What Kendrick Lamar's 2025 NFL Super Bowl Halftime Show Was REALLY About

NFL, Feb. 9, 2025

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Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - December 17, 2025 [YouTube video replaced]

This pancocojams post showcases a ReactRewind TikTok  compilation video of several people sharing their opinions about the symbolism and messages of Kendrick Lamar's 2025 NFL Super Bowl Half Time Show.

This pancocojams post also presents a link to a YouTube video of Kendrick Lamar's entire Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show. Selected comments from that video's discussion thread about that Super Bowl Half time Show with a focus on Kendrick Lamar's storytelling and the "hidden" messages in that production.    

The content of this post is presented for historical, socio-cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.  

Thanks to Kendrick Lamar for his musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video, and thanks to the producers and publisher of this video. Thanks also to all those who are quoted in this post.

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THIS VIDEO'S DISCUSSION THREAD: 

Kendrick Lamar's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show [This is the only video that is embedded in this pancocojams post as of December 17, 2025. 

I didn't read all of the comments in that discussion thread. However, I did read considerably more of the comments that I selected for this compilation. All of these comments in this pancocojams compilation are from February 10, 2025.

With the exception of the time stamped comment that is presented in this pancocojams post as  comment #1, all of these selected comments are given in relative chronological order based on their publication time (hours/minutes) with the oldest comments given first, except for replies.

Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDorKy-13ak

1. @gthefatgamer4194
"0:20 wacced out murals / Samuel L. Jackson’s intro

0:30 GNX snippet

1:34 squabble up

2:48 Samuel L. Jackson returns

3:04 HUMBLE.

4:14 DNA.

4:43 euphoria

5:28 man at the garden

6:00 peekaboo / Samuel L. Jackson again

6:58 Not Like Us Tease

7:23 luther (ft. SZA)

8:29 All The Stars (ft. SZA)

9:48 Samuel L. Jackson Last Time

10:02 Not Like Us Tease 2

10:17 Not Like Us

11:45 tv off (ft. DJ Mustard)

 

Extra:

10:53 “Say Drake 😁”

11:20 “A MINORRRR”

11:28 & 11:33 Serena Williams

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2. @michaelaelizabeth.o.g
"The game play design straight out of a final boss battle scene, the Gloria Jacket (closing track on the GNX album), the pgLang chain (double entendre bonus dubbed as “a minor” chain by fans), the set design, SZA, Uncle Samuel L Jackson, song selection, choreography, Serena repping Compton hitting the C walk, all while a whole stadium shouts “A minor” and “MUSTAAAAAAAAAARRRRDDDD!” Celebration, Community, Patriotism, and Unity wrapped in Black Excellence in Black History Month. K Dot is the GOAT! *chef’s kiss"

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3. @weedygarden
"What story is he telling in this?"

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4. @Errr3126
"There are so many things that he does in this performance that are symbolic or a dig at someone or something. Nobody has time to explain it all to you for free. You just aren't equipped to understand it I guess."

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5.@hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhm
"the people sitting on the street lights is a nod to the "Alright" music video"

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6.@gyroist
"The subtle details in this performance made it perfect. Well done Kendrick 👏🏾"

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7. @13Kr4zYAzN13
"The fact you KNOW it's gonna get analyzed too lol"

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8. @uzumaki3755
"Performance art at its finest! Bravo Kendrick, Sza, Serena, Samuel Jackson, and the dancers! Mustarrrrrrrrrrd!!!"

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9. @M3Niki
"Kendrick message was LOUD and CLEAR. He was very strategic w/ the songs chose to preform and then to finish it/Not Like Us&TV Off!! Chef  kiss💋"

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10. @Unemployed-Commenter
"I love and appreciate the legendary Samuel L. Jackson being included. The storytelling in this performance is on another level. I need to watch videos of people breaking it down."

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11. @Kpopnkrnbluvr
"The subliminal messages all throughout this performance 🔥😮‍💨 literal ART! and having Samuel Jackson as Uncle Sam WHEW this man is a genius"

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12. @weedygarden
"What story is he telling in this?"

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13. @Errr3126
"There are so many things that he does in this performance that are symbolic or a dig at someone or something. Nobody has time to explain it all to you for free. You just aren't equipped to understand it I guess."

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14. @hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhm
"the people sitting on the street lights is a nod to the "Alright" music video"

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15. @gyroist
"The subtle details in this performance made it perfect. Well done Kendrick 👏🏾"

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17. @13Kr4zYAzN13
"The fact you KNOW it's gonna get analyzed too lol"

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18. @uzumaki3755
"Performance art at its finest! Bravo Kendrick, Sza, Serena, Samuel Jackson, and the dancers! Mustarrrrrrrrrrd!!!"

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19. @keanuismyfather7477
"This halftime show wasn’t for the masses. It was for the Kendrick fans. A masterpiece in symbolism that only Kdot can pull off. My favourite in years by far. ✋🎤"

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20. @anna8margret
"This will be appreciated by people not familiar with artist. This performance was masterful and meaningful"

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21. @OpulentLightBeing
"Actually, if you're a true Kendrick fan then you know it WAS for the masses. The revolution has been televised to 200+ million people."

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22. @donnalofton7988
"That was epic!  The choreography; the red,,white and blue; Uncle Sam; the 40 acres and a mule....    It felt like a message that many would not understand."

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23. @DranixSoilDust
"He actually told a story, it went over a lot of heads. This is genius! Did anyone notice the chain has "a" meaning A mirroorr😃"

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24. @summervdv9344
"This was an absolute love letter and DRIPPING black excellence. Incredibly necessary and beautiful. This is one for the books 🙌🏽"

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25. @myaominky
"2:48 immaculate. Uncle Sam, the red white and blue dancers, the symbolism, artistry and message just chefs kiss"

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26. @junyaiwase
"He did a really good job as Uncle Sam it was pretty ingenious to have him play it"

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27. @shaunakkulhalli
"9:59 I know it’s scripted but Samuel L Jackson’s exasperated sigh is gold 🤣🤣"

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28. @churchoftheholyduck3339
"Him calling everyone clowns with the car lmaooo"

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29. @aarontoalet
"What was the message and symbolism?"

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30. @karleahfontes87
" @aarontoalet  Black America, Who we are and the West Coast streets. Also the not so shined upon sight that America tends to avoid displaying"

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31. @Redditor6079
"@aarontoalet nobody outside of "the community" understands apparently."

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32. @haqodeshmanagement2715
"@Redditor6079 lol, yall can stay mad 😂😂😂"

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33. @rachaelmarrero8597
"I anticipated subtle nudges and wasn’t disappointed"

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34. @danavialashae1574
"Okay but him having serena williams on stage danncing is amazing. Especially when knowing drake and Serena's history 😭😭💀 11:33"

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35. @peichayden786
"Did yall not see the game over lit up in the crowd at the end and the game buttons on the field? Kendrick playing on a  different level."

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36. @donnalofton7988
"That was epic!  The choreography; the red,,white and blue; Uncle Sam; the 40 acres and a mule....    It felt like a message that many would not understand."

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37. @MoneBee
"No they UNDERSTAND. Question is - But will they respect the message?!"

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38. @aishadebose-clark5935
"yeah cuz we built this nation"

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39. @NLF68
"​@Dream7773 Can't undo crimes of the past"

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40. @Dream7773
"@NLF68  I see … the past isn’t quite in the past , look around."

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41. @moderndiscourse
"DJ Mustard getting some serious love out there from Kendrick.  Talk about a grand entrance, that was awesome."

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42. @Kadence-187
"With etiquette of LA yelling MUSTARD. 😂

I love it!! Seriously so happy for them all. SZA did great. Mustard deserved his shine and K. did what everybody expects him to do. He gave a Superbowl worthy performance, a masterclass if you will. So so proud."

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43. @Necroskull388
"I came out of this both appreciating Mustard more, and appreciating Kendrick more for putting out that message of appreciation."

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44. @Bigmanrent
"mustard's collab rlly shows that kendrick doesnt lie, as he himself said "Look inside of my soul, and you can find gold and maybe get rich""

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45. @DrFunkman
"I’d say Mustard’s effort of sending Kendrick beats everyday paid off"

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46. @syedahmad7
"So happy that mustard got the recognition and kdot plus sza was just crazyyy"

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47. @TheyhemMayhem333
"The fact that people are still hating on a man that won a PULITZER and has his songs dissected in advanced literature and saying he has no talent says everything about them and not him. Amazing halftime"

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48. @mrsoatzinc
"Someone’s gotta troll🤣( as in the haters)"

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49. @kimberlymoyer1232
"Dog never barks at a parked car, only one that's on the move❤❤❤"

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50. @3001zz
"Only people hating are racists and Drake fans"

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51. @michaell4022
"@ no, op is addressing the people hating. You mad?"

