Classical Composer Analyzes Kendrick Lamar

The rhythms in Kendrick Lamar's Alright are crazy, but also fun! In this video I attempt to break them down.

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0:00 Introduction
04:36 How the Meter Works in Alright
11:15 Vocal rhythm in the Chorus
12:29 Vocal rhythm in the Verses
15:20 The Creative Process in Hip-Hop

Kendrick Lamar: Alright
Kendrick Lamar: For Free
Pulitzer Prize
Interview with Rick Rubin
Thundercat Interview
Sounwave Interview
Bass King Kunta

Research: We Gon’ Be Alright? The Ambiguities of Kendrick Lamar’s Protest Anthem

How Kendrick Lamar Raps like a drummer:
Black Lives Matter Protest
Fabolous Awwright
Alright Beat Breakdown

[karismadawn]

This algorithm working on overtime right now.

[JordanCWalker]

Drake aint never have a composer analyzing his shit lol

[kelvynification]

To Pimp A Butterfly is not only an unbelievably musical statement but it describes the black experience which elevates it far beyond hip hop or rap. A well deserved Pulitzer Prize winner.

[williamk]

Its absolutely crazy people think Drake can come anywhere close to f'n with Kendrick

[morningowl]

As a music student, I had a talk today with my vocal teacher about how music itself is a language that speaks to all of us through lyrics and through music itself conveying emotions and feelings any and everyone can feel. This lead to a conversation about lyricism which lead to talking about Kendrick Lamar and his Pulitzer and how much of a true accomplishment in modern music this is. Mind you this woman is an opera teacher and she smiles at me and says “I just love Kendrick so much” when i asked her if she had heard of the beef she had no idea about it but when I summed it all up and how he called Drake a PDF file she laughed and said “good for him! Someone needed to do that!”

This thing is bigger than rap if you’ve got the entire classical and operatic communities talking about this and taking Kendrick’s side. Makes me appreciate music even more. And let’s be real K dot danced on drakes headstone after this latest diss.

[MarzbarzGus]

When I was struggling with suicide and a tremendous loss, Kendrick Lamar’s pimp a butterfly and mr morale was a big factor in saving my life. It’s still hard some days but it helps me maintain.

[Steventrafford]

I feel validated. Never understood why people only listen to particular genres. I love most music I hear.

[sabrinazalar]

I know of Kendrick now with his songs. If anyone deserves a Pulitzer, it is him. Perfect choice.

[mhck]

I love both Beethoven and Kendrick Lamar. There's music for every mood and situation! Sometimes I want to blast Pavarotti in my car, and when I'm at the gym or dancing, I'll listen to the Outkast or Doja Cat. I'm glad for all the diversity of music we get to experience today!

[ClatterUltra]

Kendrick: the man who cannot even be dictated by the beat itself. Man just says his stuff and expects the beat to keep up.

[Jarory]

As a Kendrick fan seeing professional musicians and composers give him (and by extension the genre) a real critical look is quite inspiring and welcomed.

[ubblnpz]

To Pimp A Butterfly is a CLASSIC, will forever stand on its own pedestal aside from every other hip hop album ever made..

[bluntdavinci]

I love the way he talks about Kendricks music with so much appreciation

[carolyn]

He is EXTREMELY GIFTED AND TALENTED IN STORYTELLING AND WRITING! He can be extremely deep but can lighten it up and party with the best of them.

[BernardRandsMusic]

I dig how he’s dissecting the song. l’m really shocked at how they had trouble with finding the downbeat for this song.

[babywithatank]

i think TPAB is an album everyone can agree is amazing. Even my dad who is known to dislike 90% of rap music greatly enjoys the jazz elements of the album. Its got something for everyone

[jesseveryday]

I am not a musician and have absolutely no knowledge of composition but this was so interesting and easy to follow. Down the rabbit hole I go!

[sandersnoeren]

I fucking love your view on music.

It's lame how many people nowadays dismiss a potential work of art just because its belongs to a certain genre

[spdcrzy]

What's funny to me is that because I was trained in classical Indian music and because I've been an Indian classical percussionist for the past 20+ years, the beat was actually extremely straightforward to me - even with the lack of emphasis on the 1 beat, which is actually not uncommon in both singing and percussion as a way of using silence to build tension. Polyrhythms FTW!

[DMMA]

My father is a jazz musician. I started classical piano training at 5, and jazz training at 9, and grew up with music as an inseparable part of my life. All genres. All aged of music. Music is just as essential to my life as water.

And this video is so timely as yesterday listening to Mr. Morale I was doing a rhythmic analysis in my head and thinking over how the production team so seemingly effortlessly brings forth the music behind the spoken word, which is a rare quality outside of conscious rap it feels like.