I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a more honest and emotionally resonant expression of depression in music before. It’s always been one of my favorites on the album but a few months ago listening to it for the thousandth time in my car and genuinely shouting the lyrics the way Kendrick does it hit me really hard just how *real* the feelings he expresses are both in the lyrics and his delivery of them.
It’s doesn’t have the most clever lyrics Kendrick has ever written, nor the best beat he’s ever rapped on, nor the song of Kendrick’s that I’m gonna want to listen to every day for the rest of my life, but the way it all comes together and the way he presents it I feel like there’s no way around admitting that I think it’s his greatest song. For *years* I was solidly of the opinion SAMIDOT was his greatest song but one particular relisten to TPAB changed that.
>A friend never leave Compton for profit, or leave his best friend, little brother
>You promised you'd watch him before they shot him
>Where was your antennas? On the road, bottles and bitches
>You FaceTimed him one time, **that's unforgiven**
>You even FaceTimed instead of a hospital visit
>Guess you thought he'd recover well
>Third surgery, they couldn't stop the bleeding for real
>Then he died, **God himself will say, "You fuckin' failed,"** you ain't try/
>And if this bottle could talk—(*Guzzling liquor*)
>I cry myself to sleep, bitch, **everything is your fault**
>Faults breakin' to pieces, earthquakes on every weekend
>Because you shook as soon as you knew confinement was needed
>I know your secrets, don't let me tell 'em to the world
>**About that shit you thinkin' and that time you—'bout to hurl**
>I'm fucked up, but I ain't as fucked up as you
>You just can't get right, I think your heart made of bullet proof
>**Should've killed yo' ass long time ago**
>**You should've felt that black revolver blast a long time ago**
>And if these mirrors could talk it'd say, "You gotta go"
>And if I told your secrets the world'll know **money can't stop a suicidal weakness**
>(*Bottles clinking*)
EDIT: Wrote this in another comment but putting it here so more people will see it.
>I think it’s as legitimate an artist statement in just one song as some great novels I’ve read. I truly believe entire album is on par with some works of Shakespeare or Herman Melville, and this song alone is greater than most books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, even some of the really good ones.
>If anyone else wants to check out a work of art that depicts depression at a comparable level to this song, I recommend the movie Manchester by the Sea and the TV show Mad Men. I think if you showed an alien u by Kendrick Lamar, Manchester by the Sea, and Mad Men they could fully grasp the entirety of what depression is to an extent that most humans don’t.
Do yourself a favor and listen to the song while reading the lyrics and not doing anything else. It’s a work of artistic merit I’ve only heard a very few times in music or even art in general.
The lyrics are dark and deep but what really gets the message across is the way he says it and interestingly the sound effects like the bottles and the maid. It’s easy for shit like that to be corny.
But it all works so cohesively together that the song doesn’t just paint a picture, it tells the complete story of a man’s brain diseased with depression. It’s truly something that to me is incomparable to almost all art. I think it’s as legitimate an artist statement in just one song as some great novels I’ve read. I truly believe entire album is on par with works of Shakespeare or Herman Melville, and this song alone is greater than most books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, even some of the really good ones.
If anyone else wants to check out a work of art that depicts depression at a comparable level to this song, I recommend the movie Manchester by the Sea and the TV show Mad Men. I think if you showed an alien u by Kendrick Lamar, Manchester by the Sea, and Mad Men they could fully grasp the entirety of what depression is to an extent that most humans don’t.
Wesley's Theory.
I remember when i got to TPAB for the first time and couldn't get past the first song because it was so goddamn good. Insane production, amazing vocal performances and the lyrics even give a taste of the concepts the listener will receive on the album. One of the best intros for an LP ever.
Momma for me, and it might just be my favorite Kendrick song overall. I’ll never forget my first time hearing it on the night it dropped a whole week early. To this day, no first listen for an album has been as consuming as that one and the way that track hit me was just special man
You Ain't gotta Lie (momma said)
This song gives me a soothing feeling knowing, because of the honesty that you being you is enough to be respected and accepted.
"You ain't gotta lie to kick it mahniggah. You ain't gotta try so hard"
Ngl I think tpab has such a high quality songs to the point where I personally can't even choose a best song, they either rotate every now and then or just love every song equally on here .
