U By Kendrick Lamar: A Song Analysis

1071 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Theories of self reflection in psychology

I am in individual who is captivated and surrounds themselves around music daily, whether from including music in my routine in relaxing, working, or in deep thought. One would easily state music is my best friend if one watched me for a week. Even as I write this response, I am listening to Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly album. I find his work and LPs, to be grand pieces complex with unique perspectives providing ability to relate in a personal way I usually cannot relate with other individuals. I feel the song U by Kendrick Lamar off his recent album To Pimp a Butterfly is the most important song, piece of literature, or simple excerpt of advice ever given to humanity. U has great significance to me in a literal sense and metaphorical …show more content…

I could easily say this song saved my life, inspired me to open up and strive to be better. U is a song that provides a sense of realization of my follies of yearning to isolate and feel self-pity. Motivating an individual through language to strive for success, and the only way to gain success is through self-love. Before Kendrick Lamar dropped his album on March 15,2015, through high school I had developed a hatred for my own self not appreciating my gifts, feeling worthless in this world. I believed the idea of society that a young black man is nothing but trouble and has no true help to succeed. The majority of this idea was developed from being surrounded by people with a mindset similar to such during my time at Northwest High School. My family and myself began to notice the toxic spirit of the school and immediately transferred me ending my tenure in the school of Freshman to first couple weeks of my Junior year and transferred me to East High School. All these overwhelming ideas of self-loathing packed with me. Self-loathing became a companion with me through my journey of life. As well as, becoming a companion in my journey to East High school. …show more content…

His ways to orchestrate such a captivating song such as U is breathtaking. The language in the song is unparalleled. He focus his rhymes behind the bases of an Anaphora in order to captivate the effect of an argument with his own self giving the listener an allusion he is ranting at his own self, throughout the beginning of the song. After the skit within the song you are able to piece together the belief this rant is truly directed towards the narrator himself. This allows one to observe the parallel between your own conflicts and the conflicts of the narrators. So as the narrator lectures himself, he also lectures you evoking a unique motivation within yourself creating a since of a warzone between the person you are before listening to the song compared to after. This conflict is what has driven me to set goals challenge myself and adopt the master status “I am a young black man who will be successful and give back to the world that has molded him into the human he is today.” The song provides a sense of identity that can never be beaten, burned, or whipped down from the current state the identity takes place. Only to be built to achieve and reach new heights unseen by a person before all for the bettering of one in society and in their own perception of

Show More
Related

  • Analysis of Song Runaway Love by Ludacris and Mary J, Blige

    709 Words  | 2 Pages

    The song I picked for this homework assignment is called Runaway Love by Ludacris and Mary J. Blige. The song is describing the hardships of three young girls and their struggle to survive. Finally, the girls are fed up with the lives they are forced to live and decide to pack up their things and run away. I think this song can relate to many aspects of sociology that we have learned in class. Some examples shown through the song are poverty, education, healthcare, marriage and family. All three girls’ different stories and struggles they face.

    Read More

  • Analysis of The Black Power Mixtape

    603 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975 (2011) is a 1 hour and 40 minute documentary that observes the black power movement in American history. This film is directed by Swedish director Goran Hugo Olson and has detailed footage that was shot during the 1960s and 1970s by Swedish journalists. The footage largely focuses on the black power movements. The film allows viewers to not only grasp a better understanding of this movement but allows us to understand why this movement appealed to Swedish journalists. The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975 includes vintage interviews with Stokely Carmichael, Bobby Seale, Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, and other prominent leaders during the Black Power Movement. The documentary also contains contemporary audio interviews and commentaries from various entertainers, artists, activists, and scholars, including but not limited to: Harry Belafonte, Talib Kweli, Melvin Van Peebles, Erykah Badu, Abiodun Oyewele, and Questlove from The Roots.

    Read More

  • To Pimp A Butterfly Metaphors

    1127 Words  | 3 Pages

    For decades, America has oppressed African Americans due to the color of their skin. Although the country has made many strides in preventing some racial actions, racism still consumes the black culture starting in their early years. Compton rapper Kendrick Lamar released his second studio album To Pimp a Butterfly on March 15, 2015. Lamar spoke out against structural racism on this album and even made a case for the black culture being at fault for some of the racism they face. His message may not have been accepted by all the masses, but his bold statements sparked new conversations that any artist dreams of doing. Lamar introduced several metaphors for the racism in America, but the key focus was the development of the caterpillar into the

