Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar & Rihanna
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar & Zacari
Kendrick Lamar & U2
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
Kendrick Lamar
On “DNA.,” Kendrick Lamar adopts multiple viewpoints; celebrating, critiquing, and exploring his black heritage and culture. In the music video, Kendrick and actor Don Cheadle appear to trade bars, engaging in an argument using the song’s lyrics during an interrogation scene. We also learn that “DNA...
[Verse 1]
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 (I’m a 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
[Bridge: Kendrick Lamar & Geraldo Rivera]
I-I got loyalty, got royalty inside my DNA
This is why I say that hip hop has done more damage to young African Americans than racism in recent years
I-I got loyalty, got 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
Five, four, three, two, one
This is my heritage, all I'm inheritin'
Money and power, the mecca of marriages
[Verse 2]
Tell me somethin'
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 a villa
Sippin' from a 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, godfather 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 nine
Look up in the sky, ten 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
[Video Outro]
DNA. was written by Kendrick Lamar & Mike WiLL Made-It.
DNA. was produced by Mike WiLL Made-It.
Kendrick Lamar released DNA. on Fri Apr 14 2017.
Mike WiLL Made-It had production credits on DAMN.’s lead single, “HUMBLE.” They have also worked together on “Perfect Pint,” as well as 2014’s “Buy The World.”
Mike WiLL has production credits on “XXX.” later on the album.
HipHopDX’s Justin Hunt teased the Mike WiLL Made-It & Kendrick Lamar collaboration “DNA.” in a March 25, 2017 video about Kendrick Lamar.
The sample says “gimme some ganja” and is taken from a 1982 live performance of “Mary Jane” by R&B musician Rick James.
The video features the use of Chinese in the second half, with Kendrick subtitled “功夫肯尼” (“Kung Fu Kenny”, an alternate name used throughout the DAMN. album) and Kendrick’s crew being given “的家庭” (De jiātíng; “The family”.)
The Top Dawg Entertainment logo is presented alongside “顶级狗娱乐” (Dǐngjí gǒu...
“Hood Politics,” from his 2015 sophomore studio album To Pimp a Butterfly.
Yes—all the songs on DAMN. except “HUMBLE.” were leaked on Audio Premieres hours prior to DAMN.’s midnight release.
ScHoolboy Q, close friend of Kendrick’s and fellow member of Black Hippy.
“YAH.”—the song that comes right after “DNA.” on DAMN.’s tracklist, or before when listening to the Collectors Edition.
“DNA.” debuted at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 during the chart week of May 6, 2017. It stayed on the chart for 20 weeks.
It is also the second-highest peaking track from DAMN. after the #1 peak of “HUMBLE.”
“DNA.” was certified 3x platinum on May 25, 2018 by the RIAA.
According to Songfacts, the producer declared to NPR:
He said, ‘I just want to see if you can put some drums around this.’ I said, ‘Man, hell yeah.’ But he was going so hard; that man was rapping so crazy. Just imagine him a cappella rapping the second half of ‘DNA.’ and I had to build a beat aroun...