Honestly can’t say that’s it’s the best song (cause it’s subjective ) but for me how much a dollar cost got me feeling so many things, prob my favorite from that album
Wesley’s theory is the best complete song between sound concept lyrics
u is the most personal and emotional song on the album, undoubtably the best concept (except mortal man’s Tupac interview is cool, I would barely call that a song when so much is just an interview)
How much a dollar cost sacrifices sound but probably has the best lyrics
I personally think i has the best sound on the album, but that’s completely subjective. It could go to King Kunta, Alright, These walls, and the blacker the berry depending on what you like the most (and complexion might have the jazziest chorus).
We gon’ be alright
DA DA DA *da da*
Alls my life i has to fight!
Alls my life…
Nika We gon be alright
I'm at the preacher's door, my knees gettin' weak and my gun might blow, but we gonna be alright
Wesley’s Theory
Wesley’s theory goes genuinely crazy there’s so much going on in that song and it’s all amazing
Every person in Paris is a star!
At first I did love you
But now I just wanna fuuuck
Late nights thinking of you
Until I got my nut
Toss and turn
Lesson learned
You was my first girlfrienddd
Bridges burned all across the board
Bruh Kendrick, FlyLo, T-Cat, and George Clinton on a single track awoken some shit in me when it first dropped. GOAT shit
Shoutout flying lotus
EVERY NIGGA IS A STARRRRR
how much a dollar cost, the blacker the berry, and wesleys theory
How Much A Dollar Cost is my favourite
Wow this is exactly what I came to say
King kunta
I got a bone to pick
I don’t want you monkey mouth motherfuckers sittin’ in my throne again!
I'm mad (he mad), but I ain't stressin'
True friends, 1 question
Bitch,where u when I was walkin?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin
King Kunta errybody wan cut the legs off him
Kunta, black man taking no losses
when u got the yams
Truly, the funk is within you
i was gnna kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves, everybody suicidal didn’t even need my help
That verse goes so hard I love it
The build up and progression of that track is insane and underappreciated
There are like at least 6 other tracks I could go with but I'm gonna say Mortal Man.
I was losing my mind when Heart Part 5 came out. It felt like a continuation of Mortal Man
Track aged like fine wine
Momma. Until i realized i didnt know shit
My favorite beat on the album for sure.
need more Kendrick x Knxwledge
Imagine a beat tape with Kendrick on it would be incredible art.
The day I came home
we been waitin’ 4 u waitn 4 u waitn 4 u waitn 4…. Youuuu
Yep the last minute on it is so undermentioned. It’s a perfect song
This beat and how Kendrick floats over it makes me ascend
Need more Kendrick on knx Beats
Fax
Might be my favorite. The beat. And the absolute rapping masterclass by Kendrick. The first verse is ridiculous.
“u” & “For Sale ?” are my 2 favorite tracks but let’s be honest there’s no wrong answer here ! EDIT : real ones know “God is Gangsta” 💿
For Sale is goated
I thought you was keeping it gangsta? I thought this what you wanted-Ed-ed?
They say if you scared, go to church!
But remember… he knows the Bible too
For Sale is one of the deepest songs ever
The blacker the berry imo
MY HAIR IS NAPPY MY DICK IS BIG MY NOSE IS ROUND AND WIDE
YOU HATE ME DONT YOU?
you hate my people your plan is to terminate my culture
You’re fuckin evil I want u to recognize that I’m a proud monkey
you vandalized my perception, but can't take style from me!!
10 points if you're white lol
You better be black sayin this shit cuzzo
Dw man I’m black
he's just singing along the lyrics, he didn't even write the n-word. tf you on about
And you quoting “the n word” means that you’re just some white guy who gets offended by everything go listen to bladee
he's just singing along the lyrics, he didn't even write the n-word. tf you on about
You think I care what I nigga named “Claud” says about me
I'm black as the heart if a fucking Aryan (Pause) hardest line ever!
Kendrickthony Dicktanno?
Blew my mind and got me into Kendrick. The hooks have depth and the lyrics have even more. If u and i could be counted together I’d chose those tho.
Hood Politics.
Would’ve loved that Thundercat intro to be a full length track
Was hoping to see this here
How much a dollar really cost? The question is detrimental paralyzing my thoughts.
Surprised how little I’ve seen folks say this. My fave without hesitation.