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52. @Myarefa
"Those that are hating don't even know what a Pulitzer is. Lol"

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53. @christytaylor5554
"@3001zz and people that don't understand what the message was"

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54. @TheyhemMayhem333
"@ where have you been? He’s been getting hits on almost every single album. Swimming pools, king kunta, Humble. Never heard of any of those?"

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55. @TAZMIN4848
"​@christytaylor5554

...they not like us🎯💯"

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56. @jossk3514
"Not saying that rap or Kendrick is everyone's cup o' tea, regardless of race. But some wyte folks seem to always disrespect and down play anything they don't understand or like w/o giving due credit. Especially if its about, by, and for Black folks. Everything ain't for you to understand nor does it require your approval. JS"

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57. @StillthatguyJake
"The symbolism! ✊ Kendrick out here proving live, in real-time, that he can bring America together better than the "man of the hour". IFYKYK... and if you don't, you still enjoyed the show"

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58. @rustysim
"I remember in 2014 listening to the track "Babylon" on SZA's EP Z ft. Kendrick and thinking this is a good duo.  Now more than 10 years later they playing the Superbowl halftime show.  Awesome!"

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59. @MuhammadFachriDarmawan1706
"Uncle Sam, The Car, SZA, Joystick Stage, Self Censoring, The Call Out & Smile, SERENA WILLIAMS & MUSTARD, Game Over.

Kendrick playing & finishing the game with a great party next to him 🔥🔥🔥"

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60. @CainLupus
"Bruh this next level of diss tracks 😂 5 Grammys and played at the Superbowl? If I was Drake I wouldn't even step outside no more"

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61. @JasonRostro
"Kendrick Lamar had Samuel L. Jackson, SZA, Serena Williams, and MUSTAAAAAARD on them stage incredibly historically AmaSING 🙌🏼🙌💛🔥🔥🎾"

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62. @StillBlackJesus214
"Bro made a movie😂😂😂😂  the ancestors were smiling"

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63. @manhattanprojekt1275
"11:22 yo they got the Palestine and Sudan flags out there 🇵🇸🇸🇩"

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64. @Cassidy-w7s
"All of it was awesome, but everything going dark after "turn this TV off" to reveal GAME OVER in the crowd! Absolute GOLD!"

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65. @deenazario
"It literally was game over after the 1st half anyway"

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66. @JadeKnight-v1s
"@deenazario I think he means gave over about the beef with drake. Kendrick won . Think he meant that"

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67. @d0ttiej
"I wonder how many viewers did change the channel."

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68.@deenazario
"@JadeKnight-v1s  i know what he meant. Just thought it was funny cos the game was also really over at the same time."

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69. @AshleighLovesComedy
"​@JadeKnight-v1s  I think the 'game over' was referring to the 'American Game' that 'Uncle Sam' (Samuel L Jackson) was commenting on throughout the performance. Basically symbolizing kendricks unwillingness to play a game that suppresses the essence of black culture."

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70. @OpulentLightBeing
"That wasnt the only gold. There was a much more important message at 4:44."

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71. @JadeKnight-v1s
"@ wow I didn’t even look at it like that!!  Well I hope it symbolises both then"

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72. @hiitsmorgan5431
" “40 acres and a mule, this is bigger than music” he’s not trying to impress the crowd with catchy hooks, he’s trying to push a narrative that’s way way bigger than himself. Props to Kendrick."

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73. @wewereblack
"Yessir he meant business power to our people ✊🏿"

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74. @Gullahbae
"Amen! Only those who get, get it!"

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75. @champagnevmamiiii
"Louder! 🗣️"

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76. @sethotterstrom2200
"on the biggest stage"

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77. @michellej4289
"fo sho!!! those that know, KNOW"

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78. @sircliffordmalcolmjac5870
"Still standing STRONG on business!!💪💪🤘🤘"

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79. @Ashleytears7930
"so reall infront of the president"

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80. @TexZenMaster
"Am I the only person who has no idea what he's saying or who he is??  Are there subtitles to this mumbling nonsense?"

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81. @blubirdhill2608
"​@ashleytears7930   Real what? Nobody's getting reperations cause of a line in a halftime show 😂. Y'all taking it way too serious."

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82. @TheSolution2DayAndNow
"​@TexZenMaster  Go and google the lyrics and then decide for yourself"

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83. @TexZenMaster
"@ A good song should have (at least some) distinguishable lyrics.  It was a colorful performance, but not a single English word was discernable."

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84. @JanayWebster
"Please say it louder for the folks in the back! This is far beyond him and Drakes beef.

Everyone focused on that not realizing he painted the whole picture of our culture being silenced."

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85. @patrickstewartsbrother
"@TexZenMaster  every word he sang was english friend, maybe go back to school and work on that comprehension because this is a you problem"

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86. @TexZenMaster
"@ I communicate in the English language for a living.  If I used this incoherent dialect, I'd be out of a job.

BTW, I was brought here by a neighborhood website post asking wtf was being said.  Maybe one out of thirty had any clue and zero could understand all of it."

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87, @カスカディア国人
"@TexZenMaster   I teach English, get your ears checked buster. There’s nothing incoherent about the dialect, you just don’t like it."

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88. @MsBlack-rs1ds
"​@ TexZen Master, perhaps you good chaps struggling with  "the dialect" could ask the Pulitzer committee to further explain, since they didn't have any problems with articulation, dialect, or comprehension when they awarded him). Do you or your concerned, astute colleagues possess one??? How'd I Know the answer😅"

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89. @lonelyyychilddd7911
"exactly, he didn't care for them to sing along he was there to make a statement and it  was loud to those who understand"

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90. @wormymaple99
"@TexZenMaster Your reaction is exactly what Samuel L. Jackson was alluding to."

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91. @SuprSilvr
"Kendrick’s Super Bowl performance wasn’t just entertainment—it was a statement. Every element was intentional, from the GNX, to the marching formations that evoked protest, discipline, and power. And then there was the line—"Turn the TV off"—which wasn’t just a lyric, but a direct challenge to media narratives,control and the audience itself. The wildest part? The media proved his point in real-time by focusing on the Drake beef instead of the deeper meaning. Whether people loved it or hated it, they’re talking about it, which means Kendrick won. This wasn’t just a halftime show. It was chess while everyone else played checkers."

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92. @realzacharygreiner
"Facts🤝🏼"

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93. @dennismortberg2591
"You made all that up"

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94. @user-he2ou2ex2f
"We all know that the mainstream media were going to focus on the drake beef.

The ultimate move from k dot would’ve been to not mention or play any songs relating to the beef to get the pertinent meaningful message of what he wanted to present.

We need to stop pretending Kendrick pisses gold."

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95. @R3ktumGam1ng
"@dennismortberg2591  its extremely obvious from sam jackson's role and lines throughout the show. you have to be in denial to not see"

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96. @sg10hd77
"Spot on, the halftime show wasn’t for entertainment, it was a message laced with symbolism people need to rewatch it and pay attention."

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97. @user-Pna8
"Nuff said!!!"

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98. @lonelyyychilddd7911
"it's just cemented in rap history, in music history as just a legendary piece of art in every way and the game over is also direct at drake, implying it's done there is nothing else to say or prove kendrick just bodied drake and the whole world saw that on one of the most watch events in the entire world. Kendrick won it's over no debate, closed casket."

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99. @ShoMeYourTanis
"​@user-he2ou2ex2f  man the point of this entire thing just flew ten feet above your head. Maybe next time I guess."

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100. @CodyDylanSewell
"Also noticed how his performers were wearing red and blue. The symbolism was wild. He’s talking about bringing the ppl together and taking down the big industry that wants to control"

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101. @LibbyG-u3n
"This is 40 acres and a mule, it’s bigger than the music ❤"

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102. @sibusisompye3547
"K-Dot actually played two diss tracks, he then brought Drake's ex Serena to dance on "Not like us" basically he dissed Drake 3x in 13 minutes. Mr Lamar you GOATED bro 🙌👑"

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103. @jasmineevans2129
"I aspire to be this petty I’ve always loved him but now he’s my hero 🤣"

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104. @obatola
"Drake also dated SZA so it goes even deeper"

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105. @filmadcamp1512
"I was wondering why Serena was dancing on the set 😂😂😂"

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106. @5150Visions
"This was an instant classic. Plus the way he keeps dissing Drake without mentioning his name is priceless. Getting Serena (Drake's EX) to come out and dance to a diss track dissing him is genius! And he mentioning the part about Drake wait excuse me "they" liking to sue was KRAZY!"

