Damn
ELEMENT.
Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
21
End
177
Internal
70
Multi
155
Slant
7
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus]
If I gotta✦ slap a pussy-ass✦ nigga,✦ I'ma✦ make it look sexy✦
If I gotta✦ go hard on a bitch, I'ma✦ make it look sexy✦
I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy✦
They won't take me out my element✦
Nah, take me out my element✦
[Verse 2]
I'm allergic to a bitch nigga,✦ ayy
An imaginary rich nigga,✦ ayy
Seven✦ figures ho, that's slimmer than my bitch figure,✦ ayy
Goin' digital and physical on all y'all, ayy
Bunch of criminals and money✦ in my phone calls, ayy
We okay,✦ we let the A1 fly
Relocate, jump on the same G5
Checkin' for me heavy✦ 'cause I go, yeah, I go, yeah
They never✦ been ready,✦ yeah, I know, yeah, know, yeah
100K spread across✦ the floor, 'cross the floor, yeah
None of y'all fuckin'✦ with the flow, yeah, the flow, yeah
Years in the makin',✦ and don't y'all mistake it
I got 'em by a landslide, we talkin'✦ about✦ races✦
You know this'll never✦ be a tie, just look at they laces✦
You know careers take off, just gotta✦ be patient
Mr. One through Five, that's the only✦ logic
Fake my death, go to Cuba,✦ that's the only✦ option✦
[Chorus]
If I gotta✦ slap a pussy-ass✦ nigga,✦ I'ma✦ make it look sexy✦
If I gotta✦ go hard on a bitch, I'ma✦ make it look sexy✦
I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy✦
They won't take me out my element✦
Nah, take me out my element✦
[Bridge]
Damned✦ if I do, if I don't (Yuh)
Goddamn✦ us all if you won't (Yuh)
Damn, damn, damn, it's a goddamn✦ shame
You ain't front in line, get out the goddamn✦ way
[Verse 3]
Niggas✦ thought they wasn't gonna✦ see me, huh?
Niggas✦ thought that K-Dot real life
Was the same life they see on TV, huh?
Niggas✦ wanna✦ flex on me and be in L.A. for free, huh?
Next time they hit the 10 freeway, we need a receipt, huh?
'Cause most of y'all ain't real, most of y'all gon' squeal
Most of y'all just envy,✦ but jealousy get you killed✦
Most of y'all throw rocks and try to hide your hand
Just say his name and I promise that you'll see Candyman
Because it's all in your eyes, most of y'all tell lies
Most of y'all don't fade, most of y'all been advised
Last LP I tried to lift the black artists✦
But it's a difference 'tween black artists✦ and wack artists✦
[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar & Kid Capri]
If I gotta✦ slap a pussy-ass✦ nigga,✦ I'ma✦ make it look sexy✦
It's the one and only,✦ the world's greatest, the Kid Capri
If I gotta✦ go hard on a bitch, I'ma✦ make it look sexy✦
I pull up, hop out, air out, made it look sexy✦
They won't take me out my element✦
Nah, take me out my element✦
Technical Breakdown
8.3
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 / Rhythm8.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity6.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score8.30
Production
— Bekon, James Blake, Ricci Riera, Sounwave, Tae BeastBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Kendrick utilizes aggressive vocal cadence and high-density internal rhyme structures to reinforce a theme of untouchable cultural and financial standing, effectively using repetition as a percussive tool.
A
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
8
Cadence / Flow
6
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Staccato cadenceInternal rhyme densityMulti-syllabic repetitionVocal layering
Rhyme Architecture: Kendrick employs a repetitive, punchy AAAA scheme punctuated by internal multisyllabic clusters, shifting to rapid-fire triplet-adjacent flows in the latter half of the verse.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"I got 'em by a landslide, we talkin' about races"
① A decisive victory in a contest or competition.② A literal reference to geological movement (landslide) contrasting with the competitive racing metaphor.
"You know this'll never be a tie, just look at they laces"
① A competitive assurance that the opponent is nowhere near his level.② A literal reference to the 'laces' (tying shoes), implying the competition hasn't even started or are tripping over themselves.
"Fake my death, go to Cuba, that's the only option"
① A reference to the urban legend/theory that Tupac Shakur faked his death and moved to Cuba.② A statement on the level of fame Kendrick has reached, where 'disappearing' is the only alternative to the current lifestyle.
Exceptional rhythmic pocket and breath control
Effective use of vocal modulation to convey dominance
Strong cohesive thematic focus
Slightly repetitive thematic territory
Vocabulary is secondary to the sonic/rhythmic experience