These are the Kendrick Lamar tracks people will be playing until the end of time. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best Kendrick Lamar songs, based on lyrical content, commercial performance, and their impact on the genre as a whole.
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00:00Go by the name of Kendrick Lamar, come from this place called Compton, California.
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best Kendrick Lamar songs
00:12based on lyrical content, commercial performance, and their impact on the genre as a whole.
00:17Just say his name and I promise that you'll see Candyman.
00:21Number 20, Rigor Mortis, Section 80.
00:25Some musicians come out of the gate swinging, and he's no exception.
00:29Although it may not have been the album's lead single,
00:32Rigor Mortis puts his skill on full display.
00:40In it, K.Dot proclaimed he's better than the rest,
00:43and then proceeded to put his money where his mouth is.
00:45Over a jazzy beat, he spat flames calling out his peers,
00:49all while showing off his impressive flow and wordplay.
00:52Between asserting himself as the lifeline of the rap game and accusing his competition
01:02of stealing his style, it's clear that he came in hungry to prove himself.
01:06While some would see something like this as merely bragging,
01:10it's impossible to be mad when he backs up the claims with unadulterated talent.
01:14Number 19, Cartoon and Cereal, featuring Gunplay, single.
01:23Originally written for Good Kid, Mad City,
01:25Cartoon and Cereal ended up being cut after having been spread around online.
01:36However, that hasn't stopped it from becoming a fan favorite.
01:40It put his storytelling ability on display,
01:42leading listeners down a twisted retelling of his youth,
01:45centered around seeing his once-role models turn to lives of violence.
01:55The nearly seven-minute runtime feels like it flies by in seconds,
01:59with the vocal distortion on the refrain adding an eerie vibe to the overall instrumental.
02:03It helped contribute to his reputation as a master of his craft,
02:07despite being excluded from the rest of his discography.
02:13Number 18, High Power, section 80.
02:19From the very beginning of his career,
02:21it was clear he had impact within his genre and within music as a whole.
02:26Even in his debut single, he wasn't afraid to establish himself as the voice of the industry.
02:36After having been inspired by a dream featuring Tupac Shakur,
02:39Lamar felt emboldened to carry on his message,
02:42leading to the creation of High Power.
02:51It serves as both a bop and a religious movement,
02:54calling for people to uplift themselves amid a culture that seems bent on holding them down.
02:58He even highlighted those he felt had been silenced for attempting to spread a genuine message.
03:03It was immediate proof of his political knowledge,
03:06helping set him apart from several of his contemporaries.
03:12Number 17, ADHD, section 80.
03:19Only K.Dot could give a history lesson and call out glorified drug culture in one incredible number.
03:30Using the rising prominence of disorders like ADHD as a springboard,
03:34he discussed the casual drug use occurring in his generation.
03:38It perfectly explained why so many turned to substances
03:41as a way of coping with the society they were raised in,
03:44citing the crack epidemic in particular.
03:53He approached the issue empathetically,
03:55by highlighting the casual existentialism that comes with growing up in a broken world,
03:59and how easy it can be to turn to self-medication.
04:02His signature rhythm helped keep the message from becoming heavy-handed,
04:06creating a track that entertained and informed the audience all at the same time.
04:14Number 16, The Art of Peer Pressure, Good Kid, Mad City.
04:18While he has no problem tackling large concepts,
04:21he's also adept at taking on smaller-scale issues as well.
04:30Kendrick was a kid just like all of us,
04:33and as such, he had to deal with plenty of goading from friends.
04:36In The Art of Peer Pressure, he described the fear of being
04:39othered and going with the crowd just to feel included.
04:48It's something that practically everyone can relate to,
04:51even if their exact circumstances were different.
04:53Being able to capture a universal experience is no small feat, yet he did it effortlessly.
04:59He looked at the situation with a maturity beyond his years,
05:02noting how people's personalities and values can change while hanging around the wrong people.
05:16Number 15, How Much a Dollar Cost?
05:19Featuring James Fauntleroy and Ronald Ising, to Pimp a Butterfly.
05:23You know someone is talented when they can restructure
05:26even the most mundane experiences into something deep and philosophical.
05:32Detailing an encounter with a man down on his luck,
05:39he took us on a ride through his mind as he struggled with the decision to deny a request for a dollar.
05:44He debated himself on helping versus enabling someone in need,
05:47and questioned his own role within his community.
05:50He made things even deeper by positing the conversation as a test for acceptance into heaven,
06:02leading him to wonder if that would have changed his mind.
06:05It's pure genius in musical form, revealing his intellectual side
06:09and solidifying his reputation as one of the greatest lyricists on the modern scene.
06:13Number 14, Kane Kunta – To Pimp a Butterfly
06:22To Pimp a Butterfly is a multi-faceted project,
06:25containing some of this century's most poignant songs,
06:28while also splicing in moments of genuine fun as well.
