King Kunta
Kendrick Lamar
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
I got a bone to pick I don't want you monkey mouth motherfuckers sittin' in my throne again (Aye aye nigga whats happenin' nigga, K Dot back in the hood nigga) I'm mad (He mad), but I ain't stressin' True friends, one question Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta Black man taking no losses Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him 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 f*ck happened? (Oh no) I swore I wouldn't tell But most of y'all 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 Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta Black man taking no losses Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him When you got the yams (What's the yams?) The yam brought it out of Richard Pryor Manipulated Bill Clinton with desires 24/7, 365 days times two I was contemplatin' gettin' on stage Just to go back to the hood see my enemies and say Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, Kunta Black man taking no losses Bitch where you when I was walkin'? Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him (You goat mouth mammy fucker) I was gonna kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves Everybody's suicidal they don'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, f*ck 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 ok? Annie are you ok?" 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 Bitch where was you when I was (By the time you hear the next pop, the funk shall be within you) Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him, (King) Kunta Black man taking no losses Bitch where was you when I was walkin' Now I run the game got the whole world talkin', King Kunta Everybody wanna cut the legs off him (Funk, funk, funk, funk, funk, funk) We want the funk (Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it) We want the funk (Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it) We want the funk (Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it) We want the funk (Do you want the funk?) We want the funk (Do you want the funk?) We want the funk (Now if I give you the funk, you gon' take it) We want the funk I remember you was conflicted, misusing your influence
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Ahmad A. Lewis, David Blake, Johnny Burns, Kendrick Duckworth, Mark Anthony Spears, Michael Joe Jackson, Stefan Kendal Gordy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
13 facts about this song
Artist Evolution"King Kunta" is a song by Kendrick Lamar from the album "To Pimp a Butterfly", it shows a significant artistic progression from his previous works, diving deeper into jazz, funk, and soul influences.
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Album PositionThe song is positioned third in the tracklist of "To Pimp a Butterfly".
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InspirationKendrick Lamar titled the song after Kunta Kinte, the main character in the novel "Roots: The Saga of an American Family" by Alex Haley. Kinte was an African man who was enslaved and taken to America and the story of his struggle and resilience inspired this track.
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Pared Down SoundUnlike many rap songs that are heavy with production, "King Kunta" encompasses a pared-down sound that highlights the rawness and bewitching rhythm of funk.
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Chart PerformanceThe song was a commercial success, becoming a Top 40 hit in the United States and reaching the Top 20 in the UK and Australia.
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Lyric ContentThe song references numerous social issues, including race, privilege, and the media's representation of black culture.
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Music Video SettingsThe music video for "King Kunta" was filmed in Kendrick's hometown, Compton, California. It shows typical neighborhood scenes, from liquor stores to house parties, reflecting the realness of Kendrick’s lyrics.
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Song StructureThe song deviates from a traditional verse and chorus structure. Instead, it progresses through three lengthy verses, intermixed with a repeated melodious phrase as its chorus, creating a distinctive lyrical narrative.
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Political AccoladesRolling Stone magazine ranked "King Kunta" at number 80 on its list of the 100 Greatest Political Songs, signifying its relevance and impact on society.
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Live PerformanceLamar started his 2016 Grammy performance with the song "The Blacker the Berry", transitioned into "Alright", and concluded with a freestyle rap over the "King Kunta" instrumental.
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ProductionThe song was produced by veteran hip-hop producers Thundercat and Sounwave, their unique blend of funk and hip-hop forms the distinctive sound of this song.
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Sampling"King Kunta" is known for its use of samples from classic funk songs, notably "The Payback" by James Brown, it showcases Kendrick's ability to pay homage to his musical influences while creating something entirely new.
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Award RecognitionDespite not winning, "King Kunta" was nominated for the Best Rap Performance at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards in 2016.
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Citation
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"King Kunta Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/31768257/Kendrick+Lamar/King+Kunta>.
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