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107. @joshuazuckermann
"Ya’ll don’t understand how big Not Like Us really is…. then Kendrick took it to this stage and made sure those that hadn’t heard the song knew the song. LEGENDARY"

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108. @tzeverytingeddie
"Havin' SAMUEL JACKSON as UNCLE SAM at every interlude of the performance was top notch Genius... Every innovative ✌️❤️💯"

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109. @Grantford1993
"I gotta be real, I’m happy seeing some of these comments. I got so tired of seeing people down play Kendrick. As if not like us was his only song and he’s a new artist. This man been great since forever. 22 Grammys, Pulitzer Prize winner etc. whether people liked the performance or not, and drake fans keep going off on him, and white racist people didn’t like, he still did a good job. Heck Rihanna’s Super Bowl performance was simple, and they are saying this was too. But I don’t see it."

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110. @jervinmateo
"This man is a great storyteller! I love how creative this is! Not just a performance but kind of theatrical! Definitely one of the best SB Halftime Shows I've seen!"

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111. @gloriamudany4419
"That was INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!!! The smooth song transitions, Samuel L. Jackson’s commentaries, SZA’s performances, WOW WOW WOW!!! Easily the most electrifying 13 minutes of my life!!🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿"

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112. @Avalon697
"Tears when all the stars started playing RIP Chadwick Boseman. Our King of Wakanda, FOREVER.

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113. @Qwerty-b7k
"8:29 oh Mann whenever I hear it, reminds me of sitting in the theater watching all the credits roll waiting for post credit scene... RIP Chadwick boseman wakanda forever 🖤"

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114. @s.r.9320
"The dancers understood the assignment. Props to all of them."

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115. @ReasonBeingMedia
"Really dope to see a bunch of the og turf fienz and kida in the mix! La street dance put on since the Tpab music videos!"

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116. @simonford9954
"The way he put this together is simply genius from samuel l jackson to serena william crip walking to hey drake to the camera for him to acknowledge

Then the icing on the cake a whole super bowl crowd screaming A MINOR 😮 take a bow kendrick legendary performance"

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117. @thenameiwantedwastaken
"That "you try to rig the game but you cant fake influence" line is not getting enough credit"

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118. @cosmicplazma3551
"The fact it started with the revolution will be televised and ended with turn this tv off goes hard asf"

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119. @Llywnzly
"ATE? MORE LIKE DEVOURED"

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120. @elsa.xoxo3
"The hidden messagessss. This performance better go down in the history books"

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121. @seganesjr
"Many people don't realize how masterful K-Dot was on censoring the songs,so everyone could enjoy them. Truly a work of art."

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122. @dmmhtm
"Bro getting an entire stadium to yell "A Minor" is insane."

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123. @CallMeRettOrR3d
" "Tryna strike a chord, and is probably a minooorrr 📢📢"

this is gotta be the funnest Super Bowl Halftime concert show ever"

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124. @ZeokWTF
"That "Say Drake" with that smile and looking straight to the camera was straight cinema."

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125. @LovelyMary-c7v
"Kendrick was so kind to let some football teams play during his concertface-fuchsia-wide-eyes💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫"

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126. @miraculousmulatto
"Can we also appreciate the fact that this is the SECOND time he’s graced the Super Bowl stage? I’m still blown by his performance in 2022."

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127. @iyamideolukoshi9936
"Kendrick is always sending a message and giving us stories and narratives. Great performance. Those with open ears and eyes will understand and enjoy"

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128. @RowThe8oat
"The way he just pops up as a he says "peek-a-boo" has me dying"

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129,@crazychannel90210
"Kendricks Performance has more views than the game"

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130, @darrenphillips2188
"This man stayed true to himself, the culture and stood on business, nothing but respect!"

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Cover Of Bob Marley's "No Woman No Cry" Song In The Official Teaser For The "Black Panther-Wakanda Forever" Movie

Marvel Entertainment, July 23, 2022
-snip-
total # of views as of July 28, 2022 at 5:54 PM ET= 29,195,872
**** Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases a YouTube video of the official teaser for the American movie Black Panther- Wakanda Forever that includes a mashup* of Nigerian Afrobeats singer Tems singing Bob Marley's now iconic 1974 Reggae song "No Woman No Cry" and a clip of African American Hip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar's 2015 song "Alright". This pancocojams post also showcases a YouTube sound file of Tems' cover of "No Woman No Cry" . In addition, some complimentary comments and some critical YouTube discussion thread comments about that sound file and that official Black Panther- Wakanda Forever teaser's mashup of "No Woman No Cry" are also included in this pancocojams post. Brief biographical information about Bob Marley, Tems, and Kendrick Lamar are included in this post. Links to a YouTube video of Bob Marley singing "No Woman No Cry" and a YouTube video of Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" are also included in this post. The content of this post is presented for cultural and aesthetic purposes. All copyrights remain with their owners. Thanks to Bob Marley, Kendrick Lamar, Tems, and all those who are associated with these songs and the Black Panther- Wakanda Forever movie. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Rest in power Bob Marley and Chadwick Boseman. -snip-

* https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mash-up
"Definition of mash-up

: something created by combining elements from two or more sources: such as

a: a piece of music created by digitally overlaying an instrumental track with a vocal track from a different recording"...
**** SHOWCASE VIDEO #2: Tems - No Woman No Cry (From "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Prologue")

MarvelMusicVEVO, Jul 25, 2022  Wakanda Forever Prologue 
-snip-
total # of views as of July 28, 2022 at 5:56 PM ET= 1,008,925

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BOB MARLEY & LINK TO A  YOUTUBE VIDEO OF BOB MARLEY PEFORMING "NO WOMAN NO CRY"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Marley
"Robert Nesta Marley OM (6 February 1945 – 11 May 1981) was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style."...
-snip-
Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ6VezKMoRY for the YouTube video entitled  Bob Marley & The Wailers - No Woman, No Cry (Live At The Rainbow 4th June 1977)

****
INFORMATION ABOUT TEMS
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tems_(singer)
"Temilade Openiyi (born 11 June 1995), known professionally as Tems, is a Nigerian singer, songwriter, and record producer.[1][2] She rose to prominence after she was featured on Wizkid's 2020 single, "Essence", which reached the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100 after the release of a remixed version with an additional feature from Justin Bieber, and earned her a Grammy Award nomination.[3]

[…]

Tems covered Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry" for the Marvel movie Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack, released in July 2022[5] …

**** INFORMATION ABOUT KENDRICK LAMAR AND LINK TO A YOUTUBE VIDEO OF "ALRIGHT" From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar
"Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He is often cited as one of the most influential rappers of his generation. Aside from his solo career, he is also a member of the hip hop supergroup Black Hippy alongside his former Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) labelmates Ab-Soul, Jay Rock, and Schoolboy Q. […] His third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015), which incorporated elements of funk, soul, jazz, and spoken word, predominantly centred around the Black-American experience.[3] It became his first number-one album on the US Billboard 200 and was an enormous critical success -snip- Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY for Kendrick Lamar - Alright (Official Music Video)
-snip-
WARNING- That video includes profanity and what is commonly known as "the n word".

**** SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT TEMS'S COVRE OF "NO WOMAN NO CRY" MASHUP/SONG IN BLACK PANTHER- WAKANDA FOREVER All of these comments are presented in relative chronological order with the oldest comments given first except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. Excerpt #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4E2RNfQQImY This is the YouTube video that is given as Showcase video #1 in this post. All of these comments are from July 23, 2022 to July 28, 2022.

1. TherealActivist TaskMiNahFiPractice "As a Jamaican, I love the song choice... especially therendition of Bob Marley's No Woman No Cry.." ** 2. Tadhg Holmes "Excellent song choice! A reminder of how life goes on despite a sorrowful loss. RIP Chadwick Boseman.