06:35Kane Kunta was a departure in the best way possible, proving Dot's versatility as an artist.
06:40The production alone is enough to get people moving,
06:43with key changes and beat switches keeping things fresh the entire time.
06:54He took the opportunity to blast everyone in his sight,
06:57from people who waited until he was popular to jump on his bandwagon,
07:00to rappers who supposedly utilized ghostwriters.
07:03It was the perfect reprieve from the somber themes of the rest of the record,
07:07and reminded listeners that he's anything but a one-trick pony.
07:13Number 13, Mother I Sober – Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers
07:19Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers allowed listeners into K-Dot's mind in a way he'd never had before.
07:32It was as though he wanted to give fans a look into his psyche,
07:35something that was most apparent in Mother I Sober featuring Beth Gibbons of Portishead.
07:39Kendrick mused on his mental health and his struggles in healing himself.
07:43He brought his own familiar trauma to light,
07:45focusing on his mother's hardships and how that caused her to project on him in return.
07:54He also mentioned the generational abuse that his community has faced,
07:58and even called himself out for his own transgressions.
08:01It's a sermon detailing his pain,
08:03ending with him freeing himself and his loved ones from the emotional chains holding them down.
08:15Number 12, Meet the Grams – Single
08:17Beef is nothing new in hip-hop. In fact, it's one of the core aspects of it.
08:29So when the West Coast entertainer butted heads with Drake,
08:32people knew they were in for a good show. While he easily took the Canadian star down
08:37with upbeat moments like Euphoria and Not Like Us, Meet the Grams was the true standout.
08:50Over an ominous piano, he addressed every member of his opponent's family,
08:54from his parents to his son. He eviscerated Drake, calling him a terrible person and
08:59implying he took part in horrific crimes and even accused him of hiding a second child.
09:05While the claims haven't been corroborated,
09:07they did start an immediate conversation and established Kendrick as the winner between the two.
09:18Number 11, I – Featuring Ronald Isley – To Pimp a Butterfly
09:22One of the most powerful things a creator can do is uplift people with their music. Kendrick
09:27achieved this and more with the anthemic I. Serving as a proclamation of radical self-acceptance,
09:40he acknowledges the hardships he's gone through while highlighting how he's maintained a positive
09:45attitude. He also encouraged others to release themselves from the thoughts of others,
09:49urging them to be themselves in spite of what they may think.
09:57The positivity extended all the way down to the cover,
10:00when he brought historical enemies together to showcase how love can overpower anything,
10:04even a rivalry spanning decades. He made it clear that despite his struggles,
10:09he wasn't giving up anytime soon, and the jovial vibe served as concrete proof.
10:20Number 10, Humble – Damn! Has there ever been a more triumphant return to the top?
10:27After the success of To Pimp a Butterfly in 2015,
10:35K.Dot laid relatively low, until he came back with an undeniable explosive hit,
10:40Humble. From the very first record scratch, you know you're in for a good time,
10:45and he delivered on every front. It's a testament to how hard he's worked,
10:55all while bringing attention to his influence on the industry. A masterclass in flexing,
11:00it showed off the things he'd accrued without coming across as out of touch.
11:04The single was instantly iconic, it catapulted the rapper to new levels of fame,
11:08and secured his spot as one of the most revered musicians of the late 2010s.
11:18Number 9, Bitch Don't Kill My Vibe – Good Kid, Mad City
11:22While he has a deep love for rap and hip-hop, he's never been afraid of calling out artists
11:27who he feels don't have the same respect. He came for his own peers, calling them out for
11:40prioritizing success over the art itself, leading them to care more about views and
11:44streams than their own message. He does so over a deceptively chill tempo, creating a perfect
11:50position between that and the accusatory lines. The message is still relevant to this day,
12:02helping it become one of his signature creations despite having been released over a decade ago.
12:07It goes to show how much he cares about his work,
12:09something that has remained apparent throughout his career.
12:12Number 8, Alright – To Pimp A Butterfly
12:21In the mid-2010s, the United States was in a state of political unrest following a
12:26series of senseless acts of brutality carried out by the police.
12:37This led to the popularization of Black Lives Matter,
12:40with several songs becoming rallying cries, including Alright. It's a moment of genuine
12:44activism in musical form, urging those who are oppressed to remain proud despite the
12:49constant adversity they face. It helped people feel even a bit of hope despite the hard times,
13:01encouraging them to keep fighting for what they believe was right.
13:03The fact that he was inspired from seeing struggle around the world made it all the
13:08more authentic, helping it become one of the most prominent protest anthems of the last decade.
13:15Number 7, You – To Pimp A Butterfly
13:18While I is all about loving yourself,
13:20this oppositional side showed that sometimes that is easier said than done.
