I'm Dying of Thirst - Kendrick Lamar (Back to the forum)

I am late to the Kendrick Lamar thing but, it is better late than never. This sound is doing number on me. I am ready to put this song up there with the greats. I can relate to this sentiment he feels. The album itself is good/okay…but this song is touching. I can’t put my finger on it but with the two skits that surround it and the deep lyrics I am like…wow! Thoughts?

[Skit]

(Dying of Thirst)

Tired of running
Tired of hunting
My own kind
But retiring nothing
Tires are steady screeching, the driver is rubbing
Hands on the wheel, who said we buzzing?

Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst

Dope on the corner
Look at the coronoer
Daughter is dead
Mother is mourning her
Strayed bullets, AK bullets
Resuscitation was waiting patiently
But they couldn’t, bring her back
Who got the footage? channel 9
Cameras lookin, it’s hard to channel your energy
When you know you’re crooked
Banana clip split his banana pudding
I’m like Tre, that’s Cuba Gooding
I know I’m good at

Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst

How many sins?
I’m running out
How many sins?
I lost count
Dreams are balled in like Spaulding
But only shotty bounce
The reaper calling
I’m cottonmouth
Money is power, yours is ours
Lay with a snitch, die with a coward
Hope we get rich, hope we can tower
Over the city with vanity with the music louder
The same song
A black flower
I’ll show you how to

Dye your thirst
Dye your thirst
Dye your thirst

What are we doing?
Who are we fooling?
Hell is hot, fire is proven
To burn for eternity, return of the student
That never learned how to live right just by how to shoot it
Tired of running, choirs is humming
Tell us to visit, we lying about coming
Now back to business, loading the guns in
Back of the Buick, your hood is viewed
And the beef is bubbling
It’s no discussion, hereditary
All of my cousins

Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst

Too many sins
I’m running out
Somebody sinned
Me a wealth of the draught
See, all I know, is taking notes
On taking this life for granted
Granted, if he provoke
My best days, I stress days (Lord forgive me for all my sins for I not know…)
My best days, I stress days
Say “Fuck the world,” my sex slave
Money, pussy and greed was my next crave
Whatever it is, know its next grave

Tired of running, tired of running
Tired of tumbling, tired of running

Tired of tumbling
Back once my momma say
“See a pastor, give me a promise
What if today was the rapture, and you completely tarnished
The truth will set you free, so to me be completely honest”

You dying of thirst
You dying of thirst

So hop in that water, and pray that it works"

[Skit/Outro]

Wait lemme get my time machine and go back exactly 1 month so I can tell you my thoughts!

FHJIFHFDIDN BEEP BOOP BEEP BOOP

Hey Park its Cody from the past. Yeah I’m really feeling this song! This albums gonna be dope man!

Thanks for the reply.

good/okay

False, this album is great and K.Dot’s last verse on m.A.A.d City was the deepest verse of the whole slbum

^ I agree.

I absolutely loved the whole idea of “The Art of Peer Pressure”; and don’t get me started on “M.A.A.D City”, that song has everything I could ask for coming from Kendrick.

The Second verse in “M.A.A.D City” where he is discussing police brutality is off the charts. I think the album is fair. It has classic moment and I love the theme of it but some of the song aren’t there…

@SpiderMan I downvoted you only because you said “false” about someones opinion

I agree with Park, there are some really great verses and songs but I was a little underwhelmed, that was bound to happen though as I had unreasonable expectations. It was a little disappointing that 3 of the 5 best tracks were released as singles (peer pressure, swimming pools, recipe), with maad city and sing about me/dying of thirst being the only others. That being said I think those 5 songs alone elevate the album enough to the point that it’s still probably the best release this year, and without a doubt the most unique

I was a little surprised Cartoon & Cereal wasn’t a bonus track as I personally think it’s his best song yet

I agree Cartoon and cereal should have been on the album.I love the whole album and Sing about me/dying of thirst is one of the most touching songs as I personally know people who have been in gangs and women who have worked as hookers.It is a sad state of affairs that many people are in this world sometimes.It makes me all the more greatful for life’s blessings that we often take for granted.

The Heart Pt 3 should’ve been on the album.

It was a concept album; heart pt. 3 had nothing to do with the concept.

It was a narrative album first.

And neither did Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe.

The heart pt 3 couldnt have physically been on the cd. Impossible as it was recorded after the cd was sent to be pressed and only a week or two before the album dropped.

Cartoons and Cereal wasn’t because of sample clearance issues.

I hate the whole sample issue. Thanks Biz Markie…

Song ranking just for the heck of it.