    Read More

  • Analysis Of You Was Right By Lil Uzi Vert

    772 Words  | 2 Pages

    “You Was Right” by Lil Uzi Vert is fairly easy to understand lyrically. The essence of the song deals with unfaithfulness in a relationship as well as the aftermath. Lil Uzi Vert spends a large portion of the song admitting his mistakes to his presumed girlfriend in hopes of making things right between them. The song starts off with the hook, which rests upon the premise of how Lil Uzi Vert should have stayed loyal rather than taking another girl home with him. For example, he says, “You was right, I was wrong” (6) in an attempt to console his girlfriend and apologize. Following the hook, the first verse centers on Lil Uzi Vert’s riches due to his success as a rapper. He ties that in to his relationship by expressing how he wants to share his wealth with his girlfriend. At this stage in the song, Lil Uzi Vert is attempting to win his girlfriend back with his money and general success as a rapper. The hook then repeats itself to indicate that the argument between Lil Uzi Vert and his girlfriend is still continuing. The second verse signifies an escalation in their conflict, as he says, “You just locked the door, so I gotta text you” (42). His girlfriend is refusing to even listen

    Read More

  • Jennifer Lopez's Civics: The Creation Of A Perfect World

    1395 Words  | 3 Pages

    This song is about the lack of human rights, and the fact that some people have no idea of the rights we all. We are all allowed to talk, sing dance and stand up for ourselves. If others try to shut us up or make us quiet, we only can stand taller, talk louder, dance harder, and sing louder, we won 't go down. It talks about the empowerment of our nation. Haters will hate us but they can 't react on their hate therefor breaking a law. In civics we have certain laws made and rules we must abide by them. The laws that we obey are a part of our government, and important to the constitution of our government. This law is a part of the federal laws.This course concepts addresses political connections through its correlations to the laws and the regulations. We all have a right to voice our opinions, and by being denied our rights we desperately need this cause for a change. In civics we learned about how certain countries are in authoritarian countries and can’t speak up, but in Canada and America we have a democracy and are entitled to talk. If we have such a beautiful right of freedom of speech, why should we be denied or silenced, we should hear in our

    Read More

  • Analysis 'To Pimp A Butterfly'

    1472 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kendrick Lamar in his song, “u,” explains his personal failure to remember and support his community when he writes, “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?” (“u” 46-50). “Tribulations” refer to the difficult periods of hardship in an individual’s life where patience and commitment are continually put to test. “Tribulations” are subjective to the individual and may seem trivial compared to the “tribulations” of others, such as the immense danger and lack of security people are subject to the ghetto. “Deserted” is the abandonment of an individual or community. “Deserted” is how many people feel after a close friend or family member has reached new success and seemingly forgot about whom their original friends and supporters were. “Antennas” refer to an essential sensory component of a butterfly, but furthermore can be understood as the sense of awareness an individual has. An individual’s “antennas” often seem to be disregarded after they have reached success, and consequently, the people around them feel abandoned and unimportant. “Support” is the attention and care an individual has for others, especially in time of need. “Support” for

    Read More

  • Analysis: To Kill A Mocking Bird, By Kendrick Lamar

    867 Words  | 2 Pages

    Lamar’s Grammy Award winning best rap album To Pimp a Butterfly has a deep meaning starting with the theory of the album relating to Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird”. The novel which is based on an innocent Black male, Tom Robinson, who is being indicted for committing a crime he never did. In the novel, the mockingbird is an allusion for Tom, a man who has never hurt anyone, yet is on trial and facing a death sentence. In Lamar’s politically fueled album, with response to racism, feminism, violence, and police brutality he created a pro-black record and sings it like a mockingbird would, a harmless album referring to the growth of a “butterfly”. However, he is the “butterfly” and the series of songs refer to his growth and transformation from the inner-city kid of Compton to the world renown artist he is today. While writing the album To Pimp a Butterfly, Lamar pledged his dedication to bring positivity to his listeners. Through his own assessment of systematic problems facing the black community, he takes his music’s impact seriously. Since music is a truly powerful force, and “one of the most arresting facts Kendrick proved with the album is that music can be conscious and positive while still critically and commercially successful — something many rap fans have long insisted conscious rap could never achieve”

