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Kendrick Lamar Briefly Discusses Recording "You Ain't Gotta Lie" - The RCMS With Wanda Smith
Watch Kendrick Lamar Briefly Discusses Recording "You Ain't Gotta Lie" - The RCMS With Wanda Smith on YouTube

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Credits

PERFORMING ARTISTS
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Vocals
JaVonté
JaVonté
Background Vocals
Josef Leimberg
Josef Leimberg
Trumpet
Larrance Dopson
Larrance Dopson
Percussion
Mark Spears
Mark Spears
Keyboards
Marlon Williams
Marlon Williams
Guitar
Preston Harris
Preston Harris
Background Vocals
Terrace Martin
Terrace Martin
Keyboards
Thundercat
Thundercat
Background Vocals
Wyann Vaughn
Wyann Vaughn
Background Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Josef Leimberg
Josef Leimberg
Songwriter
Mark Spears
Mark Spears
Songwriter
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Songwriter
Rose McKinney
Rose McKinney
Songwriter
Terrace Martin
Terrace Martin
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Lovedragon
Lovedragon
Producer
Anthony "TOPDAWG" Tiffith
Anthony "TOPDAWG" Tiffith
Executive Producer
Dave "Miyatola" Free
Dave "Miyatola" Free
Associate Producer
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali
Derek "MixedByAli" Ali
Mixing Engineer
Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Executive Producer
James "The White Black Man" Hunt
James "The White Black Man" Hunt
Recording Engineer
Matt Schaeffer
Matt Schaeffer
Recording Engineer
Mike Bozzi
Mike Bozzi
Mastering Engineer

Lyrics

[Intro]
Study long, study wrong, ****
Aye, y'all close that front door, y'all let flies in this muhfucker
Close that door
My OG up in this muhfucker right now
My pops, man with the bottle of Hennessy in his hand, actin' a fool
Hey, hey, babe, check it out, I'ma tell you what my mama had said, she like
[Verse 1]
I can spot you a mile away, I can see your insecurities written all over your face
So predictable, your words, I know what you gonna say
Who you foolin'? Oh, you assuming you can just come and hang
With the homies, but your level of realness ain't the same
Circus acts only attract those that entertain
Small talk, we know that it's all talk
We live in the Laugh Factory every time they mention your name
[Refrain]
Askin' "Where the hoes at?" to impress me
Askin' "Where the moneybags?" to impress me
Say you got the burner stashed to impress me
It's all in your head, homie
Askin' "Where the plug at?" to impress me
Askin' "Where the juug at?" to impress me
Askin' "Where it's at?" only upsets me
You sound like the feds, homie
[Chorus]
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta lie
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta try so hard
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta lie
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta try so hard
[Verse 2]
And the world don't respect you and the culture don't accept you
But you think it's all love
And the girls gon' neglect you once your parody is done
Reputation can't protect you if you never had one
Jealousy complex, emotional complex
Self-pity complex, under oath complex
The loudest one in the room, ****, that's a complex
Let me put it back in proper context
[Chorus]
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta lie
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta try so hard
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta lie
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta try so hard
[Refrain]
Askin' "Where the hoes at?" to impress me
Askin' "Where the moneybags?" to impress me
Say you got the burner stashed to impress me
It's all in your head, homie
Askin' "Where the plug at?" to impress me
Askin' "Where the juug at?" to impress me
Askin' "Where it's at?" only upsets me
You sound like the feds, homie
[Verse 3]
What do you got to offer?
Tell me before we off ya, put you deep in that coffin
Been allergic to talkin', been a virgin to bullshit
And sell a dream in the auction, tell me just who your boss is
**** be Fugazi, bitches be Fugazi
This is for Fugazi, **** and bitches who make habitual lyin' babies
Bless them little hearts, you can never persuade me
You can never relate me to him, to her or that or them or you, the truth you love (Him, her, that, them, you, truth, love)
To bend, in the back, in the bed, on the floor (Bend, back, bed)
That's your ho on the couch, in her mouth, I be out, really though (Ho, couch, mouth)
So loud, rich **** got low money
And loud, broke **** got no money
The irony behind it is so funny
And I seen it all this past year, pass on some advice we feel
[Chorus]
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta lie
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta try so hard
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta lie, you ain't gotta lie
You ain't gotta lie to kick it, my ****
You ain't gotta try so hard
Written by: Kendrick Lamar, Josef Leimberg, Terrace Martin, Rose McKinney, Mark Spears
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