5 being the highest Zero being the lowest and for good measure 6 being a classic (because some songs have something that makes it more than another good track)

good kid, m.A.A.d city Tracklist:

1. Sherane a.k.a Master Splinter’s Daughter (4)
2. Bitch, Don’t Kill My Vibe (3)
3. Backseat Freestyle (0)
4. The Art of Peer Pressure (5)
5. Money Trees (Ft. Jay Rock) (4)
6. Poetic Justice (Ft. Drake) (3)
7. good kid (6)
8. m.A.A.d city (Ft. MC Eiht) (3)
9. Swimming Pools (Drank) (3.5)
10. Sing About Me (5) I’m Dying Of Thirst (6)
11. Real (Ft. Anna Wise) (3.5)
12. Compton (Ft. Dr. Dre) (4)

After I averaged it all up I gave it a 4.16 out of 5 witch sound fair to me. I think the songs that hit hit hard but, for the most part the lyrics and beat are very solid. I don’t think takes anything away from him.

If one has to see this album as a Hip-Hop classic then I would only entertain that idea because of the theme and skits that bring you as close to Compton life as you or I have ever been musically. Why do I say that. I compare his verse with Dre and MC Eith. They rap in first person. (I did this and I do that). Kendrick raps as if the entire community is speaking through his voice about everyday life. His parents comical issues/ great parenting guidance when it comes to the streets. His friends, and his enemies perspectives. These give the feel of a cinematic feel and it is.

I could see this as a classic in those terms. Song for song however…it missed the mark on a few and on one at least it is offensive and really annoying.

“Martin had a Dreeeeam, Kendrick had a dreeeam”

Whatever dude.

How the fuck do you have BF as 0, do you understand the concept of the album?

I see that you are are really upset about my oppinion so out or a caution before you read this next thought of mine you might want take a moment to compose yourself. It doesn’t get any better for you on the point of this particular track.

Verse 1: Backseat Freestlye

[Intro:]
Martin had a dream
Martin had a dream
Kendrick have a dream

[Hook:]
All my life I want money and power
Respect my mind or die from lead shower
I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower
So I can fuck the world for 72 hours

God damn I feel amazing, damn I’m in the matrix
My mind is living on cloud 9 and this 9 is never on vacation
Start up that Maserati and VROOM VROOM! I’m racing
Poppin pills in the lobby and I pray they don’t find her naked
And I pray you niggas is hating, shooters go after Judas
Jesus Christ if I live life on my knees, ain’t no need to do this
Park it in front of Lueders, next to that Church’s Chicken
All you pussies is losers, all my niggas is winners, screaming

When I hear this beat (sux) and when I hear this hook (stupid and offensive) and say to myself, what this have to do with story up to this point? What does Martin’s and Kendricks dream and Maseratti’s and his sex life have to do with this story? Nothing unless I just have to see it that way. Reading that verse is like reading from the mind of a lunatic. It makeI have seen much better stuff here in freestyles sessions.

I thought he was a good kid in a maad city. He sounds like he is doing his best to sound like other braggodocious rappers. Don’t you expect better from him?

“All you pussies is losers, all my niggas is winners, screaming”
Is this really the best line he could come up with?

Put into the context of the album as a concept album ‘Backseat Freestyle’ is relevant representing the same young mind (Kendrick at 17) chilling with the homies in an environment involving braggodocio and other simple pleasures like “All my life I want money and power” its meant to be part of the story and as an insight into the mind of Kendrick and other people at that age who have and still feel that way, it’s deeper than you think, plus it’s catch AS FUCK!

The fact the song sounds ignorant shows it not ignorant, that’s his intention and Maseratti’s and sex have a lot to do with the story, it shows the mentality of alot of people in search of the material wealth in the environments they live in like Compton and the album kinda starts with sex when Kendrick meets Sherane which is the focus of the concept

Could your ranking system be a little less complex please?

You might be right and I definately respect your opinion.

For me I think that it is a case of me excepting trash just because I think the MC is dope. I gave the album my honest accessment. I think it is superior. 4/5 is excellent. I don’t want to harp on the this song too much. I think it is one bad song. I do apprieciate your perspective. I may try and listen to it again.

Finally. I think Art of Peer Pressure accomplishes all that you said and it is beautifully written and spat.

Backseat Freestyle (0)

What criteria are you using?

I felt this entire album. For real. But that Poetic Justice song….it wasn’t bad per se. Just kind of boring. And is it me or would the Hook of Money Trees have been better if Andre 3000 sang it?