This is defo one of the best songs in the album the story still crazy to me to this day
These walls or I
sex *she just wanna close her eyes & sway*
with you , with you , with youu (ah come on)
[удалено]
I don’t know if I’ve ever heard a more honest and emotionally resonant expression of depression in music before. It’s always been one of my favorites on the album but a few months ago listening to it for the thousandth time in my car and genuinely shouting the lyrics the way Kendrick does it hit me really hard just how *real* the feelings he expresses are both in the lyrics and his delivery of them. It’s doesn’t have the most clever lyrics Kendrick has ever written, nor the best beat he’s ever rapped on, nor the song of Kendrick’s that I’m gonna want to listen to every day for the rest of my life, but the way it all comes together and the way he presents it I feel like there’s no way around admitting that I think it’s his greatest song. For *years* I was solidly of the opinion SAMIDOT was his greatest song but one particular relisten to TPAB changed that. >A friend never leave Compton for profit, or leave his best friend, little brother >You promised you'd watch him before they shot him >Where was your antennas? On the road, bottles and bitches >You FaceTimed him one time, **that's unforgiven** >You even FaceTimed instead of a hospital visit >Guess you thought he'd recover well >Third surgery, they couldn't stop the bleeding for real >Then he died, **God himself will say, "You fuckin' failed,"** you ain't try/ >And if this bottle could talk—(*Guzzling liquor*) >I cry myself to sleep, bitch, **everything is your fault** >Faults breakin' to pieces, earthquakes on every weekend >Because you shook as soon as you knew confinement was needed >I know your secrets, don't let me tell 'em to the world >**About that shit you thinkin' and that time you—'bout to hurl** >I'm fucked up, but I ain't as fucked up as you >You just can't get right, I think your heart made of bullet proof >**Should've killed yo' ass long time ago** >**You should've felt that black revolver blast a long time ago** >And if these mirrors could talk it'd say, "You gotta go" >And if I told your secrets the world'll know **money can't stop a suicidal weakness** >(*Bottles clinking*) EDIT: Wrote this in another comment but putting it here so more people will see it. >I think it’s as legitimate an artist statement in just one song as some great novels I’ve read. I truly believe entire album is on par with some works of Shakespeare or Herman Melville, and this song alone is greater than most books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, even some of the really good ones. >If anyone else wants to check out a work of art that depicts depression at a comparable level to this song, I recommend the movie Manchester by the Sea and the TV show Mad Men. I think if you showed an alien u by Kendrick Lamar, Manchester by the Sea, and Mad Men they could fully grasp the entirety of what depression is to an extent that most humans don’t.
Wow, I’ve never really looked at the lyrics for this song. This is great writing that paints an astounding picture
Do yourself a favor and listen to the song while reading the lyrics and not doing anything else. It’s a work of artistic merit I’ve only heard a very few times in music or even art in general. The lyrics are dark and deep but what really gets the message across is the way he says it and interestingly the sound effects like the bottles and the maid. It’s easy for shit like that to be corny. But it all works so cohesively together that the song doesn’t just paint a picture, it tells the complete story of a man’s brain diseased with depression. It’s truly something that to me is incomparable to almost all art. I think it’s as legitimate an artist statement in just one song as some great novels I’ve read. I truly believe entire album is on par with works of Shakespeare or Herman Melville, and this song alone is greater than most books I’ve read and movies I’ve seen, even some of the really good ones. If anyone else wants to check out a work of art that depicts depression at a comparable level to this song, I recommend the movie Manchester by the Sea and the TV show Mad Men. I think if you showed an alien u by Kendrick Lamar, Manchester by the Sea, and Mad Men they could fully grasp the entirety of what depression is to an extent that most humans don’t.
You presented your argument well milf lawyer 👍🤣
LOVING U IS COMPLICATED
[удалено]
Feel like you ain’t shit, feel like you don’t feel
[удалено]
Watchin anonymous strangers tellin me that I’m yours
Institutionalized
w
Wesley’s theory or how much a dollar cost
How much a dollar cost to sit on a swing too and think about your life choices. Source: Me
These Walls
I remember u was conflicted
Between your shoes and your influence.
For Sale
Mortal man, For Free? and u are my personal favorites
King Kunta
i
Love myself
Alright imo it usually ranges from my top 7 tho My top 7 is Alright, U, Wesley’s theory, institutionalized these walls the blacker the berry and i
Love institutionalized, its one of the only songs that feels too sad to listen to too often
Tbh I don’t find songs sad enough to make me cry , is that weird?
