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[Grakl]

Now that TPaB has been generally recognized as the best album of last year, what's your favorite verse(s)?

I'm gonna say Rapsody's on Complexion, shit is great and it's powerful. There's better verses but it's my favorite. She's been killing it lately tbh

Let me talk my Stu Scott, ‘scuse me on my 2pac
Keep your head up, when did you stop? Love and die
Colour of your skin, colour 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
Yea 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, jiigga 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 a steam the new James Bond gon’ be black as me
Black as brown, hazelnut cinnamon tea
And it’s all beautiful to me
Call your brothers magnificient, call all the sisters queens
We all on the same team, blues and pirus, no colours ain’t a thing

 

[Slayven]

Is it that new macklemoore? My mom loves that shit

 

[internetwolf]

Is it that new macklemoore? My mom loves that shit

what is wrong with you?

King Kendrick doesn't deserve this slander

 

[Andrew Korenchkin]

Is it that new macklemoore? My mom loves that shit

Troll post.

Anyway, EVERY VERSE IS A MASTERPIECE. GOAT RAP ALBUM.

 

[Grakl]

Is it that new macklemoore? My mom loves that shit

Lmao

What if the president said macklemore better than Drake though

 

[Dereck]

Momma was the first thing that came to mind.

 

[Bacon]

Momma -

I met a little boy that resembled my features
Nappy afro, gap in his smile
Hand me down sneakers bounced through the crowd
Runnin' home and the man and woman that crossed him
Sun beamin' on his beady beads exhausted
Tossin' footballs with his ashy black ankles
Breakin' new laws mama passed on home trainin'
He looked at me and said Kendrick you do know my language
You just forgot because of what public schools had painted
Oh I forgot don't kill my vibe, that's right you're famous
I used to watch on Channel 5, TV was takin'
But never mind you're here right now don't you mistake it
It's just a new trip, take a glimpse at your family's ancestor
Make a new list, of everything you thought was progress
And that was bullshit, I mean your life is full of turmoil
You spoiled by fantasies of who you are
I feel bad for you
I can attempt to enlighten you without frightenin' you
If you resist, I'll back off quick go catch a flight or two
But if you pick, destiny over rest in peace
Than be an advocate go tell your homies especially
To come back home

 

[Grakl]

Momma was the first thing that came to mind.

Momma -

Yeah Momma is godlike

 

[Citizen_Insane]

Mortal Man. All of it.

 

[Auctopus]

Now this is a thread.

Can't decide on a favourite but I love the flow of "Momma".

I met a little boy that resembled my features
Nappy afro, gap in his smile
Hand me down sneakers bounced through the crowd
Run a number on man and woman that crossed him
Sun beamin' on his beady beads exhausted
Tossin' footballs with his ashy black ankles
Breakin' new laws, mama passed on home trainin'
He looked at me and said, "Kendrick you do know my language
You just forgot because of what public schools had painted
Oh, I forgot, 'Don't Kill My Vibe', that's right, you're famous
I used to watch on Channel 5, TV was taken
But never mind you're here right now don't you mistake it
It's just a new trip, take a glimpse at your family's ancestor
Make a new list, of everything you thought was progress
And that was bullshit, I mean your life is full of turmoil
Spoiled by fantasies of who you are, I feel bad for you
I can attempt to enlighten you without frightenin' you
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"

 

[maxcriden]

Whoa, those rhymes are very fresh and complex. I like the verses a lot. I assumed because this was popular it was mysognistic and backwards-thinking like a lot of popular (not just rap by any means) music is. So there's no content like that in Lamar's music? I guess I judged a bit based on the title... 😳

 

[neurosyphilis]

Damn I got to go back and listen to TPAB. It's been a long time.

 

[Bacon]

Whoa, those rhymes are very fresh and complex. I like the verses a lot. I assumed because this was popular it was mysognistic and backwards-thinking like a lot of popular (not just rap by any means) music is. So there's no content like that in Lamar's music? I guess I judged a bit based on the title... 😳

Kendrick is working on an entirely different level than almost all other popular rappers right now. Tpab is socially conscious and empowering.

 

[maxcriden]

Kendrick is working on an entirely different level than almost all other popular rappers right now. Tpab is socially conscious and empowering.