13:31You is absolutely scathing, as he took us into the deepest recesses of his mind and showed us
13:37himself at his most vulnerable. He showed glimpses of his deepest insecurities, reinforced by the
13:42things he's been told by himself and others. He exposed the guilt he felt leaving his family for
13:52fame, the imposter syndrome he faced regarding his own legacy, and feeling like a failure.
13:57It's undoubtedly dark and unflinchingly honest, with a sobering ending that leaves
14:02the listener with lasting feelings of unease long after the track has finished.
14:08Number 6, Swimming Pool – Drink
14:12Good Kid, Mad City
14:13If there's one thing he excels at, it's subverting expectations. A song with this
14:18title and energy may make a new listener believe it's the perfect soundtrack for a party.
14:29However, a closer look at the words reveals just how wrong they are.
14:33He details the uncomfortable truths of alcohol use disorder,
14:37even citing his grandfather as one of the earliest examples of seeing people numb their pain with the
14:41bottle. He also dabbles in themes of external pressure as well, with the chorus itself serving
14:52as a perfect parody of those influencing him to continue drinking. The addictive orchestration
14:56helped counteract the deeper meaning, creating a genuinely fun piece that ironically became a
15:01staple at clubs and house parties for years afterwards.
15:12Number 5, The Black Of The Berry – To Pimp A Butterfly
15:16At his best, Kendrick can make all of us look within ourselves and question the things we
15:20believe, and he holds himself to that standard as well. The Black Of The Berry was a fierce
15:31response to Odd. Going deeper into the issues presented in that tune, he went in-depth on the
15:36history of racism in America and the world as a whole, mentioning the wider societal
15:40ills that have resulted in the culture we have today. He wasn't afraid to speak his mind,
15:51even if he knew that what he was saying wouldn't be popular. The repetition at the beginning of
15:56each verse was the perfect way of tying everything together, creating a divisive
16:00number that won him plenty of cred amongst his predecessors.
16:05Number 4, DNA – Damn
16:08With inclusions like this, it's no wonder Damn won the Pulitzer Prize for music.
16:17DNA is one of the most explosive tracks on the album, from his delivery to the insane
16:22instrumental behind it. He had the producer form the beat around his performance,
16:26creating a discordant sound that continuously escalates throughout.
16:29There's a fierceness about his delivery that made the message cut even deeper,
16:33which was only exacerbated by soundbites claiming that hip-hop had become more
16:37detrimental than racism in recent years. Despite coming across as confrontational,
16:48it still had plenty of appeal among general audiences. It's become a standout amongst
16:53his catalogue, and has been featured in several movies, advertisements,
16:56and sporting events since being released.
17:04Number 3, Money Trees – Good Kid, Mad City
17:08One of the most impressive aspects of Good Kid, Mad City is that it's one overarching
17:13tale told across the tracks. Money Trees serves as a reminder of where we are in the story,
17:24referencing previous tracks to make sure the audience is completely caught up. The hook
17:28immediately draws the listeners in with a line that's both clever and fun to sing,
17:32and it only gets better from there. It's incredibly ambitious,
17:35as it runs the risk of seeming repetitive or boring.
17:44However, he handled it with ease, allowing his storytelling capabilities to take center stage.
17:50The spectacular verse from J-Rock was the cherry on top,
17:53helping create one of his most beloved tunes to date.
18:02Number 2, Mad City – Good Kid, Mad City
18:07Growing up in Compton is no easy feat.
18:13Plenty of creatives have referenced the city and the strife that comes with growing up there.
18:17K-Dot's lyrics are blunt, detailing violent events in his childhood that have affected his
18:22life in the long term. He even went in-depth on some of his own personal experiences,
18:26such as negative moments with drugs and his actions leading him to lose his job.
18:36Still, he presents the city and his actions through an empathetic lens,
18:40trying to make the listener understand the complex reasons behind its reputation without glorifying
18:45the violence that took place. Mad City was pivotal in his success,
18:48and helped close out his second record with a bang.
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19:111. Sing About I'm Dying of Thirst
19:15Good kid, Mad City. You'd think a song clocking in at over 10 minutes long would overstay its welcome.
19:21However, the MC proved that he had no trouble holding people's attention for that long.
19:34It's a formidable piece, with multiple parts chock-full of hard-hitting lines. The musician
19:38grappled with several dark thoughts, including horrific moments he experienced and questions
19:43regarding his own death. He even called out some of his past work, and how his portrayal of the
19:48subject negatively affected their family, creating a moment of genuine self-reflection that left
19:52listeners in awe. It's multifaceted and emotionally intense, leaving fans with a greater sense of who
20:04he is as a person. While it isn't his biggest hit, it's undoubtedly the performer at his best.
20:15Which Kendrick Lamar song do you think has had the greatest impact on the genre?
20:19Let us know in the comments down below.
20:34And don't forget to like and subscribe for more videos!