MUF 307

Diploma Report
Kendrick Lamar : To study about him, how he
create jazz element in hip hop music
and talk about how he use poem in hip hop. poetic justice & for free (interlude)

Mohamed Ikhmal Hafiz Bin Nortaza

2012781423

1. Abstract
This report shows the study of Kendrick Lamars composition of jazz and hip-hop
combination with poetic lyrics. The writer writes his own interpretation of Lamars
work and how the works inspire him.

2. Introduction
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth was born in Compton, California June 17, 1987. In early life, Lamar
and his parents had to move to Compton to Chicago to escape the citys gang culture, although
Lamars father had been associated with the notorious gangster disciples gang. As the 1980s
crack trade and west coast gang presence increased, Lamar grew up around precarious street
activity, but he seemed more influenced than harmed by it. He also was a good student who
enjoyed writing, poem and then make lyrics.
In 1995, at the age of eight, Lamar witnessed his idol, Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre, film the music
video for their hit California Love which would later prove to be a significant moment in
Lamars life. As a teenager, Lamar attend Centennial High School in Compton, where he was a
grade A- student.
In 2003, at the age of 16, Lamar adopted the moniker as K-Dot and began performing his lyrics
as a rapper and released his first full-length project, a mixtape called Youngest Head Nigga in
Charge. That mix tape was so great and has such strong energy in it and that project was good
enough for Lamar to get a record deal with Top Dawg Entertainment, a newly founded record
label, based in Carson, California. He began recording with the label and released another mix
tape in 2005 called Training Day.
Throughout 2010, Lamar dropped the K-Dot tag and began using his own name, and put out a
fourth mix tape called Overly Dedicated. In the same year, Lamar released his first full length
independent album under Top Dawg Entertainment and the titled for that album is Section 8.0, it
was released exclusively on iTunes. The album continued to shine a light on Lamars talent and
distinctive views on the street life that he knew so well but that did not appear to adversely affect
him as was he reportedly does not take drugs or been shot. Lamar continued to write lyrics and

making music, and continued to tour and collaborated with popular artists. The one artist that he
wanted to collaborated with is Dr. Dre, as he is one of the most respected and influential
producer, and he took Lamar as a mentor in both music and business after what he saw that
Lamar has something new style of hip hop on him.
In October 2012, Lamars highly anticipated major-label debut album, good kid, m.A.A.d city ,
was released to around the world. Hit singles like Swimming Pools(Drank) and Poetic
Justice, and the rappers emergence as a talent to watch, cleared the way for Lamar to make
major American television appearances while promoting the album such as Saturday Night Live,
Late Night with David Letterman and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
The die-hard fans of Lamar, not only hard-core hip-hop heads, but also among college student
and fans of alternative rock. With all Lamar hardworking with all these album, he has nominated
at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards(2014) and Lamar has win the awards of Best Rap
Performance and Best Rap Song. The thought-provoking lyrics on his debut album caught the
attention of hip-hop critics as well, with MTV naming the Hottest MC of 2012.
Additionally, most of critics took note of Lamars verse on the song Control by big rapper Big
Sean. Although the track was penned by another artist, Lamars verse has drew attention
because of his challenge to several other popular names in the hip-hop world, including Drake,
J. Cole and Big Sean himself. The brave claims in the controversial verse rapped by Lamar
brought a vibe that was remind of the classic hip-hop era, give appreciation

from critics, rappers and fans alike. On the topic of his music genre, Lamar
said you really cant categorize my music, its human music. Lamars has
incorporates elements of funk, jazz and spoken word poetry.
Lamar chose jazz genre many for his songs because he wanted to make
something more different with any other rappers, because usually many
rappers make some weird beat for their songs. As Lamar want to put some
element of jazz in his song, so he search some professional jazz pianist to
helped him to make a really good songs. Many of Lamars fans really like the

way of the songs he created, because the music give them soul when
listening.
3.Objectives
This report is to study about Kendrick Lamar, a rapper and a music
producer who writes in poetic lyrics. This study is to learn how he
created jazz and hip-hop elements in his music and how he uses
poems in his music. These works could be heard in the songs called
Alright and For free (interlude). Poetic lyrics could be found in the
Alright, and the combination of jazz and hip-hop elements could be
found in For free (Interlude).
4. Methodology
The data had been mainly collected through the secondary data. The
data was collected and researched through Internet and YouTube. To
get a better understanding of what Lamars intention of composing this
song, the writer looked up for the music video of the song to get a
better view of it. Other than that, the writer even researched few
websites and forum sites.
5. Findings
Poetic justice is a literary device (Wikipedia). These days, the modern
literature define this poetic justice as a medium for one to tell their plot
of story. It could be in positive or even in a negative way.
Kendrick Lamar had just released his new single called Alright, taken
from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly.
Lamar got his inspiration for this song when he went for a trip to South
Africa in 2014. When I got to Africa and saw other peoples problems,
their struggle was ten times harder and was raised crazier than what I
was. Going out there really inspired- I wrote a lot of records off the

album just by visiting South Africa. That was the moment I know, okay I
could get

either pimp this situation or fall victim to it. That was a

turning point (songfacts.com).

The lyrics basically tells how Lamar feels and somehow he is assuring
himself about the scary world outside, as the lyrics started off with
Nigga, we gon be alright repetitively. Lamar wanted to expresses to
the world about the injustice that happens every day, and that was
shown in the music video.
Lamar grew up in a very poor environment, in gangs , surrounded by
many negative activities, and that made him realized that he does not
want anyone else to grew up and have to face the same thing that he
had been through, and that was how he got the idea to wrote this
song.
In the second verse of the song, he somehow expresses the hardship
that one had to go through to get a better life. What you want, you a
house, you a car? 40 acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar?anything, see
my name is Lucy, Im your dog. Motherfucker you can live at the mall. I
can see the evil, I can tell it I know when its illegal. I dont think about
it, I deposit every other zero. Thinkin of my partner put the candy,
paint it on the Regal. Diggin in my pocket aint a profit, big enough to
feed you shows that how one have to struggle to live and to please
others to live in peace. However, the plan always remains as plans as
sometimes the plan changes.

He mentioned the injustice through the line Motherfucker, you can

live at the mall.I can see the evil, I can tell it I known when its illegal.
This line shows that the rich people could live with peace and ease
with the money that they earned illegally, and let the poor keep
searching for a piece of what they have. Lamar does not refers to all,
but to the people who have no humanity sense to the unfortunate.
The song goes on to tell how their pride had been hurt, and this could
be seen in the linewe been hurt, been down before. NIgga, when our
pride was low. Lookin at the world like, Where do we go?.
Lamar tells the story from the unfortunates point of view where they
seems to be feeling out caste and unwanted by everyone. However,
Lamar seems to reassure them that it is going to be fine again by
saying Wanna kill us dead in the street, fo sho. Nigga, Im at the
preachers door. My knees are gettin weak, and my gun might blow,
but we gon be alright.
He wanted to show that what is shown and seen negatively, does not
means that it is negative and vice versa.
References
1) www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=36540