That's awesome to read. Thank you for the info!

 

[Citizen_Insane]

Whoa, those rhymes are very fresh and complex. I like the verses a lot. I assumed because this was popular it was mysognistic and backwards-thinking like a lot of popular (not just rap by any means) music is. So there's no content like that in Lamar's music? I guess I judged a bit based on the title... 😳

TPAB is going to blow your mind, friend. Listen to Momma, Mortal Man, and Complexion to see how different his lyrics are compared to everyone else in the game. This album is going to be remembered for a long time, imo.

 

[chaislip3]

Momma is fucking masterful.

 

[Thewonandonly]

I love the last verse of blacker the berry. It really hits you hard and it has a really good message. This whole album is a masterpiece and you can find goat verses in any song on it.

 

[CountBlack]

Third Verse on These Walls

If your walls could talk, they’d tell you it’s too late
Your destiny accepted your fate
Burn accessories and stash them where they are
Take the recipe, the Bible and God
Wall telling you that commissary is low
Race wars happening no calling CO
No calling your mother to save you
Homies to say you're reputable, not acceptable
Your behavior is Sammy Da Bull like
A killer that turned snitch
Walls is telling me you a bitch
You pray for appeals hoping the warden would afford them
That sentence so important
Walls telling you to listen to "Sing About Me"
Retaliation is strong, you even dream 'bout me
Killed my homeboy and God spared your life
Dumb criminal got indicted same night
So when you play this song, rewind the first verse
About me abusing my power so you can hurt
About me and her in the shower whenever she horny
About me and her in the after hours of the morning
About her baby daddy currently serving life
And how she think about you until we meet up at night
About the only girl that cared about you when you asked her
And how she fucking on a famous rapper
Walls could talk

cold

2nd verse of Institutionalized

Fuck am I 'posed to do when I'm lookin' at walkin' licks?
The constant big money talk 'bout the mansion and foreign whips
The private jets and passport, presidential glass floor
Gold bottles, gold models, sniffin' up the ass for
Instagram flicks, suckin dick, fuck is this?
One more sucker wavin' wit a flashy wrist
My defense, mechanism tell me to get him
Quickly because he got it
It's a recession, then why the fuck he at King of Diamonds?
No more livin' poor, meet my four-four
When I see 'em, put the per diem on the floor
Now Kendrick, know they're your co-workers
But it's gon' take a lot for this pistol go cold turkey
Now I can watch his watch on the TV and be okay
But see I'm on the clock once that watch landin' in LA
Remember steal from the rich and givin' it back to the poor?
Well that's me at these awards
I guess my grandmama was warnin' a boy
She said...

Everything on How Much A Dollar Cost whew

 

[EloquentM]

Whoa, those rhymes are very fresh and complex. I like the verses a lot. I assumed because this was popular it was mysognistic and backwards-thinking like a lot of popular (not just rap by any means) music is. So there's no content like that in Lamar's music? I guess I judged a bit based on the title... 😳

It's not that there arent moments like that, but unlike most artists those moments are multifaceted in their meaning and as a result are less shallow. You should listen to his whole catalogue especially the two albums before this one.

 

[LionPride]

When you got the yams (What's the yams?)
The yam is the power that be
You can smell it when I'm walking down the street
(Oh yes we can, oh yes we can)
I can dig rapping, but a rapper with a ghost writer
What the fuck happened?
(Oh no) I swore I wouldn't tell
But most of you share bars like you got the bottom bunk in a two man cell
(A two man cell)
Something's in the water (Something's in the water)
And if I got a brown nose for some gold then I'd rather be a bum than a motherfuckin' baller

I would post all of U or Wesley's Theory, but this is shorter

 

[udiie]

pretty much the entirety of these walls is probably my favourite song of all time

 

[maxcriden]

It's not that there arent moments like that, but unlike most artists those moments are multifaceted in their meaning and as a result are less shallow. You should listen to his whole catalogue especially the two albums before this one.

I appreciate the info. I'll check it out for sure. Thank you!

