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Listen to To Pimp a Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
ALBUMTo Pimp a ButterflyKendrick Lamar
Listen to Hip-Hop/R&B Throwback featuring Kendrick Lamar
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Listen to 2010s Hip-Hop Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLIST2010s Hip-Hop EssentialsApple Music 2010s
Listen to Kendrick Lamar Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLISTKendrick Lamar EssentialsApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Hip-Hop/R&B Hits: 2015 featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLISTHip-Hop/R&B Hits: 2015Apple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to 2010s Hip-Hop/R&B Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLIST2010s Hip-Hop/R&B EssentialsApple Music 2010s
Listen to Sing-Along Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLISTSing-Along EssentialsApple Music Pop
Listen to Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour Set List featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLISTKendrick Lamar and SZA’s Grand National Tour Set ListApple Music Hip-Hop
Listen to Thundercat Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLISTThundercat EssentialsApple Music R&B
Listen to Summertime Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
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Listen to Neo-Soul Essentials featuring Kendrick Lamar
PLAYLISTNeo-Soul EssentialsApple Music R&B

Top Songs By Kendrick Lamar

Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Vocals
James Fauntleroy
James Fauntleroy
Vocals
Ronald Isley
Ronald Isley
Vocals
Josef Leimberg
Josef Leimberg
Trumpet
Larrance Dopson
Larrance Dopson
Percussion
Marlon Williams
Marlon Williams
Guitar
Terrace Martin
Terrace Martin
Keyboards
Adrienne Woods
Adrienne Woods
Cello
Amy Sanchez
Amy Sanchez
French Horn
Andrea Whitt
Andrea Whitt
Viola
Gabriel Noël
Gabriel Noël
Bass
Ginger Murphy
Ginger Murphy
Cello
Jen Simone
Jen Simone
Violin
Miles Mosley
Miles Mosley
Bass
Molly Rogers
Molly Rogers
Viola
Neel Hammond
Neel Hammond
Violin
Paul Cartwright
Paul Cartwright
Violin
Rickey Washington
Rickey Washington
Flute
Ryan Porter
Ryan Porter
Trombone
Tylana Enomoto
Tylana Enomoto
Violin
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
James Fauntleroy
James Fauntleroy
Songwriter
Terrace Martin
Terrace Martin
Songwriter
Ronald Isley
Ronald Isley
Songwriter
Josef Leimberg
Josef Leimberg
Songwriter
Rose McKinney
Rose McKinney
Songwriter
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Songwriter
Kamasi Washington
Kamasi Washington
String Arranger
Mark Spears
Mark Spears
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Lovedragon
Lovedragon
Producer
Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Executive Producer
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali
Mixing Engineer
Matt Schaeffer
Matt Schaeffer
Recording Engineer
Mike Bozzi
Mike Bozzi
Mastering Engineer
Anthony "TOPDAWG" Tiffith
Anthony "TOPDAWG" Tiffith
Executive Producer
Dave "Miyatola" Free
Dave "Miyatola" Free
Associate Producer
David Kim
David Kim
Strings Engineer
James "The White Black Man" Hunt
James "The White Black Man" Hunt
Recording Engineer
Thomas Burns
Thomas Burns
Recording Engineer
Thomas Cullison
Thomas Cullison
Strings Engineer

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
How much a dollar really cost?
The question is detrimental, paralyzin' my thoughts
Parasites in my stomach keep me with a gut feeling, y'all
Gotta see how I'm chillin' once I park this luxury car
Hoppin' out feeling big as Mutombo
"20 on pump 6," dirty Marcellus called me Dumbo
20 years ago, can't forget
Now I can lend him a ear or two
How to stack these residuals tenfold
The liberal concept of men'll do
"20 on 6," he didn't hear me
Indigenous African only spoke Zulu
My American tongue slurry
Walked out the gas station
A homeless man with a semi-tan complexion
Asked me for ten rand, stressin' about dry land
Deep water, powder blue skies that crack open
A piece of crack that he wanted, I knew he was smokin'
He begged and pleaded
Asked me to feed him twice, I didn't believe it
Told him, "Beat it"
Contributin' money just for his pipe, I couldn't see it
He said, "My son, temptation is one thing that I've defeated
Listen to me, I want a single bill from you
Nothin' less, nothin' more"
I told him "I ain't have it" and closed my door
Tell me how much a dollar cost
[Chorus]
It's more to feed your mind
Water, sun and love the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe
[Verse 2]
He's starin' at me in disbelief
My temper is buildin', he's starin' at me, I grab my key
He's starin' at me, I started the car, then I tried to leave
And somethin' told me to keep it in park until I could see
The reason why he was mad at a stranger
Like I was supposed to save him
Like I'm the reason he's homeless and askin' me for a favor
He's starin' at me, his eyes followed me with no laser
He's starin' at me, I notice that his stare is contagious
'Cause now I'm starin' back at him, feelin' some type of disrespect
If I could throw a bat at him, it'd be aimin' at his neck
I never understood someone beggin' for goods
Askin' for handouts, takin' it if they could
And this particular person just had it down pat
Starin' at me for the longest until he finally asked
"Have you ever opened up Exodus 14?
A humble man is all that we ever need"
Tell me how much a dollar cost
[Chorus]
It's more to feed your mind
Water, sun and love the one you love
All you need, the air you breathe
[Verse 3]
Guilt trippin' and feelin' resentment
I never met a transient that demanded attention
They got me frustrated, indecisive and power trippin'
Sour emotions got me lookin' at the universe different
I should distance myself, I should keep it relentless
My selfishness is what got me here, who the fuck I'm kiddin'?
So I'ma tell you like I told the last bum
Crumbs and pennies, I need all of mines
And I recognize this type of panhandlin' all the time
I got better judgment, I know when ****'s hustlin', keep in mind
When I was strugglin', I did compromise, now I comprehend
I smell Grandpa's old medicine, reekin' from your skin
Moonshine and gin, **** you're babblin', your words ain't flatterin'
I'm imaginin' Denzel but lookin' at O'Neal
Kazaam is sad thrills, your gimmick is mediocre
The jig is up, I seen you from a mile away losin' focus
And I'm insensitive, and I lack empathies
He looked at me and said, "Your potential was bittersweet"
I looked at him and said, "Every nickel is mines to keep"
He looked at me and said, "Know the truth, it'll set you free
You're lookin' at the Messiah, the son of Jehovah, the higher power
The choir that spoke the word, the Holy Spirit
The nerve of Nazareth, and I'll tell you just how much a dollar cost
The price of having a spot in Heaven, embrace your loss, I am God"
[Outro]
I washed my hands, I said my grace
What more do you want from me?
Tears of a clown, guess I'm not all what it's all meant to be
Shades of grey will never change if I condone
Turn this page, help me change to right my wrongs
Written by: J. Fauntleroy, J. Leimberg, K. Duckworth, R. Isley, R. McKinney, T. Martin

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