    Read More

  • Book Analysis: To Pimp A Mocking Bird

    1205 Words  | 3 Pages

    His work contributes to many positive and real situations in the world, along with feeling a sense of pride and hope. “Alright,” a song that has now become the anthem for Black Lives Matter. In the song, Lamar’s wrote some controversial statements in the “wake of Michael Brown’s killing.” This song empowers the protestors that no matter what is going on, everything will be alright. A repercussion has transpired since the release of his album Geraldo Rivera stated, “Hip- hop has done more damage to young African Americans than racism in recent years”, however, Kendrick Lamar responded “Hip-hop is not the problem. Our reality is the problem… This is our music. This is us expressing ourselves” (Slate). These songs received extraordinary amounts of positive feedback and popularity, allowing them to get their message out and create a positive impact on the listeners around the world. He not only writes music to make a difference and bring hope to listeners, he also makes personal appearances to let his fans know he is a person and wants to be as impactful as possible. This allows the public to know he truly means what he says and is trying to bring positivity to his listeners while still making a statement. Hip-hop culture has become a global language to youth. It creates the ability to feel

    Read More

  • Music Essay - An Analysis of the Rap Song, Put it On

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    While on a recent carefree jaunt throughout Harlem, I was introduced to the lyrical genius of one “Big L.” As is common of all true artists, Mr. L passed before his time, but not without a legacy. You see, it is the will of the Almighty Himself that I elucidate the meaning of Mr. L’s first major work, “Put it On,” in order for it to be made accessible to the common man and the upper crust alike, so that this truly majestic piece may live for eternity in the bosom of humankind. To this end, I have composed a line-for-line translation of the complex, sophisticated diction, which, I expect, will henceforth serve as the standard through which all scholars will study this master of the English language.

    Read More

  • Kendrick Lamar: A Comparison Of The Struggle In Mortal Man

    1747 Words  | 4 Pages

    Accommodating for lost time can be a struggle, however education is the perfect key to allow a human a better diagram for survival in this world. Mortal Man is full of the reality that is blinded to society, because they have been confused by the experience of the struggle. Comparing two poems written within the song titled Mortal Man by the rap artist/ poet, Kendrick Lamar, provides an opportunity to engage in the Burkean Parlor; discussing the experience of the struggle and the proper way to survive through it. There is credibility of the struggle without mistakes of not knowing how to deal with the initial interaction; mistakes do not always lead to success; it is just an excuse to repeat history. Kendrick Lamar’s work provides evidence

    Read More

  • The Songs and Deaths of Rockstars

    2138 Words  | 5 Pages

    fulfulling life. In the end music cannot be a way of life, but it can lead to inspiration towards

    Read More

  • The Many Sides of Music

    2154 Words  | 5 Pages

    Emotional relevance can form in any number of ways, both on a personal level, and on a societal scale. There is something to be said for music that is created as a product of emotion, as it more often than not captures the audiences sympathy. Music that an audience can relate to, and can identify with is more likely to stick with the audience in question. Personal connections transform the way we view music and specific songs, but with the massive exposure to music lacking depth and meaning, we are taking larger and larger cultural steps backwards. Not only in our ability to express personal values, morals, and individualist qualities, but in the way that we interact with each other and construct emotional ties.

    Read More

  • Tupac Shakur And Black Protest Music

    798 Words  | 2 Pages

    Tupac Shakur, born the son of two Black Panthers in 1971, grew up to be one of the best-selling rappers of all time, selling over 75 million records even after his tragic death in 1996. His song “Changes” recorded in 1991 and produced in 1998 (based on Bruce Hornsby's "The Way It Is") discussed many of the injustices the African American population face, focusing on racism, the war on drugs, the perpetuation of poverty, and the overall oppression the African American population experiences (Statistics Brain Research Institute, 2017). I chose this song to discuss because some of the specific injustices he mentioned throughout the song mirrored many discussions we have had in class.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of J. Cole's 'Love Yourz'

    1212 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lamar has been successfully achieving his dream by rapping about the stress and difficult situations he has encountered but strongly claims that we will all be alright in his song, “Alright.” He released a song called “i” that reflects how violence has increased in the cities and how he wishes everyone should love each other as humans. His last song on “To Pimp A Butterfly” called “Mortal Man” he states “only because you don’t wear the same color as mine, that doesn’t mean I can’t respect you as a human being.” He clearly states how he understands the reputations of other gang members may seem important but should all still respect others as people. Lamar has been a role model to several students from the city of Compton that was able to create a scholarship called “Be Alright” that is based off the same song called “Alright.” Kendrick Lamar has been respectively producing music for his fans without a doubt of impressive beats and

    Read More

  • Sociological Concepts in "Where's the Love"

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    In essence, this song carries various sociological concepts. It concentrates on the main idea about the social construction of reality and talking about how reality is changing. The song questions the actions and mentally of individuals violating the norms and values of society. The band takes into consideration various factors of why it is happening including the media and religion. As a result they talk about such influences taking control building and developing a sense of self. This is a great song about present day problems and how society changes with them.

    Read More

More about U By Kendrick Lamar: A Song Analysis

Open Document