** 3. Joseph Springfield "They picked the two best songs to describe the feels of what is going on. Having them merge together makes this one of the best trailers I’ve ever seen. ** 4. Andrea Amorosi "Is that TEMS singing first? Transitioning into Kendrick?" ** Reply 5. Andrea Amorosi "It is. Just checked twitter" ** Reply 6. Kachisicho Gbanite "Tems voice is amazing" ** Reply 7. D. Mitchell "Facts 🔥🔥 the song

selection alone is enough to make this trailer truly stand out"

** 8. Redd X "I love that when Kendrick said ,,and when i wake up” and we see at first moment new Panther when actually in first movie to become Black Panther someone has to wake up. That trailer is so f—kin* good" -snip- *This word is fully spelled out in this comment. ** 9. Moose
"That transition to Alright is ridiculous. That first time Kendrick popped up in the music I was like 'surely not,' then rewinded and heard it again, straight goosebumps."

**
10.  Martin365 "1:50-1:54  “do you hear me do you feel me” every second another beautiful sister. I like how they did that

made me tear up!" ** 11. TXKII "I must have this version of no woman no cry 😭" **

12. BlurayUK "NO WOMAN NO CRY WAKANDA 4EVA....LIT 💯🔥🔥🔥" ** 13. Derrick Daniel "Very emotional😭. Wakanda forever🙅‍♂.

Lovely soundtrack from Tems (Nigeria to the world) and Kendrick Lamar."

** 13. V27 "Thank Bob Marley for this timeless powerful song suited for this emotional Trailer..

RIP MA BROTHER CHADWICK

WAKANDA FORVER 🙅🏿‍♂️" ** 14. M. Worthy "I'd always hoped that Danai Gurira ("Okoye") would have whispered into the ears of Ludwig Göransson and Ryan Coogler to get them to slip several iconic Thomas Mapfumo , Chimurenga, Shona/mbira type sounds into these MCU/Black Panther movie soundscapes 🎶.  Africa is a enormous continent, but what a surprise it would be to hear traditional mbira/Thomas Mapfumo/Chimurenga classic sounds in these movies.

APRIL, 1980 trivia:

"...After Bob Marley’s performance that night, when he shed tears watching the Rhodesian flag come down and Zimbabwe’s go up, the local musician Thomas Mapfumo took the stage. Mapfumo was a leading singer of chimurenga music, the music of struggle." "
-snip-
This is the way this comment was written in that discussion thread.

** 15. Tom Butterworth "That mashing up of No Woman No Cry with Kendrick Lamarr is quite, quite brilliant." ** 16. Jamie L "The music started and I teared up. At the same time though I am so happy to see all those black people in one film! LOL And it's not some made for tv movie. When I was growing up as a GenXer I would have killed to see this representation. We would only get our top black films on VH1 or BET when it was relevant, that is all we had. So this right is her is effing MAGNIFICENT! I can't wait to see it."

** 17. Irvin P

"Not going to lie,was expecting a sorry trailer but with the music they chose and how everything is laid out as a preview this is something I’m definitely going to have to check out in theaters. Can’t wait!"
** 18. Kat G "Whoever did the sound mix for the trailer deserves a raise lol. Amazing trailer can’t wait to see it!"

** 19. Zlatan Sanchez

"As soon as I heard "we gon be alright" I got so hyped" ** 20. Pedro Norman "I'm sorry but I fail to understand what a Jamaican Reggae song has to do with a ficticious African nation - I mean, besides playing on silly African American tropes - Bob Marley was a beloved black man and therefore his music is a reflection of "American blackness"???.

This movie is probably gonna suck." ** 21. Mr. BRYANT "The music sucks.

I wonder why there is NEVER AFRICAN MUSIC in films about AFRICAN CULTURE"

**

22. KidFlash " felt Angela Bassett’s dialogue…in my heart. I spent the first 20 yrs of life, on the move…from place to place. Brother Marley’s words hit home in my Soul.

“ …..good friends we had, good friends we lost….along the way…

Yes, we did. Yes, I have.

My 🙏 go to CHADWICK BOSEMAN, the man and myth…that could and did, unify the world — for a moment in time."

The Black Panther is dead…LONG LIVE!

THE BLACK PANTHER..!!

!!! WAKANDA FOREVER !!!!” ** 23. TJ Blaidd "They need to quit making less beautiful remixes of original songs. That would have his SO MUCH HARDER with Marley's voice! Just pay his family and use the real song instead of a breath heavy remix like every other bad movie.

RIP Chadwick. Let's hope they honor his memory."

** 24. Keshawn Whyte "Tems really put her soul into those words, no disrespect to the late Robert nesta Marley."

****

Excerpt #2 From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8H4nU6i7IZM  This is the YouTube sound file given as Showcase Video #2 in this post.  All of these comments are from July 25, 2022 to July 28, 2022

1.Tali Simila
"The Bob Marley’s original version is one of my favorite songs. Tem does absolute justice and a beautiful job on this timeless song."

**
Reply
2. Nicholas Harrison
"I agree apart from the original this is the best cover  I've heard."

**
Reply
3. sipple block STD
"As a Jamaican I stamp this 💯🇯🇲"

**
4. kimball39
"Oh my! The emotion of this song! I agree with those that have stated this will be the most emotional Marvel Movie to date! What a great Actor, and a great human being! Thank you Chadwick Boseman! This Movie will have all the feels!"

**
5. Justin Time
"You can feel the ancestors in her voice"

**
Reply
6. Natasha Clark
"Best comment!!"

**
7. NDR 7652
"With this song I'm one who considers it sacrosanct  that NO ONE should even attempt a remake . That said this version is fantastic"
-snip-
This comment was written in bold font in this discussion thread.

**
8. Mercuzio1988
"Not the same we hear in the trailer. Will you release THAT version?"

**
9. Fábio Nunes
"Guys anyone has the epic version we ear in the trailer? This one is nice but I really loved the drums from the trailer one... kind of an epic version..."

**
Reply
10. DeismAccountant
"I agree. So why can’t we find that version here?"

**
Reply
11. ivstova47
" @DeismAccountant  Yesssss...i m searching the whole internet and i can't find it..... I'll keep looking"

**
Reply
12. Mindspectrum
"@DeismAccountant  I think the mash up is just made for the trailer. It will not be published in this form. But let's hope anyway!"

**
13. Cameryn
"Sighh the amount of people that don't know this is a cover of a Bob Marley song. Don't get me wrong, this cover is INCREDIBLE, but the original is also amazing!"

**
14. Ngige Martin
"One song representing two kings👑.... RIP to bob Marley and Chadwick boseman♥"

**
15. Hextraordinary13
"No Woman No cry has me BAWLING.  So much for the title.  This is breathtaking, heartbreaking, & beautiful."

**
16. Klamy Dia
"Tems has been on an ascend since Wizkid's essence and I'm so happy that she's not stopping.

Didn't recognize her voice in the trailer but can get her tone here.

Of course, the legacy both Bob Marley and Chadwick leave behind is legion.

Thank you Marvel 😭😭😭😭😭"

**
17. AzureSteel
"Will there be a "theatrical" version of this song like the one we heard in the trailer? I prefer the instrumentation in that one because the percussions in that version makes the song more tribal, more grand and overall more suited to being a tribute for T'Challa."

**
18. Equinox
"Hope the Trailer Version also gets released. The one with the ambiental, violin strings, percussion and Kendrick Lamar's Vocals."

**
Reply
19. Bonzo
"That version always gives me goosebumps"

**
Reply
20. Th Zene
"Agreed but keep in mind the trailer mixed this with Kendrick's actual song "Alright". So there may not be a "full" version of the trailer with that as it's a whole song on its own."

**
Reply
21. Yggdrasil
"There are gonna be some legal issues with that"

**
Reply
22. Equinox
"@Yggdrasil  There just needs to be a settlement between the Music Record Labels & The Artists. Given how they already have permission to use in the trailers I don't think it would be much of an issue."

**
23. LionessOrder
"Love tems. But they could've gotten a Jamaican singer to do it. Lila Iké, sevana, noami cowan...tons of talent. Good for tems tho

**
Reply
24. 7th Orisha
"Several Jamaicans have done their own versions over the years. Marley's wanted a different and African version and Tems so happened to be a biggest female artist  in Africa at the moment. So, it's just right to do it that way. The Album itself was a tribute by Bob Marley to Africa."

**
Reply
25. JON QUEEN INFO
"Why does is f—ken* matter who cares so far as the person is of afro descent dont think there is a problem and u do know this is a movie showcasing sub saharan African culture so it makes sense that the album should have an african artiste"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

**
26. ReEvølutiøn Games
"So use Bob Marley's song covered, and instead of just asking to use the actual song, and the fact that I don't know, uh, hmm, you're profiting and killing off a character that just got thrown into the MCU."

