Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Auntie Diaries
Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
30
End
234
Internal
118
Multi
289
Slant
8
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
My auntie is a man now
I think I'm old enough✦ to understand✦ now
Drinking✦ Paul Masson✦ with her hat turned✦ backwards
Back when it was comedic relief✦ to say, "Faggot"✦
"Faggot,✦ faggot,✦ faggot,"✦ we ain't know no better✦
Elementary kids with no filter,✦ however✦
My auntie became✦ a man and I took pride in it
She wasn't gay, she ate pussy,✦ and that was the difference
That's what I told my friends in second✦ grade
She picking✦ me up from school, they stare at her in the face
They couldn't comprehend what I grew accustomed
We pull off bumpin'✦ Quik like it was nothing✦
My auntie is a man now, what a relationship
I grew up fast, I needed✦ no one to babysit
He gave me some cash then gave me some game
Cherry✦ freshener on the dash, I never✦ complained
She even✦ cut my hair at the pad, was loving✦ my fade
The first person✦ I seen write a rap
That's when my life had changed✦
House full of demo,✦ smoke stuck on the window✦
Cameras on the microphone, all women✦ and men know
My auntie was a man now, we cool with it
The history had trickled down and made us ign'ant✦
My favorite cousin✦ said he's returning the favor✦
And following my auntie with the same behavior
[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]
Demetrius✦ is Mary-Ann✦ now
He's more confident to live his plan now (Talking✦ to the world's gonna✦ bring you down)
But the family✦ in disbelief this time (Talking✦ to the world's gonna✦ bring you down)
Convincing themselves, "He ain't living✦ discreet, he's fine" (Talking✦ to the world's gonna✦ bring you down)
They said they never✦ seen it in him, but I seen it (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
The Barbie dolls played off reflection✦ of Venus (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
He built a wall so tall you couldn't climb over✦
He didn't laugh as hard when the kids start joking✦ (Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh)
"Faggot,✦ faggot,✦ faggot,"✦ we ain't know no better✦
Middle school kids with no filter,✦ however✦
I had to be very✦ mindful of my good cousin✦
I knew exactly who he was, but I still loved✦ him
Demetrius✦ is Mary-Ann✦ now
I mean he's really✦ Mary-Ann,✦ even✦ took things further
Changed✦ his gender✦ before✦ Bruce Jenner✦ was certain
Living✦ his truth even✦ if it meant see a surgeon
We didn't talk for a while, he seemed✦ more distant
Wasn't comfortable around✦ me, everything was offensive
But I recall✦ we both had a sick sense of humor✦
Made raw, but time changes all
[Verse 4: Kendrick Lamar]
Demetrius✦ is Mary-Ann✦ now
Remember church, Easter✦ Sunday?✦
I sat in the pew, you had stronger faith
More spiritual when these dudes✦ were living✦ life straight
Which I found ironic 'cause the pastor✦ didn't see him the same
He said my cousin✦ was going through some things
He promised the world we living✦ in was an act on abomination✦
And Demetrius✦ was to blame
I knew you was conflicted by the feelings✦ of preacherman✦
Wondering if God still call you a decent man
Still, you found the courage to be subservient just to anoint✦
Until he singled you out to prove his point, saying
"Demetrius✦ is Mary-Ann✦ now
Church, his auntie is a man now," it hurt
You the most 'cause your belief✦ was close to his words
Forcing me to stand now
I said, "Mr. Preacherman,✦ should we love thy neighbor?
The laws of the land or the heart, what's greater?
I recognize the study✦ she was taught since birth
But that don't justify the feelings✦ that my cousin✦ preserved"
The building was thinking✦ out loud, bad angel
That's when you looked✦ at me and smiled,✦ said, "Thank you"
The day I chose humanity over✦ religion✦
The family✦ got closer,✦ it was all forgiven
I said them F-bombs, I ain't know any✦ better✦
Mistakenly, I ain't think that you'd know any✦ different
See, I was taught words was nothing✦ more than a sound
If ever✦ they was pronounced without any✦ intentions
The very✦ second✦ you challenged the shit I was kicking✦
Reminded me about✦ a show I did out the city✦
That time I brung a fan on stage to rap
But disapproved the word that she couldn't say with me
You said, "Kendrick, ain't no room for contradiction✦
To truly✦ understand✦ love, switch position✦
'Faggot,✦ faggot,✦ faggot,'✦ we can say it together
But only✦ if you let a white girl say 'Nigga'"✦
Technical Breakdown
8.6
Multisyllabic Rhymes9.5
Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)
Internal Rhymes9.5
Rhymes within a line (data-driven)
Wordplay / Double Entendres7.5
Clever language, metaphors, punchlines
Cadence / Rhythm8.5
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity8.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control8.5
Performance and control
Computed Score8.55
Production
— Beach Noise, Bekon, Craig Balmoris, Sergiu Gherman, Tyler MehlenbacherBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
The verse utilizes a conversational, narrative-driven delivery style to deconstruct internalized prejudice, shifting from objective observation to subjective realization through sophisticated rhyme density.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8.5
Cadence / Flow
8
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Multisyllabic rhyme clustersConversational cadence modulationNarrative arc developmentInternal rhyme linkage
Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a fluid AABB/CCDD structure interjected with long-chain internal rhymes and slant rhymes that emphasize the colloquial, storytelling nature of the verse.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"The history had trickled down and made us ign'ant"
① Societal history regarding gender and sexuality was passed down as a rigid set of prejudices.② The literal lack of knowledge (ignorance) inherited from the previous generation blinded the narrator to the reality of the Auntie's transition.
"She wasn't gay, she ate pussy, and that was the difference"
① A naive second-grade interpretation of sexuality based solely on sexual preference rather than identity.② The contrast between the narrator's childhood binary logic and the nuance of his auntie's actual identity.
Exceptional narrative transparency
High level of technical internal rhyme density
Strong structural arc from childhood ignorance to adult reflection
Linear narrative focus occasionally sacrifices metaphorical density
Delivery remains relatively flat to suit the confessional tone