Damn
LUST.
Kendrick Lamar
Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis
27
End
216
Internal
105
Multi
217
Slant
12
Chain
Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Interlude: RAT BOY]
Door and his Nike Air Rattles✦
Rush the fire exit,✦ no time for battles✦
Well I, I never✦ expected
[Verse 2: Kendrick Lamar]
Wake up in the mornin',✦ thinkin'✦ 'bout money,✦ kick your feet up
Watch you a comedy—hol' up
Wake up in the mornin',✦ thinkin'✦ 'bout money,✦ kick your feet up
Watch you a comedy,✦ take a shit, then roll some weed up
Go hit you a lick, go fuck on a bitch, don't go to work today✦
Cop you a fit or maybe some kicks and make it work today✦
Hang with the homies,✦ stunt on your baby✦ mama✦
Sip some lean, go get a pistol, shoot out the window
Bet your favorite✦ team, play you some Madden✦
Go to the club or your mama✦ house
Whatever✦ you're doin', just make it count (I need some water)✦
Wake up in the mornin',✦ thinkin'✦ 'bout money,✦ kick your feet up
Hop in the shower,✦ put on your makeup, lace your weave up
Touch on yourself,✦ call up your nigga,✦ tell him he ain't shit
Credit✦ card scam, get you a Visa,✦ make it pay your rent
Hop on the 'Gram, flex on the bitches✦ that be hatin'✦ on you
Pop you a pill, call up your bitches,✦ have 'em waitin'✦ on you
Go to the club, have you some fun, make that ass bounce
It's whatever,✦ just make it count
[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
I need some water✦
Something✦ came over✦ me
Way too hot to simmer✦ down, might as well overheat✦
Too close to comfort✦
As blood rush my favorite✦ vein
Heartbeat✦ racin'✦ like a junkie's✦
I just need you to want me
Am I asking✦ too much?
Let me put the head in
Ooh, I don't want more than that; girl, I respect✦ the cat
I promise,✦ just a touch
Let me put the head in
If it's okay;✦ she said, "It's okay"✦
[Verse 3: Kendrick Lamar]
I wake in the mornin',✦ my head's spinnin' from the last night
Both in a trance, feelings✦ are dead—what a fast life
Manager called,✦ the lobby✦ call is 11:30
Did this before,✦ promised myself✦ I'd be a hour early✦
Room full of clothes, bag full of money:✦ call it loose change
Fumbled my jewelry, 100K, I lost a new chain
Hop on the bird, hit the next city✦ for another M
Take me a nap, then do it again✦
We all woke up, tryna✦ tune to the daily✦ news
Lookin'✦ for confirmation,✦ hopin'✦ election✦ wasn't true
All of us worried,✦ all of us buried,✦ in our feelings✦ deep
None of us married✦ to his proposal, make us feel cheap
Stale and sad, distraught and mad, tell the neighbor 'bout it
Bet they agree, parade✦ the streets with your voice proudly
Time passin',✦ things change
Revertin' back to our daily✦ programs, stuck in our ways
Lust
[Bridge: Kendrick Lamar]
Lately,✦ I feel like I been lustin'✦ over✦ the fame
Lately,✦ we lust on the same routine of shame
Lately✦ (Lately)✦ Lately,✦ my lust been heightened (Lately)✦
Lately,✦ it's all contradiction✦ (Lately,✦ I'm not here)
Lately,✦ I lust over✦ self (Lust turn into✦ fear)
Lately,✦ in James✦ 4:4 says
"Friend of the world is enemy✦ of the Lord"
Brace yourself:✦ Lust is all yours
[Chorus: Kendrick Lamar]
I need some water✦
Something✦ came over✦ me
Way too hot to simmer✦ down, might as well overheat✦
Too close to comfort✦
As blood rush my favorite✦ vein
Heartbeat✦ racin'✦ like a junkie's✦
I just need you to want me
Am I asking✦ too much?
Let me put the head in
Ooh, I don't want more than that; girl, I respect✦ the cat
I promise,✦ just a touch
Let me put the head in
If it's okay;✦ she said, "It's okay"✦
Technical Breakdown
9.1
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 / Rhythm10.0
Flow variation and timing (data-driven)
Vocabulary Complexity7.0
Range and depth of words used (data-driven)
Delivery / Breath Control9.0
Performance and control
Computed Score9.08
Production
— DJ Dahi, Sounwave, BADBADNOTGOODBe the first to rate the production
Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™
Kendrick utilizes cyclical repetition and robotic, instructional cadence to mirror the shallow, numbing loops of consumerist lust, effectively turning the monotony of the rhyme scheme into a critique of the hedonistic lifestyle described.
A+
9.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
10
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
7.5
Wordplay
9
Delivery
Cyclical repetitionAnaphoraMonotonous cadence as thematic deviceStructural symmetry
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on a highly consistent, almost trance-like AAAA rhyme structure focused on open vowel sounds, broken up by rapid-fire internal rhymes that maintain the rhythmic forward momentum.
Verified Doubles & Entendres
"make it work today"
① To successfully manage one's immediate tasks or outfit ensemble.② A sarcastic commentary on the emptiness of performing labor within a self-destructive, consumer-driven loop.
"make it count"
① To maximize pleasure or profit in the moment.② A cynical instruction to ensure the 'lust' (or sin) has measurable value or consequences, given the recurring nature of the cycle.
Masterful use of cadence to reflect thematic stagnation
Exceptional structural consistency that reinforces the feeling of a 'daily routine'
Commanding vocal performance that shifts between detached observation and immersive instruction
Vocabulary choices remain purposefully grounded and 'street-level', prioritizing rhythm over density of language
Lack of complex, multi-layered literary metaphors in favor of direct observational instruction