DNA - Kendrick Lamar (AUDIO)

[therebellion]

That second half of the song is like an adrenaline rush!

[j-mac]

“When I was 9, hotel, motel
We ain’t have no where to stay,
At 29, I done so well, I hit cartwheel in my estate” I love that rhyme scheme

[carmensoto]

This song has noooo business being so powerful

[thebkstank]

I feel like at the end of the recording session the microphone was smoking

[killerconman]

Edit: Fun fact: Kendrick recorded the second half of this song A cappella, and Mike Will Made-It constructed the beat around his vocals. Originally I was under the assumption that the entire song was recorded that way, but it has been pointed out to me that it was indeed only the second half. Also, some of you guys should work on controlling you emotions a little better. My slightly incorrect comment got some of ya'll up in your feels BIG time lol.

[simplezck]

Even if Kendrick's never drops anything new this album has already established him as one of the goats of hip hop.

[andregreen]

Kendrick been bodying drake for the longest while I see

[devintucker]

It was at 1:51 where I realized Kendrick Lamar wasn't human

[r.edward]

I'm 44. Just discovered this young lad. DAMN

[unwritten_zephyr]

This has easily one of my favorite beat switches in all of hip-hop, its nuts.

[mog]

Could you imagine being in the recording studio at 2:01 and hearing this legend spit this for the first time on that sick beat?

[chellec]

Kendrick is LIFE....cant wait for next album

[dCa]

“You ain’t shit without a body on your belt
You ain’t shit without a ticket on your plate
You ain’t sick enough to pull it on yourself
You ain’t rich enough to hit the lot and skate”
MY GOD 🔥

[lenchobushura]

My reaction was “ damn” and then realized the album is called “damn”

[randomdude]

“I make music that electrify em, you make music that pacify em”

[fyanrriend]

1:48 I will never ever get tired of this part of the song ever ever it legit always hypes me up

[faithjones]

Lyrics:
I got, I got, I got, I got—
Loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA
Cocaine quarter piece, got war and peace inside my DNA
I got power, poison, pain, and joy inside my DNA
I got hustle, though, ambition flow inside my DNA
I was born like this, since one like this, immaculate conception
I transform like this, perform like this, was Yeshua new weapon
I don’t contemplate, I meditate, then off your fucking head
This that put-the-kids-to-bed
This that I got, I got, I got, I got—
Realness, I just kill shit ‘cause it’s in my DNA
I got millions, I got riches buildin’ in my DNA
I got dark, I got evil that rot inside my DNA
I got off, I got troublesome heart inside my DNA
I just win again, then win again, like Wimbledon, I serve
Yeah, that’s him again, the sound that engine in is like a bird
You see fireworks and Corvette tire skrrt the boulevard
I know how you work, I know just who you are
See, you’s a, you’s a, you’s a—
Bitch your hormones prolly switch inside your DNA
Problem is, all that sucker shit inside your DNA
Daddy prolly snitched, heritage inside your DNA
Backbone don’t exist, born outside a jellyfish, I gauge
See, my pedigree most definitely don’t tolerate the front
Shit I’ve been through prolly offend you, this is Paula’s oldest son
I know murder, conviction
Burners, boosters, burglars, ballers, dead, redemption
Scholars, fathers dead with kids and
I wish I was fed forgiveness
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah soldier’s DNA
Born inside the beast, my expertise checked out in second grade
When I was 9, on cell, motel, we didn’t have nowhere to stay
At 29, I’ve done so well, hit cartwheel in my estate
And I’m gon shine like I’m supposed to, antisocial extrovert
And excellent mean the extra work
And absentness what the fuck you heard
And pessimists never struck my nerve
And Nazareth gonna plead his case
The reason my power’s here on earth
Salute the truth, when the prophet say

I-I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA (This is why I say hip hop has done more damage to young African Americans than racism in recent years)
I-I got loyalty, than royalty inside my DNA
I live a better life, I’m rollin’ several dice, fuck your life
I-I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA
I live a be- fuck your life
(5, 4, 3, 2, 1)
This is my heritage, all I’m inheritin’
Money and power, the mecca of marriages

Tell me something, you mothafuckas can’t tell me nothin’
I’d rather die than to listen to you
My DNA not for imitation
Your DNA an abomination
This how it is when you in the Matrix
Dodgin’ bullets, reapin’ what you sow
And stackin’ up the footage, livin’ on the go
And sleepin’ in the villa
Slippin’ in the Grammy, walkin’ in the buildin’
Diamond in the ceilin’, marble on the floors
Beach inside the window, peekin’ out the window
Baby in the pool, godfathers goals
Only Lord knows I’ve been goin’ hammer
Dodgin’ paparazzi, freakin’ through the cameras
Eat at Four Daughters, Brock wearin’ sandals
Yoga on a Monday, stretchin’ to Nirvana
Watchin’ all the snakes, curvin’ all the fakes
Phone never on, I don’t conversate
I don’t compromise, I just penetrate
Sex, money, murder— these are the breaks
These are the times, level number 9
Look up in the sky, 10 is on the way
Sentence on the way, killings on the way
Motherfucker, I got winners on the way
You ain’t shit without a body on your belt
You ain’t shit without a ticket on your plate
You ain’t sick enough to pull it on yourself
You ain’t rich enough to hit the lot and skate
Tell me when destruction gonna be my fate
Gonna be your fate, gonna be our faith
Peace to the world, let it rotate
Sex, money, murder— our DNA

[NoxHarmonia]

I don't care what anyone says, this album is fire. It is such a great introspective view on the problems of poverty, loyalty, and what generally has gone wrong in the world, not to mention hip-hop. I mean I'm a heavy metal guy and I LOVE this album, it's so hateful and that's the point. Do you agree with this? Do you agree in the racism, the hatred, and general fear that the world sells us? It's about so much in one very presentable digestible package and I wish I could speak with Kendrick, because I feel like I would understand him on a deep level. He's concerned about hip-hop and where it's going, how the youth are buying into the fear leading to hate. Nothing but respect, thank you. We all have royalty in our DNA.

[Mcgurkyyy]

The last minute of this song is on a whole different level🤯🤯🤯

[downtown_clownybrown]

"sex, money, murda these are the breaks". that might jus be one of the most profound lines in hip-hop...