 

[Grakl]

Third Verse on These Walls



cold

2nd verse of Institutionalized



Everything on How Much A Dollar Cost whew

That verse on these walls is so good, love that song

 

[hughesta]

And you the reason why mama and them leavin'
No you ain't shit, you say you love them, I know you don't mean it
I know you're irresponsible, selfish, in denial, can't help it
Your trials and tribulations a burden, everyone felt it
Everyone heard it, multiple shots, corners cryin' out
You was deserted, where was your antennas again?
Where was your presence, where was your support that you pretend?
You ain't no brother, you ain't no disciple, you ain't no friend
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 faced time the one time, that's unforgiven
You even faced time instead of a hospital visit
You should thought he would recover, well
The surgery couldn't stop the bleeding for real
Then he died, God himself will say "you fuckin' failed"
You ain't try

I know your secrets nigga
Mood swings is frequent nigga
I know depression is restin' on your heart for two reasons nigga
I know you and a couple block boys ain't been speakin' nigga
Y'all damn near beefin', I seen it and your the reason nigga
And if this bottle could talk [gulp] 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 them to the world about that shit you thinkin'
And that time you [gulp] I'm bout to hurl
I'm fucked up, but I'm not as fucked up as you
You just can't get right, I think your heart made of bullet proof
Shoulda killed yo ass a long time ago
You shoulda filled that black revolver blast a long time ago
And if those mirrors could talk it would say "you gotta go"
And if I told your secrets
The world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness

Fucking. GOAT.

 

[The Auxiliary]

And you the reason why mama and them leavin'
No you ain't shit, you say you love them, I know you don't mean it
I know you're irresponsible, selfish, in denial, can't help it
Your trials and tribulations a burden, everyone felt it
Everyone heard it, multiple shots, corners cryin' out
You was deserted, where was your antennas again?
Where was your presence, where was your support that you pretend?
You ain't no brother, you ain't no disciple, you ain't no friend
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 faced time the one time, that's unforgiven
You even faced time instead of a hospital visit
You should thought he would recover, well
The surgery couldn't stop the bleeding for real
Then he died, God himself will say "you fuckin' failed"
You ain't try

I know your secrets nigga
Mood swings is frequent nigga
I know depression is restin' on your heart for two reasons nigga
I know you and a couple block boys ain't been speakin' nigga
Y'all damn near beefin', I seen it and your the reason nigga
And if this bottle could talk [gulp] 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 them to the world about that shit you thinkin'
And that time you [gulp] I'm bout to hurl
I'm fucked up, but I'm not as fucked up as you
You just can't get right, I think your heart made of bullet proof
Shoulda killed yo ass a long time ago
You shoulda filled that black revolver blast a long time ago
And if those mirrors could talk it would say "you gotta go"
And if I told your secrets
The world'll know money can't stop a suicidal weakness

Fucking. GOAT.

This shit fucked me up. The album came out right around when I had come out of a nearly fatal depressive episode, and when I realized that he was talking about himself the whole time, (an all too familiar kind of self-loathing,) it fucked me up real bad. I think it's pretty important to me that a talented guy like Kendrick is rapping about mental illness. Reminds me that I'm not the only one out there dealing with this kind of stuff.

 

[XANDER CAGE]

Lots of great stuff on TPAB but this verse from King Kunta is probably my favorite:

I was gonna kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves
Everybody's suicidal, they ain't even need my help
This shit is elementary, I'll probably go to jail
If I shoot at your identity and bounce to the left
Stuck a flag in my city, everybody's screamin' "Compton!"
I should probably run for Mayor when I'm done, to be honest
And I put that on my Mama and my baby boo too
Twenty million walkin' out the court buildin', woo woo!
Ah yeah, fuck the judge, I made it past 25 and there I was
A little nappy-headed nigga with the world behind him
Life ain't shit but a fat vagina
Screamin' "Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay?"
Limo tinted with the gold plates
Straight from the bottom, this the belly of the beast
From a peasant to a prince to a motherfuckin' king

I like Kendrick's more serious stuff on GKMC and TPAB, but occasionally I like it when he gets more tongue-in-cheek as well as clever. This verse is a perfect blend of his politically charged rapping and his slightly self-deprecating sense of humor ("life ain't shit but a fat vagina" is a great good-bad line similar to the in-character stuff on Backseat Freestyle).

 

[Coded Heroin]

Momma is his best song after Sing About Me.