True story. I struggled with drug addiction in my teens, left me homeless. My dad gave me one more chance. He took me on a camping trip for 2 weeks, completely secluded from society, no Internet, no service, just one album downloaded on my phone - Kendrick Lamar EP. Listening to Kendrick find himself helped me to find myself as well, and now I hold every one of these songs super close to my heard. From beginning to end, Kendrick Lamar is the most impressive artist I’ve ever seen.
That is a truly amazing that one person can have that affect on ppl and not even know, rap (music in general as well) is beautiful despite what the media try’s to portray it as and ppl like Oprah, I hope to achieve this one day. God bless you
first stumbled on this album in 2009 on bandcamp, and was impressed even then because it sounded like an album not an EP..he was the best kept secret, but could never have imagined what he would become..
You can hear that "unforgiving, don't give a fuck who gets mad, BM, father-in-law, sister, fuxk it even the label can drop me" delivery and sound on this 2 minute and 11 second prophetic audio
the good kid m.a.a.d city, got nothing but respect for the man and his art, happy for him, same age as me, followed him since 2010, TDE is my generations N.W.A. for sure
Would love to hear Kendricks thoughts on this track after all this time.. His paths taken him a long way. I'm sure he'd have a lot to elaborate and add to this stage of his time .
@@shawkingshow590k dot don’t really shine light on his old old shit I definitely would love a interview of the homie sitting and listening to it again and giving his perspective on a then and now type ish
I'm so proud of Kendricks career trajectory. This is obviously an amazing song at a time when he was making amazing music. But he's one of the few I can think of who actually got better when they hit the mainstream, better lyrics better production, more maturity. As I've gotten older I've had the question if I would want my children ever listening to the kind of music I listen to but I think Kendrick makes music that is tough to hear sometimes but is grounded in reality and I don't think it glamorizes the bullshit. I wouldn't mind if I had a kid who listened to Kendrick and I think it would make him or her a better person.
JUST LET HIM BE HIM!!! Dude begging for you TO LET HIM BE HIM and you here wanting him to something else, a past version or your savior. Let him be!!! Enjoy him as he is or don’t. 😢😢😢😢
Kendrick got better. But I miss those oldschool beats. He had an whole EP of those beats, where DAMN. only has FEAR., FEEL., DUCKWORTH., XXX. as oldschool.
This ep used to be on Spotify years ago & in my playlist of all Kendrick songs that I listen to daily, got taken off so I forgot about these tunes but it’s bringing back good memories & they’re still bangers this many years later 🙏
+zachpeace He goes through different phases. EP was different than OD. OD was kind of like Section 80. GKMC was totally different than Section 80. TPAB was completely different than GKMC.
When it's all falling down I turn this on and remember my worth and who I am. Truth is you gotta remember cause fools will take it all from you if you let them
Almost lost my life to the industry Had to look through a photo book to remember me These label heads ain't nothing but bullshit Have you with professional killas, chasing hits Lying to yourself, all over an image Making records they want, that was wrecking my brilliance My Mama said, "Boy, that don't sound like you." I said, "This is the sound, though." My only excuse Quite frankly, dusted off my shoes with my hankie And kicked it like he skate, make these motherfuckers hate me The reason why they hate, cause these motherfuckers ain't me And you can underrate me, but I know what I'm worth A diamond in God's dirt, a diamond in winter
Brings back some crazy memories. Cool to hear about him rap about the things he does and what he knew he would achieve. Can’t believe this song is this old tho
[Intro: Kendrick Lamar] Everybody, just clap your hands if your a real Middle finger up, give a fuck how they feel Be yourself, just show me you're real Middle fingers up [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Just let me be me That's the only way I know Just let me be me That's the only way I know That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's, that's the only way I know how to hold it down [Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar] I just wanna be me No disrespect, but motherfuck you My education stopped at a high school degree But I can outsmart any high IQ Draped in some fly shit, call me Jeff Goldblum Cold, my style making my nose run Oh, I stare at the mirror then realize, that real lies within me Some say I'm crazy cause I think like I need a shrink Ask too many questions about the stars and Earth shit Rather be in the studio than out buying drinks So if I'm not clubbing, don't think I'm on some jerk shit And California on that jerk shit But I'd just rather 2-step, like my first steps Jill Scott on my iPod, as my head