**
27. Krysii Rowe
"Is Bob Marley credited for this song? Also it’s “No Woman, no cry”. As in “No woman,don’t cry “. As a Jamaican without the comma it changes the whole sentence lol. Now to me it’s sounds like “women don’t cry” or “no women cried” = In patois “no woman neva cry( no woman cried) or “woman nuh fi cry(women don’t cry )”.  It’s suppose to be conciliatory.

But that’s just me thinking into it. It’s still similar."

**
Reply
28. JON QUEEN INFO
"Does it really matter tho most people who have heard this song a thousand times and listened to the lyrics well enough gets the message , and obviously bob was credited"

**
Reply
29. Krysii Rowe
"@JON QUEEN INFO  seeing as it’s a Jamaican song and I’m a Jamaican who was raised on said song I would say it matters to me. If it does not to you that’s fine. But I’m giving my opinion on MY culture. So it matters to me.

Glad to know Bob Marley was credited because I haven’t seen anything crediting him in the film or in the video of tems singing. The title didn’t say anything about a cover. And some people on TikTok seem to think it’s an original song. If you look in the description of this video you’ll see that the only artist mentioned is Tems as well as Marvel. There is no mention of Bob Marley"

**
Reply
30. Krysii Rowe
"@JON QUEEN INFO  I’m sure if it was another native language and the native of that country commented on the grammar used you wouldn’t ask if it matters. It’s common sense. And if you payed attention you’d see I’m not bashing the producers nor the artist. What I’m doing is speaking more about my native tongue and giving a bit of insight to non-Caribbean’s. I don’t see what’s wrong with that."

**
31. no shirt official
"It would be better if bob marley original song was used"

**
32. M. Dillinger
"Love this cover. They need to make a video of this as well. So powerful."

**
33. Keziah Ridgeway
"Love this buttttttttt……can we get the mash up with “We Gon Be Alright” please???"

**
34. Melody Tracy
"Hearing this at the start of the trailer and as it continues on just brought me to tears. Thank you, Tems, for creating such an amazing, heartfelt cover"

**
35. Coach Ryan
"The way she sings it! Lord Have Mercy...... you feel the emotions, pain, strength and power"

**
36. Paschal Madubata
"Tems "No Woman, No Cry" cover for BLACK PANTHER soundtrack. I love her cover. Sounds like sadness & healing at the same time. What a spiritual dirge her voice turned it to 😭.. This is a Hymn"

**
37. Elizabeth Anne
"The transition between Marley’s lyrics “everything is gonna be alright” to Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” = flawless. Kudos to the sound mixing team!"

**
38. Rodrigo Lourenco Miranda
"what a beautiful song, it skips the heart and goes straight to the soul"

**
39. Eye2much E
"#tems to the world. Nigeria on the map 🇳🇬😘🙌🏿 This song is winning an Oscar for best soundtrack, Grammy, and BET"

**
40. Ethereal
"Reading through the comments here  and I'm in awe the amount of praise Tems is getting is blowing me away her talent is being recognized international worldwide and im beyond happy for her"

**
41. Naamy19X9
"I hope they will later upload the Bob Marley’s "no woman no cry" and  Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” remix. Its pure fire. Makes me excited for the overall soundtrack of the movie!"

****
Excerpt #3

These comments are from this link to the YouTube official video of Kendrick Lamar's Song "Alright" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY

All of these comments are from July 24, 2022 -July 28, 2022. 

1. OhMyPulse
"Black Panther bringing this classic back"

**
Gabriel Yulaw
"Black Panther Wakanda forever transition this song from Bob Marley's "No Woman, No Cry". Breathtaking combination!"

**
Leonardo Talavera
"I didn't realize this song was playing during the Black Panther II trailer until it cut to Kendrick's voice and then I damn near started sobbing."

**
Reply
Oraki
"😢"

**
[redacted] published on July 24, 2022
"This song had 150 million views before the trailer even dropped."
-snip-
The total # of views as of July 28, 2022 at 5:58 PM ET= 156,892,478.  

**
Reply
GoofyRj
"💪🏾WORDD"
-snip-
"Word" is a 1980s African American Vernacular English expressions which means "That's right"/ "I agree with what you just said."  "Word" was originally given as "Word to the mother" and/or "Word Up".  All of these expressions are seldom used since sometimes around the late 1990s. 

**
DFGVerdell
"We all here after the black panther trailer but I been on this masterpiece every since it dropped I’m so ready for the movie I’m getting goosebumps thinking about it💙 #RIPCHADWICK Wakanda Forever🖤"

****
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Visitor comments are welcome.

What Kendrick Lamar's Hip Hop Song "King Kunta" Means (With Special Attention To What He Meant By "Yams")

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about Hip Hop rapper and songwriter Kendrick Lamar. This post also includes quotes from internet articles and comments about Kendrick Lamar's 2015 song "King Kunta" with special attention to the meaning/s of the word "yams" in this Hip Hop track.

Partial lyrics* to Kendrick Lamar's "King Kunta" are included in this post along with a link to a YouTube video of "King Kunta".

*This blog only provides partial spelling for profanity and a form of what is commonly referred to as "the n word".

The content of this post is presented for cultural purposes.

All rights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Kendrick Lamar for his musical legacy. Thanks to each of the composers of this Hip Hop song and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT KENDRICK LAMAR
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kendrick_Lamar
"Kendrick Lamar Duckworth (born June 17, 1987) is an American rapper and songwriter. He embarked on his musical career as a teenager under the stage name K-Dot, releasing a mixtape that garnered local attention and led to his signing with indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE)...

Lamar won his first Grammy Award for "i", lead single from his critical acclaimed third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). The album drew on free jazz, funk, soul, and spoken word, debuted atop the charts in the U.S. and the UK, and won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album at the 58th ceremony...

Lamar has received a number of accolades over the course of his career, including seven Grammy Awards. In early 2013, MTV named Lamar the number one "Hottest MC in the Game", on their annual list.[1] Time named Lamar one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2016.[2] Aside from his solo career, Lamar is also known as a member of the West Coast hip hop supergroup Black Hippy, alongside his TDE label-mates and fellow South Los Angeles-based rappers Ab-Soul, Jay Rock and Schoolboy Q.[3]"...

****
INFORMATION ABOUT KENDRICK LAMAR'S "KING KUNTA"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kunta
"King Kunta" is a song by American hip hop recording artist Kendrick Lamar, taken from his third album, To Pimp a Butterfly (2015). It was released as the album's third single on March 9, 2015....

Writing and composition
"King Kunta" is a reference to the archetypal rebellious slave Kunta Kinte,[2] the basis of the main character from the Alex Haley novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The song contains an interpolation of "Get Nekkid" (2000), written by Johnny Burns and performed by Mausberg; resung lyrics from "Smooth Criminal" (1987), written and performed by Michael Jackson; elements of the 1974 James Brown song "The Payback", written by Brown, Fred Wesley, and John Starks; and a sample from the 1994 song "We Want the Funk", written and performed by Ahmad Lewis.[3] Background vocals are provided by Whitney Alford.

Critical reception
"King Kunta" was placed at number seven on Rolling Stone's "50 Best Songs of 2015" list, with the editors commenting, "The fiercest and most funkadelic track on To Pimp a Butterfly takes aim at everything from Lamar's haters to "the power that be." We already knew Kendrick was a great lyricist; turns out he's kind of a badass, too."...

****
[PARTIAL] LYRICS: KING KUNTA
(Written By Ahmad, Redfoo, Johnny Burns, Thundercat & Kendrick Lamar)

[Hook]
B&tch*, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta
Everybody wanna cut the legs off him
(King) Kunta
Black man taking no losses, oh yeah
B&tch*, where you when I was walkin'?
Now I run the game, got the whole world talkin'
King Kunta
Everybody wanna cut the legs off him
When you got the yams—(What's the yams?)

[Verse 1]
The yam is the power that be
You can smell it when I'm walkin' down the street
(Oh yes, we can, oh yes, we can)
I can dig rappin', but a rapper with a ghost writer?
What the f&&k* happened? (Oh no!)
I swore I wouldn't tell, but most of y'all sharing bars
Like you got the bottom bunk in a two-man cell
(A two man cell)
Something's in the water (something's in the water)
And if I gotta brown-nose for some gold
Then I'd rather be a bum than a motherf___n'* baller

[Hook]

[Verse 2]
The yam brought it out of Richard Pryor
Manipulated Bill Clinton with desires
24/7, 365 days times two
I was contemplatin' gettin' on stage
Just to go back to the hood, see my enemy, and say… (oh yeah)

[...]

