What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Kendrick Lamar describes the feeling you get when you’re in a creative rush; words, images flows fast in your mind and can be somewhat confusing, incomprehensible to a 3rd party, similar to a lost language.

The word Hieroglyph is well-chosen as egyptian hieroglyphs were a formal writing system used by the ancient Egyptians that combined logographic and alphabetic elements.

This isn’t the first time Kendrick has mentioned writing his own hieroglyphics.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Members of the Wu-Tang Clan often compare their rapping ability/rhymes/flow/lyrics to guns to express how powerful their words are.

This is also an agressive way to express how badly he wants to earn the number one spot.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

The bridge is all a play on words of the dangerous Compton lifestyle themed in this album, to actual fireshots, comparing them to liquor shots; both can take you down.

Note also the peer pressure theme; The more shots you take, the more you influence someone else to do the same. Thus the cycle continues: since Kendrick or the homie’s doing it, it must be cool, whether it be drinking, shooting someone, or fucking someone.

  • “I ride, you ride” – When I drink, you should drink
  • “One chopper, one hundred shots, bang” – alcohol abuse.
  • “Hop out, do you, bang?” – Peer pressure; influence someone to drink excessively.
  • “Two chopper, two hundred shots, bang” – If one person takes 100 shots, you can assume that they’re both at it now and perpetuating the cycle

In “Hop out, Do you bang?” he references on how it goes down in Compton walking down the streets as a youngster and having gangsters stop their cars and hop out to ask him about which gang he is affiliated to, then Kendrick proceeds to flee from them, hence the 100 shots fired at him by the gang bangers pursuing him.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Those lines describes how parties go, in a chronological order from pouring liquor and shots excessively to passing out.

It’s often misreported that Kendrick doesn’t drink or smoke. While it’s true he doesn’t smoke, he occasionally does have a drink. Keep in mind that GKMC is him reminiscing about growing up in Compton. So he probably doesn’t smoke/drink anymore but he might have before. Also, some casual drinkers or weed smokers often refer themselves as non-smokers or “people that don’t drink”.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

During their performance at The Source Awards in ‘94, Onyx shot off live ammunition while they performed “Throw Ya Gunz”

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Serj, singing about a relationship he wishes will never end.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Most artist uses sad feelings to write some of the most beautiful songs, that reaches your very soul. By writing such things from his relationships, it made it easier for him to obtain a contract deal, then fame, which indirectly gave him a home. .

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

This metaphor express his desire to live his life with this girl, for as long as he can, until the inevitable death. Hence “borders”.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

Double meaning:

  • Mef drops another movie reference: Famous scene from The Godfather where the Corleones family threathens Jack Woltz by putting the dead head of his horse, in his bed, while he’s sleeping in it.

Also, in Godfather matresses were used as shield in gun fights; they put them up in the windows to block the view of enemies and keep them from seeing where/who to shoot inside the room/house.

  • Sexual wreckage in bed.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.

What is this?

The Genius annotation is the work of the Genius Editorial project. Our editors and contributors collaborate to create the most interesting and informative explanation of any line of text. It’s also a work in progress, so leave a suggestion if this or any annotation is missing something.

To learn more about participating in the Genius Editorial project, check out the contributor guidelines.

Loading...

A reference to the most famous story in the Book of Daniel. In the Old Testament, Daniel is sent to the lion’s den because he was caught praying. But Daniel walked out without any lions touching him.

This video is processing – it'll appear automatically when it's done.