rests Yes [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Just let me be me That's the only way I know Just let me be me That's the only way I know That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's, that's the only way I know how to hold it down [Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar] And yeah I know I'm from Compton, Cali But I don't lace up Chucks or rock tan khakis And skinny jeans ain't quite the lick I probably would wear 'em but my dick don't fit Ha ha ha, I like to joke, got a sense of humor? Still face, play me short like an oompa loompa You ain't gotta screw up your face in front of the kids Won't you lighten up like Michael did? I grew up with killas man, people who killed men But my character never could be like them, man And they respect that, say that I'm real man Not a fake person, that's the Sims man Live my life through some film, man I ain't acting out shit, I be packing out shows Cause they know that they don't know Kendrick fo' sho And oh [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Just let me be me That's the only way I know Just let me be me That's the only way I know That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's, that's the only way I know how to hold it down [Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar] Almost lost my life to the industry Had to look through a photobook to remember me These label heads ain't nothing but bullshit Have you with professional killas, chasing hits Lying to yourself, all over an image Making records they want, that was wrecking my brilliance My Mama said, "Boy, that don't sound like you." I said, "This is the sound, though." My only excuse Quite frankly, dusted off my shoes with my hankie And kicked it like he skate, make these motherfuckers hate me The reason why they hate, is cause these motherfuckers ain't me And you can underrate me, but I know what I'm worth A diamond in God's dirt, a diamond in winter Watch the Simpsons and eating some cereal for dinner See I give you my life, to mix it up in a blender To make sure that you feel me [Hook: Kendrick Lamar] Just let me be me That's the only way I know Just let me be me That's the only way I know That's the only way I know how to hold it down That's, that's the only way I know how to hold it down [Interlude: Female Voice Speaking] Kendrick Lamar, what are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar. what are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar, is this really you? Is this who you are? What are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar, who are you? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? Kendrick Lamar, What are you trying to say? What are you trying to accomplish Kendrick Lamar? [Verse 4: Kendrick Lamar] I think that I finally reached the pinnacle Of finding myself as an individual The world is so typical I just wanna be higher than that I used to want to be the messiah of Rap Infatuated with becoming a relevant star Trying to say goodbye to the glamorous chains and cars That I never had, but wrote it in my raps to make you mad Vanity, they say that it can damage me So do I really want it? If I didn't, I guess I'm a cool cocaine connect That means I'll be frontin' Cooking in a laboratory, hoping I can tell a story That the whole world can feel, like the ones that came before me Knowing that I'm misunderstood So I gotta get my point across like a snitch would And I would never walk in the shadow that never was really there Or try to fill the shoes of an invisible pair And Dave said he proud of my newfound honesty And all I could say is, "Will the radio care?" Yeah, or should I say no? Or should I just stop and come with a whole new approach? You heard my hip-hop when I was 16 years old Well that was me then, now I'm an adult 22, like the smallest of guns that you know Most determined, but with the smallest of funds to show But I'm not worried My talent should take me places I've never been The world should turn as soon as my records spin I wanna be the highest, on top of all the bullshit The negative you bring, the stress, the violence The capital punishment, the loud police sirens Too focused, one word, righteous And this is Kendrick Lamar, and soon ya'll know Cloud 9, ya'll That means I wanna be the highest Too focused, one word, righteous That means I wanna be the highest Too focused, one word [Outro: Female Voice] Too focused, too focused, one word Too focused, too focused, one word Too focused, too focused, one word Too focused, one word Too focused, too focused, one word
Listening to this for the first time after this was released, it's not even crazy how much Kendrick has grown as an artist for real. This song alone should have let everyone know he was meant for greatness. I'd love for him to play it now and maybe even make a new one showing how much more he has grown now because I feel like this might have been more of a free style.
Sound the same to me people I don’t know why y’all saying I miss the old Kendrick Lamar why would you want him in the same position it’s call growth and develop