Source: https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-king-kunta-lyrics
-snip-
The complete lyrics to this song are given on that page.
*These words are completely spelled out on that page.

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8 for a YouTube video of this song (WARNING: Includes profanity and a form of "the n word".)

****
ANALYSIS OF KENDRICK LAMAR'S "KING KUNTA" (With Special Attention To The Meaning Of "Yams" In That Song)
These excerpts are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only
Excerpt #1:
https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-king-kunta-lyrics
About the lyrics to this song, Created by UBOOBOO, 2015
"Kunta Kinte, a fictional 18th-century slave, is the main character of the novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley. Kinte is known for having his right foot cut off because of his attempts to escape his plantation.

Kendrick presents Kunta Kinte’s name as a “King Kunta” to contrast the lowest and highest levels of society, and provide a feeling of empowerment similar to ‘i’*. In addition, the sentiment illustrates Kendrick’s personal growth from being in the hood, to the present day as a major voice in hip hop. He further explained the influences behind writing this song to NME". [video blocked in the USA]
-snip-
*From the Wikipedia page quoted above: [Kendrick] "Lamar won his first Grammy Award for "i", lead single from his critical acclaimed third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)".
-snip-
The lyrics ..."where you when I was walkin'?" refers to the times when Kendrick Lamar was struggling to make it in life (or specifically, in Hip Hop) in contrast to him now being chauffeured around in expensive cars because he is so successful.

****
Excerpt #2:
From http://justrandomthings.com/2015/03/14/kendrick-lamar-releases-new-single-king-kunta-analysis-and-meaning/ KENDRICK LAMAR RELEASES NEW SINGLE “KING KUNTA” (ANALYSIS AND MEANING)
by Adam@JRT, March 14, 2015
"Make way Hip Hop, King Kendrick is back. And he is very clear about it in his latest single “King Kunta” from his upcoming album ‘To Pimp A Butterfly’. Like his previous single “The Blacker The Berry“, Kendrick addresses Black oppression in “King Kunta”. Looks like the new album is going to be single-themed. Alongside the rich meaning behind the song, it is also a musical beauty, as K Dot spits some fiery lines on some stripped down beats

[...]

Verse 1 has Kendrick talking about ‘yams’ which is a slang for cocaine. He speaks about the drugs issues in the world, as has he done in “The Blacker The Berry” too. He says how openly (freely) the drug trades are carried out in the streets–often protected by powerful hands who are there to stop them. “Oh yes we can” scream is a drug seller’s confidence as to what he does.

[...]
-snip-
Selected comments from this article:
1. Grant, 2015
"Yams is not exclusively drugs but is more generally power. It comes from the novel "Things fall apart" where the power of a man was determined by the amount of yams they were able to harvest. Yams can be anything that gives someone power."

**
2. DK, 2015
"I agree with Grant. He's referencing a power structure - the powers that be, the industry or something bigger."...

**
3. Trader Joe, 2015
"I'll give you something else to consider about "yam".

yam is the chant if you will of the heart chakra.

heartz of men by Tupac is also in reference to this chakra and contains a sample of Richard Pryor throughout the song."...
-snip-
Regarding that article's reference to Kendrick Lamar and "The Blacker The Berry", in African American vernacular culture the complete, often used saying is "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice".

Here's some information about Kendrick Lamar's use of that saying from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blacker_the_Berry_(song):
" "The Blacker the Berry" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on February 9, 2015 as the second single from his third studio album, To Pimp a Butterfly.[1] The song features vocals from Jamaican artist Assassin. It shares its title with the novel The Blacker the Berry by American author Wallace Thurman, which deals with similar themes of racism. The album version of the song also features additional vocals from neo soul singer Lalah Hathaway."
-snip-
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/02/kendrick-lamars-grammy-2016-performance.html for the pancocojams post "Kendrick Lamar's Grammy 2016 Performance (Songs: "Blacker The Berry" & "Alright").

****
Excerpt #3:
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRK7PVJFbS8
2017
1. Andrew Erickson
"What are these "yams" he is referring to?"

**
Reply
2. Ghazi
"Andrew Erickson This line includes an allusion to Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man; the unnamed narrator is walking down the streets of New York City when he smells yams, triggering memories of his hometown in the South. The yam is used as a symbol of authenticity; the protagonist famously declares, “I yam what I am.” Here Kendrick is declaring his own authenticity, unlike the rappers he disses in the rest of the verse.

Yams are a key ingredient in African cuisine and have significance in some parts of Africa as a sign of social status. In his novel Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe begins by documenting how a man’s worth in Igbo society was largely determined by his yearly yam yield. When Kendrick says he “got the yams,” he means he has attained money, power and prestige.

Big butts on healthy ladies and balloons filled with drugs (particularly heroin) are also colloquially known as “yams”."

**
Reply
3. Andrew Erickson
"soooooooo.... What is up with the throne?"

**
Reply
4. Harmen Luth
"If you haven't heard of it yet, genius.com is a great lyric site, the community and sometimes even the artists annotate lyrics to explain their meaning or references.

The throne here is obviously there to state that he is the king of the game at this time, 'now i run the game, got the whole world talkin'.

Kunta, by the way, was a slave in a novel by Alex Haley whose foot was cut off ('Everybody wanna cut the legs off him') because he tried to escape his owners. By calling himself King Kunta we can see the meaning of a lot of Kendricks work - the slave (growing up in a poor family and bad neighbourhood) became the king (of the rap scene).

Basically, King Kunta is a contradictio[n] in term[s], and so is Kendrick."

**
Reply
5. Donger Ino
"Yams also is an innuendo for testicles, which is why he talks about Richard Pryor, (who had 7 wives and children) and Bill Clinton (who got impeached after scandals about his affair with his wife, Hillary Clinton)"

**
6. Glambylitabe
"sneek diss on drake"

**
Reply
7. Dep99_#5
"Glambylitabe pretty sure he's dissing ghost writers in general, not just directly at Drake""

**
2015
C D
8. "Yams? Everyone knows Jeezy hide yams at his aunty house."

**
Reply
9. mrsuns10
"Akon Weezy Jeezy holding down New Jersey"

**
Reply
10. ShadowJin
"had me laughing"

**
Reply
Kickz&Chicks
11. "+Chris D And Then what?? Lol"

**
Reply
12. ThunderNick
"Can someone explain I feel stupid for not getting it. I know who Jeezy is like I just don't understand the joke."

**
Reply
13. Lyon Hart
"+ThunderNick Jeezy track off thugmotivation101 he says hid the yams in my auntie house on the hook #AndThenWhat"

**
Reply
14. Tyler
"+Chris D He's* referring to the yams that the African civilization in Achebe's book Things Fall Apart used as a form of currency. The story told of a black civilization being destroyed by white men forcing their culture on black civilizations through missionary efforts."
-snip-
*He" in this comment refers to Kendrick Lamar and not "Jeezy".

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Jeezy
"Jay Wayne Jenkins (born September 28, 1977),[2] better known by his stage name Young Jeezy (or simply Jeezy), is an American rap artist from Atlanta, Georgia."
-snip-
In Jeezy's above mentioned song, I'm assuming that "yams" referred to drugs.

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The Chorus Of Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" Used As A Black Protest & Affirmation Chant

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part series on Kendrick Lamar's Grammy award winning Hip Hop track "Alright".

Part II showcases two videos of Black Life Matters (BLM) and other protestors chanting forms of the chorus of Kendrick Lamar's Hip Hop track "Alright". Selected comments from one of these video's discussion thread are featured in this post. My comments are also included in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/02/kendrick-lamars-grammy-2016-performance.html for Part I. Part I provides information about Kendrick Lamar, and information about the track "Alright". Partial lyrics for that song are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for sociocultural and folkloric purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all to those who are quoted in this post. In addition, thanks to the YouTube publishers of these examples that are featured in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/02/kendrick-lamars-grammy-2016-performance.html for another pancocojams post about Kendrick Lamar.

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INFORMATION ABOUT KENDRICK LAMAR'S HIP HOP TRACK "ALRIGHT"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alright_(Kendrick_Lamar_song)
""Alright" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, taken from his third album To Pimp a Butterfly (2015)..."Alright" received four nominations at the 58th Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. It won Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song.

Inspiration and composition

Lamar described "Alright" as a song about hope.[4] In an interview with MTV News, Lamar said it was inspired by his trip to South Africa, witnessing other people's problems in the country: “their struggle was ten times harder.”[5]...