Kendrick himself said that Backseat Freestyle was from his perspective when he was sixteen. So, yes, it does fit the album, because it shows the plight and ignorance that Compton can cause people to have. It wasn’t everybody else that suffered, Kendrick suffered, too.
Also, hearing “I gotta pack of blacks and a beat CD, get yo freestyles ready-ARIN TIN TIN, ARIN TIN TIN..” gets me fired up, I think it’s awesome.

You post the lyrics implying I have no idea what they are. I suggest you listen to the album start to finish and try to comprehend why that song is a pivotal part in the storyline

You just called a Hit-boy beat bad?

@ Kristen_Stewart

I think the song is just flat out bad.

The beat is irritating.
The lyrics are non-sensical.

“Poppin pills in the lobby and I pray they don’t find her naked
And I pray you niggas is hating, shooters go after Judas
Jesus Christ if I live life on my knees, ain’t no need to do this
Park it in front of Lueders, next to that Church’s Chicken
All you pussies is losers, all my niggas is winners, screaming”

That makes no sense to me. From one line to the next it makes no sense. I think I am getting this flak because it is Kendrick Lamar and not your everyday MC. Those lines aren’t good. They are something but not anything with any particular meaning.

Not sure why this is so offensive to some. I don’t think the song is good. It didn’t say the album sucked.

I wonder if most people things this album is flawless. I would also like to see others ranking of the album song by song. All I am looking for now is a counter-point, not an argument.

Like I said before you must not be listening to the song from start to finish. I’m starting to think you had your Ipod on shuffle when listening to the album.

That makes no sense to me. From one line to the next it makes no sense. I think I am getting this flak because it is Kendrick Lamar and not your everyday MC. Those lines aren’t good. They are something but not anything with any particular meaning

That is flat out ignorant, you should read the explanations of the song and like I said before, listen to it from start to finish.

You are right. I haven’t read the explaination to the song. I will now and I will come back with anything helpfull that I learned.

Now, here is my thing to you. I would like you take you aim off of me and more on the song. Tell me please, what about the lyrics makes it so special? What do those lines that I quoted mean to you? A detailed breakdown would be nice.

Maybe your basic views song for song too, if you have a moment. A little more skin in the game maybe is all I am asking. If not I will not respond to anymore of your insults. I’m just saying, I want a fair debate if that is what you are looking for.

This thread is about Kendrick Lamar lyrics, not me. Put me to shame with your understanding of that verse and song and how it fits to the overall setting of the album.

By the way. Saying that “You (I) need to listen to the song…you are ignorant” doesn’t help me learn how bad I missed the point does it?

This should be a very interesting exercise.

I am ignorant. School me.

When I heard Backseat Freestlye on SoundCloud before the album came out, I hated it. Since I heard it on the album I loved it because he ties it into the narrative seamlessly. Also, that Hit-Boy beat is bangin' and it’s just an overall fun song.

Kendrick himself said that Backseat Freestyle was from his perspective when he was sixteen. So, yes, it does fit the album, because it shows the plight and ignorance that Compton can cause people to have. It wasn’t everybody else that suffered, Kendrick suffered, too. I think that’s what you’re looking for CrossoverDoc hit the nail on the head.

So, I read the first verse explaination.

I think the people here did an amazing job open explaining the lyrics. The fact is I found the explainations more interesting that the song itself. Cudos to the minds excellent thinker here.

Point blank. I cannot take the sound of it this beat, the delievery of his lyrics or the lyrical content. Of course there are some good lines and the context of a song about being young and dumb can fit into any album at any point. There is in my mind none of the usual artistic polish that I find on his other songs. It seems like a really interesting rough draft.

That is the best I can do.

(Incidentally. The person who gave the explaination of the Effiel tower and 72 hours line deserves a medal.)

The track serves as the perfect introduction to ‘The Art of Peer Pressure’ and the album wouldn’t have been the same without it each to their own though

@ Parks

The track is a great example of Kendrick’s song writing intelligence. He didn’t tell the story with what he rapped, he told the story with the way he rapped. He gave you a mood whilst simultaneously setting up the next song.

• The hook “I pray my dick get big as the Eiffel Tower. So I can fuck the world for 72 hours”.
• The jumpy flow
• The stream of consciousness almost non-sequitur lyrics.

He perfectly imitate’s a 16-18 year old kendrick drunk and high free-styling with his friends in the back of his mom’s van about to go on a crime spree.

He didn’t to write a novel with this song he painted a vivid picture instead.

