Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers

United in Grief

Kendrick Lamar

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

End

Internal

Multi

137

Slant

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight

[Part II]

[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

The new Mercedes^✦ whip, black G-Wagon^✦

The, "Where you from?" It was all for rap

I was 28 years young, twenty^✦ mill' in tax

Bought a couple of mansions,^✦ just for practice^✦

Five hundred^✦ in jewelry,^✦ chain was magic^✦

Never^✦ had it in public,^✦ late reaction^✦

50K to cousins,^✦ post a caption^✦

Pray none of my enemies^✦ hold me captive^✦

[Refrain: Kendrick Lamar]

I grieve different^✦

I grieve different,^✦ huh

[Verse 1: Kendrick Lamar]

I met her on the third night of Chicago

North America tour, my enclave

Fee-fi-fo-fum, she was a model

Dedicated to the songs I wrote and the Bible

Eyes light green penetratin' the moonlight

Hair done in a bun, energy^✦ in the room like

Big Bang for theory,^✦ God, hopin'^✦ you hear me

Phone off the ringer,^✦ tell the world, "I'm busy"^✦

Fair enough,^✦ green-eyes^✦ said her mother^✦ didn't care enough^✦

Sympathize when her daddy^✦ in the chain gang

Her first brother got killed,^✦ he was twenty-one

I was nine when they put Lamont^✦ in the grave

Heartbroken when Estelle didn't say goodbye

Chad left his body^✦ after^✦ we FaceTimed

Green-eyes^✦ said you'd be okay,^✦ first tour, sex'd the pain away^✦

[Refrain: Kendrick Lamar]

I grieve different^✦

I grieve different,^✦ huh

[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]

The new Mercedes^✦ whip, black G-Wagon^✦

The, "Where you from?" It was all for rap

I was 28 years young, twenty^✦ mill' in tax

Bought a couple of mansions,^✦ just for practice^✦

Five hundred^✦ in jewelry,^✦ chain was magic^✦

Never^✦ had it in public,^✦ late reaction^✦

50K to cousins,^✦ post a caption^✦

Pray none of my enemies^✦ hold me captive^✦

[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]

So what? Paralyzed, the county^✦ building controlled us

I bought a Rolex watch, I only^✦ wore it once

I bought infinity pools I never^✦ swimmed in

I watched Keem buy four cars in four months

You know the family^✦ dynamics on repeat^✦

The insecurities^✦ locked^✦ down on PC

I bought a .223, nobody^✦ peace treat

You won't doo-doo me, I smell TNT

Dave got him a Porsche, so I got me a Porsche

Paid lottery for it, I ain't want it in portions^✦

Poverty was the case

But the money^✦ wipin'^✦ the tears away^✦

[Outro: Kendrick Lamar]

I grieve different^✦

(Everybody^✦ grieves^✦ different)^✦

I grieve different,^✦ huh

Technical Breakdown

8.0

Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes8.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm7.5

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity8.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.0

Performance and control

Computed Score7.98

Production

— Beach Noise, Duval Timothy, J.LBS, Oklama, Sounwave, Tim Maxey

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Critic Analysis

RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

Kendrick utilizes a clinical, stuttering cadence to mirror the erratic psychological state of grief, pairing internal rhyme density with vulnerable, grounded storytelling that bridges luxury-rap tropes with personal trauma.

B+

9.5

Multisyllabic

8.5

Internal Rhymes

7.5

Cadence / Flow

Vocabulary

7.5

Wordplay

Delivery

Assonance-heavy multisStaccato phrasingNarrative non-linear sequencingEnjambment for tension

Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a mix of AAAA and AABB structures, heavily reliant on internal vowel harmony (e.g., 'Chicago/Enclave/Model') that creates a rhythmic drag, forcing the listener to focus on his erratic flow.

Verified Doubles & Entendres

"twenty mill' in tax"

① The literal cost of his financial success and tax liability② A reflection of the literal and figurative 'cost' of fame, implying the burden of wealth

"chain gang"

① Referring to the literal prison system or chain gangs② A play on his jewelry (his 'chain') being a metaphorical cage or weight, linking his material wealth to his struggle

Exceptional rhythmic tension created by the contrast between luxurious imagery and the bleak reality of grief

Sophisticated use of internal multisyllabic rhymes that feel organic rather than forced

Commanding vocal variation that captures a sense of detachment

The 'Fee-fi-fo-fum' reference feels slightly jarring compared to the more grounded autobiographical elements

Some punchlines serve the rhyme scheme more than the thematic narrative arc

United in Grief

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

Technical Breakdown

Production

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