Critical response

"Alright" has received universal acclaim... Ranked number one on Pitchfork's "The 100 Best Tracks of 2015", an editor praised the chorus "We gon be alright," and described it as "an ebulliently simple five-syllable refrain, a future-tense assertion of delivery to a better, more peaceful place. In more than one instance, the song’s chorus was chanted at Black Lives Matter protests. It has soundtracked a movement. That's largely due to its holistic sentiment as a siren against innumerable injustices, but it has just as much to do with the fact that it's a great hook on a ferociously catchy song."[9]
-snip-
A longer version of this Wikipedia article is found in Part I of this post. In my opinion, some of the reviews of "Alright" in this Wikipedia article place too much emphasis on Kendrick Lamar's song being "festive song" and less focus on it being "a siren against innumerable injustices."

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TEXT EXAMPLE OF KENDRICK LAMAR'S "ALRIGHT" USED AS A PROTEST CHANT*
Caller- Let me hear you say-
Group: We gon’ be alright!
Caller: I can't hear you.
Group: We gon’ be alright!
Caller: Say it louder.
Group: We gon’ be alright!
Caller: I can’t hear you.
Group: We gon’ be alright!
Caller: All the people say-
Group: We gon’ be alright!
Caller: What do you say?
Group: We gon’ be alright!
-snip-
This is my transcription of the chant found in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnYCwQcryyc [Given as Video Example #1 below] Additions and corrections welcome.

In this video, "Alright" is a "call & response" chant. As is the case with all call & response chants, the caller's words change while the group's (responders') lines remain the same. "Let me hear you say", "Say it louder", "I can't hear you", and "All the people say" are common lines that callers say for such protest chants. These lines are secular forms of calls & responses that occur during many African American church services. For instance, the preacher (in the role of the caller) would say "Let the church say Amen". Members of the congregation (in the role of "respondents) would them say "Amen"

In the video given as Example #2 below, it appears that the words "We gonna be alright" are chanted by the protestors followed by "yeah", "say it louder" and other calls. At the end of the video, the some of the people gathered start another call & response chant: "Ain't no power like the power of the people 'cause the power of the people don't stop". The response that was used for this chant was "Say what?"

*Although I'm referring to "Alright" as a protest chant, it probably is more accurate to refer to it as a rallying chant and a chant of affirmation that has been used during protest rallies and/or marches.

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FEATURED VIDEO EXAMPLES
Example #1: Thousands Chant Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” at Million Man March Gathering



Complex, Published on Oct 10, 2015

Thousands of activists have gathered in Washington D.C. for the 20th Anniversary of the Million Man March and are using Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright” as a rally chant.
-snip-
The narrator states that marchers used the chorus of Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" as a rallying cry to promote their cause.

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Example #2: Police harassment leads to crowd singing Kendrick Lamar's "Alright"



Blake Piffin, Published on Jul 28, 2015

Police harassment leads to crowd singing Kendrick Lamar's "Alright"

Today after the ending of the convening as everyone was walking down the street CPD arrested a 14 yr old. While everyone was demanding his release an officer pepper sprayed the crowd and further escalated the situation. In unity and solidarity everyone was demanding that he be released, and we stayed and protested until they released him!"

shout out KTT & Slaughterhouse
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.
I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. These comments are given in relative chronological order with the oldest dated (by year and month) comment given first. However, these comments may not be in consecutive order.

I have chosen to focus on comments about the chant and not to include any comments that explain or criticize the reason/s for the protest itself.

As is the case with most YouTube Hip Hop music discussion threads, this discussion thread contains a lot of curse words. It's the policy of this blog to use abbreviations for curse words. The curse words that are abbreviated are indicated by an asterisk after those words. With the exception of those abbreviations and the pictorial icons are included in some comments, all of these comments are given as they are published in that discussion thread.

2015
1. Stephen Sawyer
"This is beautiful man, it shows how hip hop can be an inspiration and give people hope"

**
2. chillhomie7
"this gave me chills for some reasons, so powerful."

**
3. Isis b6 months ago
"We gon be Alright"
-snip-
These words were followed by #100 icon meaning that the commenter wants this comment to be multiplied one hundred times.

**
4. AmonRa10816 months ago
"I seriously got chills from this video. Such impactful words. More Power To The People!"

**
5. Nadirah Bacote
"We are going to be alright"

**
6. herryl sahin
"Who was waiting on em to say ' do you hear me do you feel me we gon be alright'?"
-snip-
This question was followed by a smiley face icon.

This is another line in the lyrics for Kendrick Lamar's "Alright".

**
7. CourtCjbLand
"You see this is the power of true hip hop messages, when the music really speaks to the people and they feel it and they know they relate to it that's what brings us all together. Kendrick understands his position to speak to the people is powerful and he took advantage of that and made music that will really go down in history as some of the best. This is powerful, like really powerful sh&t* and I'm glad to see music like this really helping bring out the outcries for justice in the streets. Kendrick is going to be incredibly proud to see this, Tupac would be proud."
-snip-
A number of commenters in this discussion thread (and other discussion threads about Kendrick Lamar's tracks) mention Tupac. Here's some information about that Hip Hop Artist/actor from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur
"Tupac Amaru Shakur June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor...

He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers ever, as well as one of the most influential rappers of all time.[6]...

Shakur's music and philosophy is rooted in many American, African-American, and world entities, including the Black Panther Party, Black nationalism, egalitarianism, and liberty."..

**
8. Ben Taylor
"It has gone from "f__k* the police" to "we gon' be alright", I only see positivity there."

**
Reply
9. Jeremy Callahan
"+Ben Taylor Well said"

**
Reply
10. jpkp012345
"+Ben Taylor they need to keep the F__ck* the police chants too. Mix it up"

**
11. Reply
Hugo Cabrera
"F__k* the police !!! AND ! We Gone Be alright :D"

**
Reply
12. RaulSouza
"+Ben Taylor the point of "f—k* the police" isn't to simply curse police officers...I know it sounds rude, and I don't agree with it...but come on, the police opresses people (specially poor people) all the time, so it's really understandable to hear people screaming "f__k* the police"

**
Reply
13. McMexican
"He also says "and our gun might blow" but the crowd didn't chant we hate the popo or our gun might blow"
-snip-
This is another line in the lyrics for Kendrick Lamar's "Alright".

"Popo" = police

**
Reply
14. Kenn Adams
"+McMexican u would hate someone that is trying to kill you too"

**
Reply
15. JayLegacy100
"This is why Kendrick is my main influence. This is how you treat police who want to gather, and tear down black people, or any people for that matter, because when you chant positive things at them, and gather with love, they don't know how to handle that, and get scared. It's not about trashing the things around you, and getting angry. It's about showing them that they can't get to us. This is truly inspirational. This is the best thing regarding Hip-Hop I've seen all year since To Pimp A Butterfly came out. If THIS is not proof that we're gonna be alright, I don't know what is."

**
16. Nicholas Ohmann
"FOX News recently argued that Kendrick Lamar has “done more damage to young African-Americans than racism”."

Yeah [f__k] FOX news"

**
Reply
17. Loddentidster
"This generation of african americans are Gon Be Alright thanks to Kendrick! Can't say the same for Fox News."

**
18. Eric from 850
"I'm glad the kept it peaceful that's how my people do it! Kendrick is influencing people for the better. Shows what fox news knows about hip hop. Saying is done more damage to blacks that slavery recently. I'd love to see them look at this video"

**
19. DcrucialBeats
"It's crazy how the words of one man can positively impact a nation"

**
20. KolydoscopeMusic
"When it's all said and done, it'll be Kendrick that will be remembered for the amazing legacy he left behind. A true revolutionary, not just for hip-hop as a whole, but for the well-being of all African-Americans. This is unity. Thank you Kendrick."

**
21. Nicholas Brown
"This what we need, we ain't backing down no more, it's our time now...Thank you Kendrick"

**
Armand Bryan
22. "THE REVOLUTION IS GAINING GROUND AGAIN. KENDRICK HAS MOBILIZED US WITH HIS VOICE AND NOW IT IS TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE. #WEGONBEALRIGHT"

**
23. Vanessa Johnson
"I know what that Gerard guy was getting at now...THIS is the damage Kendrick is doing, he's got black people in the streets all united under an actual cause that cripples our community! This is definitely damage...damage to the oppressive system that aims to keep black people separated and ignorant of the world they live in. Kendrick is the future. Hiii power is in full effect!"
-snip-
Another commenter mentioned Fox News reporter "Geraldo Rivera". That might be who the commenter meant by "that Gerard guy".