Bump

How have you put Real above Backseat Freestyle, Real has the worse chrous ever i cant even listen to it anymore its so shit. On Backseat when theres 2 layes of his voice then the background vocal is merged to the front and the other fades sounds awesome!

@Kristen_Stewart.

Thanks for the explaination. I can apprieciate Kendrick’s attempt at freestyle session. I have participated in plenty of those when I was 14-17 so I can relate.

I have nothing more to add to the Backseat Freestyle conversation. Thanks for the responses.

Once again, I was hoping to get more perspective on the “Dying of Thirst”. Not sure if I can find a more real and beautiful song recent in Hip-Hop since Lupe’s “We Just Might Be OK”.

Not sure if I can find a more real and beautiful song recent in Hip-Hop since Lupe’s “We Just Might Be OK”

You should give this a listen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xVEa0SMxFg

I like Sing About Me A LOT more than Dying of Thirst, tbh.

@Kristen. I am not able to use Youtube at my job. What is the name of the song please?

BTW, I know understand why I love this song so much. It reminds me of what i felt like when I was doing stuff I had not business doing or around people that we crazy and knowing that we all needed a change.

His song is one of repentance from sins. This theme runs throughout the album. When it hits this point it has become to the point of desparation. People don’t get to see that part of hood like. The exshaustion, the need for more than hood love and respect. You need Christ love. Something to believe in when you see so much that is wrong in the world, in your little violent word when close friends are killed.

What are we doing?
Who are we fooling?
Hell is hot, fire is proven
To burn for eternity, return of the student
That never learned how to live right just by how to shoot it
Tired of running, choirs is humming
Tell us to visit, we lying about coming
Now back to business, loading the guns in
Back of the Buick, your hood is viewed
And the beef is bubbling
It’s no discussion, hereditary
All of my cousins

Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst
Dying of thirst

That line with the woman’s voice echoing in the backround. I sit and close my eyes an see friends from the past who don’t understand.

Props to Kendrick for this song. This is the true second coming of “Pain” from Mr. Shukar.

They’ll never take me alive, I’m gettin' high with my four-five
Cocked on these suckas, time to die
Even as a youngster causin' ruckus on the back of the bus
I was a fool all through high school kickin' up dust
But now I’m labelled as a trouble maker who can you blame?
Smokin' weed helped me take away the pain
So I’m hopeless rollin' down the freeway swervin, don’t worry
I’m about to crash up on the curb cause my visions blurry
Maybe if they tried to understand me, what should I do?
I had to feed my fuckin' family, what else could I do
But be a thug
Out slangin' with the homies
Fuck hangin' with them phonies in the club

listen k-dot is very consistent if you were in on it when his recent album ame out you woul dhave felt like pow

“Saw a light skinned nigga with his brains blown out
Around the same place where ____ hang out
Now this ain’t a voice recording say that he did it
But ever since that day I was lookin at him different”

@Park Excuse my ignorance but what is so great about the explanation to that Eiffel tower line? What has Eiffel tower’s length being 0.025% of the Earth’s diameter got to do with anything? Just curious.

Not a problem Respiration.

The explaination about the earth and the Eiffel towel have nothing to with Kendricks line is the is the point for me. It has nothing to do with Kendrick’s rant about his member being as large as the Eiffel tower, yet the person who described it went into the 72 names of the Eiffel tower (Sex for 72 days), they also went into the math of describing how big Kendrick would have to be to have sex with the world. I know that he is an awesome lyricist but I think he dropped some weak lines in that song and I also that that the poster helped Kendrick by making the line much more interesting than Kendrick intended.

I think it is a little much…but, still praise worthy that the poster was able to get all that information for such a disgusting line.

My thoughts. I hope that was clear and helpfull. Thanks for asking. I am enjoying discussing the lyricism on this very good album.

Agreed, though the line itself stands out pretty random with its meaning, like you said. Yeah, it’s a hook but still. 72 hours because of the 72 engraved names on the tower? Not sure.
Decent song in the context of the concept of the album. Nevertheless, a great album indeed.

On a sidenote, if your dick is just 0.025% of the size of the person you’re fucking, then your penis is actually quite small. So he’ll have to grow at least a Himalaya to satisfy Earth lol

Backseat Freestyle is a song perfect for getting pumped up…i swear man that beat is freakin' nice and knowing that it isn’t supposed to be taken all that serious makes it even more enjoyable.

It’s “Big Krit- The Vent” if you don’t listen to him already

How the fuck was Dying Of Thirst better than Sing About Me?

m.A.A.d. City will forever be my favorite track i get goosebumps

You don’t need to post the lyrics when you’re talking about a song.