tie titanium around they neck and watch 'em panic

swearing; blasphemous language (expressing disrespect for God or for something sacred)

We all are sinners, won't you send us to Bible study faster?

Your hypocritist reaction a blasphemy, I assassin my casualty

And it's casually done, and tell 'em my salary come

high point; the highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding

I'm on the toilet when I rhyme, if you the shit, then I decline

I climax where you begin, and then I end on cloud nine

And that's important when you morph into an angel in the sky

death report; an examination and dissection of a dead body to determine cause of death

Nowadays, I'm a new prophet, ayy

Game dead, no autopsy, ayy

City girl with they new hobby, ayy

attacking; the action of attacking an enemy

We didn't talk for a while, he seemed more distant

Wasn't comfortable around me, everything was offensive

But I recall we both had a sick sense of humor

come from; reason by deduction; establish by deduction

If you derive your sense of identity from being a victim

Let's say, bad things were done to you when you were a child

suppose; to believe especially on uncertain or tentative grounds

I can rap on some nineties shit, wrap your leggings around my hip

I'm so hip to it, tourists want to come speculate

But if I stay monogamous promise this kiss will always taste like candy

fake; intended to deceive

On the corners where the gangsters and the killers dwell

The fraudulent tender scars that get unveiled

Everyone I knew was either Crip or Piru

give insincere compliments; excessive or insincere praise

With batteries to the head

The flattery of watchin' my stock rise

The salary, the compensation tripled my cock size

distressed; excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion

You niggas fear me like y'all fear God

You sound frantic, I hear panic in your voice

Just know the mechanics of making your choice and writin' your bars

scheming; indirect in departing from the accepted or proper way; misleading

Why you couldn't be a con artist? Why you couldn't?

Why you couldn't be mischievous or just a lil' devious

The moment that we first started?

threatening; threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

One-night stands? (Have you ever?)

I'm a emperor, very sinister

Somewhere smokin' on Indica (Mmm)

friendship; the quality of affording easy familiarity and sociability

Never would you lie to me

Always camaraderie, I can see, hard days been numbered

Revelation greatest as we hearing the last trumpet

fall; drop sharply

In disbeliefs our beliefs reason for all this

The tallest building plummet, cracking and crumbling

The ground is shaking swallowing young woman

possible; capable of being done with means at hand and circumstances as they are

Die in a pitiful vain, tell me a watch and a chain

Is way more believable, give me a feasible gain

Rather a seasonal name

strong belief; an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence

Shit I've been through prolly offend you, this is Paula's oldest son

I know murder, conviction, burners, boosters

Burglars, ballers, dead, redemption

not extreme; being within reasonable or average limits; not excessive or extreme

A better way to make a wave, stop defendin' them

I meditate and moderate all of my wins again

I'm hangin' on the fence again

benefit; governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in need

(Tell 'em when you went to the park and everybody came back and...)

And welfare don't mean well for you, you, you, you

(What about when you tried to do a side for that but you...)

similarity; an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others

You ever seen a newborn baby kill a grown man?

That's an analogy for the way the world make me react

My innocence been dead

kidding; cleverly amusing in tone

Break your boogie boards to pieces, you just a typical homi

All these niggas facetious and they all standing beside me

They all'll buy me a chopper if any one of you try me

overly narrow representation; a conventional or formulaic conception or image

Award touring the country with money from mic recording

The only way out the ghetto, you know the stereotype

Shooting hoops and live on the stereo like top 40

lying down; having a tendency (to); often used in combination

Rebellious and Margielas'll chip you for designer

Belt buckles and clout, overzealous if prone to violence

Make the wrong turn, be a will of the wheel alignment

foster; help develop, help grow

I wasn't perfect, the skin I was in had truly suffered

Temptation and patience, everything that the body nurtures

I felt the good, I felt the bad, and I felt the worry

inform; make understand

What's your life about? Enlighten me

Is you gon' live on your knees or die on your feet?

irritating; causing disapproval or protest

Pity the fool that made the pretty in you prosper

Titty juice and pussy lips kept me obnoxious

Kept me up watchin' pornos in poverty

inactive; in a condition of biological rest or suspended animation

More divorce courts and portion

My check with less endorsement left me dormant

Dusted, doomed, disgusted, forced with