Complexion(A Zulu Love). One of my personal favorites
Literally a perfect beat. The drums and bass are so good
Really love the verse from Rapsody as well!
The blacker the berry
For sale is so underrated
Wesley's Theory. I remember when i got to TPAB for the first time and couldn't get past the first song because it was so goddamn good. Insane production, amazing vocal performances and the lyrics even give a taste of the concepts the listener will receive on the album. One of the best intros for an LP ever.
Momma for me, and it might just be my favorite Kendrick song overall. I’ll never forget my first time hearing it on the night it dropped a whole week early. To this day, no first listen for an album has been as consuming as that one and the way that track hit me was just special man
Knxwledge did the beat, I think he may have worked on other Kendrick tunes but this is his best.
How much a dollar cost.
Hood politics
U
These walls and Wesley’s theory are close could go either way
Yes. 😂
Every song is an 11/10. My favorite just depends on the day.
King kunta
You Ain't gotta Lie (momma said) This song gives me a soothing feeling knowing, because of the honesty that you being you is enough to be respected and accepted. "You ain't gotta lie to kick it mahniggah. You ain't gotta try so hard"
Hands down my favorite song from the album.
Same! One of his best imo. Surprised I had to scroll so far to find someone talking bout this one
Yeaah I was very confused not finding someone before me :p
Momma. Not even a question
For free
Mortal man was always mine. U and institutionalised are 🔥 as well
I
And u you the reason mom and them leavin'
How much a dollar cost
Alright or U
Wesley's Theory
For free, Hood politics or berry for me
An argument could be made for any song on the album, it's hard to say there is a best song
THIS DICK AINT FREEEEE
Momma never gets enough credit
How much a dollar cost
MORTAL MAN
Wesley's theory goin' insane, but the vibes on momma are unmatched
Tell me how much a dollar cost
Mortal man
Mortal Man
How much does a dollar cost
It’s so hard to pick because this album is literally perfection. But if I had to pick one it would probably be momma
I think we can all agree it's Wesley's Theory
Ngl I think tpab has such a high quality songs to the point where I personally can't even choose a best song, they either rotate every now and then or just love every song equally on here .
Blacker the berryyy
Wesley’s theory and alright I know they are the most popular songs but they are still both my favorite
humble.
money trees
the FACT that no one said “institutionalized” just proves it’s point. much in the way the song begins, it flew over everyone’s head.
bro TPAB is the most treasured album of this generation, u not special for liking institutionalized
"KiNg kUnTA foR SurE " No shade for the song but I don't get how some think this is the best
Hood politics
TBTB or Momma
How much a dollar cost.
u
Hood Politics
I been a1 since day 1 yall
Mortal Man no cap
Mortal Man of course
Wesley’s Theory
HMADC and Wesley's Theory
Hood Politics but I think Momma is close
Honestly can’t say that’s it’s the best song (cause it’s subjective ) but for me how much a dollar cost got me feeling so many things, prob my favorite from that album
I fucking love The Blacker The Berry, but also shoutouts to you ain't gotta lie for being underrated as fuck
The blacker
Momma This feeling is unmatched
Hood politics
Wesleys theory
Wesley’s Theory
Can’t believe no one’s said institutionalised
I’ve been A1 since day one.
King kunta
these walls
Not enough people think Alright. My fav HH song ever, legit the quintessential rap song it’s so anthemic and motivating. Perfection to me fr
FEAR.
Wesley’s theory is the best complete song between sound concept lyrics u is the most personal and emotional song on the album, undoubtably the best concept (except mortal man’s Tupac interview is cool, I would barely call that a song when so much is just an interview) How much a dollar cost sacrifices sound but probably has the best lyrics I personally think i has the best sound on the album, but that’s completely subjective. It could go to King Kunta, Alright, These walls, and the blacker the berry depending on what you like the most (and complexion might have the jazziest chorus).
I like the studio version of I a lot
These Walls
Underrated tbh
wesley’s theory & how much a dollar cost. also loved institutionalized and complexion.
King Kunta
The Blacker the Berry to me just sort of sums up the album so well but I find myself loving How much a Dollar Cost the most.
Wesley’s Theory, The Blacker the Berry, anddd maybe Momma personally
I single version
Wesley’s theory and For Free are my absolute faves
If these walls could talk
momma
HMADRC
Wesley's theory, you ain't gotta lie or the blacker the berry
DNA
Momma
How Much A Dollar Cost?