**
Reply
24. SINR ONE
"WORD. This the impact hip hop should have!"
snip-
"Word" here means "That's right".

**
25. EyeconicTV
"This unity almost brought tears to my eyes, haha. I'm glad that artists such as Kendrick are trying to bring something new to the table and inspire the society.

#onelove"

**
26. synchropiecesTV
"I say Kendrick Lamar will become the Martin Luther King of his generation! Praise him and his genius! This is what hip hop really is about!"

**
27. Leasan-Parish Crooks
"I'm not saying I'm gonna change the world, but I guarantee that I will spark the brain that will change the world."
- Tupac Shakur

**
28. Ayanna Woods
+das it mane so...?
-snip-
This commenter may be asking what do the words mean.

**
Reply
29. carlos ortega
"+Ayanna Woods when i first heard this song without seeing the video or anything it empowered me! i didn't have to see the music videos because the lyrics speak for themselves. "We gonna be alright!". It's not something you have to see but something you feel deep inside."

**
30. Kevin Pfam
"Props to Kendrick"

**
31. Felix Prime
"I'm proud of this young man....."Martin Luther King is alive but this time he is a POP artist"...lmaooo WE GONNA BE ALRIGHT"

**
32. Sensual A
I'm so glad that we have something new to say besides "no justice, no peace"
Thank you Kendrick for giving a new battle cry for this generation. We gon' be alright!!! We always have!!!

**
33. bgonskobe
"Just one year ago my son was out there chanting "we started from the bottom now were here!!". This year he was out there chanting "we gonna be alright". I dont know whos responsible for the positive change in him but whoever it is thank you and keep it up, its powerful and its workin..."
-snip-
"Started From The Bottom" is a Hip Hop track by Drake. That song (also) has explicit lyrics that are less socially conscious then Kendrick Lamar's "Alright".

**
34. Tauren Oracle
Man, that song is awesome. The message is also against police harassment, so it's understandable.

**
35. Buddha Media
the moment when you realise Kendrick will have a greater legacy than even tupac, and he is still alive now.

**
36. Esau Sello
"N.W.A used to say & rap about this phrase "F—k* the police!" and Tupac in a an MTV interview said something like this "Our grandfathers were asking for this to stop, and it didn't. Now what are you expecting us to do, ask? No we gonna use force"
Now Kendrick Lamar Duckworth is changing this negative aggressive mentally into a positive self-consoling one "We gon be alright!"
Mr Lamar doesn't strive for attention but he makes sure that his presence is felt. #Just_saying"
-snip-
N.W.A. is the name of a Hip Hop group had a lot of hits in the mid 1980s to 1991. Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N.W.A for information about this group.

**
2016
37. Trav Mamone
"They sing "We gonna be alright" the way they sang "The answer is blowin' in the wind" in the '60s. Music has always provided the soundtrack to revolution."

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This concludes Part II of this series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

Kendrick Lamar's Grammy 2016 Performance (Songs: "Blacker The Berry" & "Alright")

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post quotes an article about Kendrick Lamar's Grammy 2016 performance and features three partial videos of that performance. Selected comments from one of those video's discussion threads are also included in this post.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Kendrick Lamar for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those who were featured in that performance and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. In addition, thanks to the YouTube publishers of these examples that are featured in this post.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/02/kendrick-lamar-his-hip-hop-track.html for Part I of a two part pancocojams series on Kendrick Lamar's "Alright" track.

Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-chorus-of-kendrick-lamars-alright.html for Part II of this series. Part II showcases two videos of Black protestors chanting a form of the chorus of Kendrick Lamar's Hip Hop track "Alright".

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ARTICLE EXCERPT ABOUT KENDRICK LAMAR'S 2016 GRAMMY PERFORMANCE
From http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/grammys/6875293/kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-alright-2016-grammys
Kendrick Lamar Performs 'The Blacker The Berry' In Chains & Lights Up Stage with 'Alright' at the 2016 Grammys by Adelle Platon, 2/15/2016
"After grabbing up five of his 11 Grammy nominations on Monday night (Feb. 15), Kendrick Lamar delivered rousing renditions of "The Blacker The Berry" and "Alright" off his Grammy-nominated sophomore studio effort To Pimp a Butterfly.

Following an intro from actor Don Cheadle, the Compton rapper marched out onstage in chains with a backdrop imitating a prison for "The Blacker The Berry" before creating a bonfire for "Alright" and wrapping his set with an illuminated image of his native city Compton in the outline of Africa.

In the untitled freestyle finale, Lamar references Feb. 26, the date of Trayvon Martin's death in 2012. "On February twenty sixth I lost my life too / It’s like I’m here in a dark dream / Man hear screams recorded / Say that it sounds distorted but they know who it was," he rapped.

Prior to showtime, Grammy producer Ken Ehrlich teased the performance following LL Cool J dubbing the set "controversial."

"Controversial... I’m not sure that’s the right word. Certainly it’s provocative," he said. "...It is overtly political and it is overtly provocative, and I think if nothing else it’s going to give people something to think about and talk about."

The recent Billboard cover star said that his goal was to take home every trophy he was nominated for. "I want to win them all," the Compton rapper said. "It’s bigger than me. When we think about the Grammys, only Lauryn Hill and Outkast have won album of the year. This would be big for hip-hop culture at large."...

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FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are given in no particular order. Unfortunately, I've not been able to find any video of Kendrick Lamar's complete Grammy 2016 performance.

WARNING: The complete lyrics of these Hip Hop songs (but not the lyrics sung in these clips) include profanity and what is now commonly referred to as "the n word".

Example #1: Kendrick Lamar’s Grammys Performance Was Iconic



wochit Entertainment, Published on Feb 16, 2016

when Kendrick Lamar walked out in a chain gang and stopped everything else with this performance: Lamar began with “I’m black as the moon, heritage of a small village/ Pardon my residence/ Came from the bottom of mankind/ My hair is nappy, my nose is round and wide/ You hate me don’t you?" He performed “The Blacker the Berry” and “Alright”, which became an unofficial Black Lives Matter anthem for activists during protests along with an unreleased track refered to as untitlted 3. Lamar missed out on winning Record of The year which he said would have made hugh strides for hiphop but he did walk away with 5 grammys.

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Example #2: Kendrick Lamar Debuts New Song in Controversial Grammy Performance



wochit Entertainment, Published on Feb 15, 2016

Kendrick Lamar brought a politically charged edge to the 2016 Grammy Awards, performing a medley of three tracks, including two from his acclaimed 2015 LP, To Pimp a Butterfly. The rapper is the event's most nominated artist with 11 total nominations. He delivered "The Blacker the Berry" as a prisoner who breaks through his chains, then "Alright" backed by a group of African drummers and dancers. He finished by debuting an explosive new song that ended with cathartic screaming. Earlier in the evening, Lamar won Best Rap Album, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
-snip-
Here are selected comments from this video's discussion thread.
I've assigned numbers to these comments for referencing purposes only. These comments are given in relative chronological order with the oldest dated (hour) comment given first. However, these comments may not be in consecutive order. All of these comments were published on February 15th or February 16, 2016.

Most of these comments take issue with Kendrick Lamar's 2016 Grammy performance being described as "controversial".

1. Yonce Run The World
"Here we go again .."controversial""

**
2. Kaseem Wild
"Why controversy ?? [profanity deleted] this page , it's always bad when blacks stand up try and call it some controversy what's was bad about his performance ? Wow sick"
-snip-
"Sick" here probably means "not good" as opposed to its slang highly complimentary meaning.

**
3. Kevin Justiniano
"What's so controversial about it. Everyone should respect this wonderful and impactful performance he made. Why do we look past all of that. He's Showing true colors of our nations society. Outstanding man."

**
4. Chris Wellz
"People need to learn the difference between CONTROVERSIAL and UNCOMFORTABLE. The truth cannot be controversial. Subjectivity can be controversial. Objectivity cannot. Because opposing opinions are not a requirement of objective truth."

**
Reply
5. Andrew26101
"why that was deep bro"

**
Reply
6. Chris Wellz
"+Andrew26101 Lol I'm a musician. We're poetic. lol"

**
Reply
7. ktmoney929
"+Chris Wellz amen"

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8. Better Nate Than Lever
"Nothing controversial about. It's a fantastic performance that should be praised. He did a great job with a great message. That's all there is to it."

**
9. DevCr0ws
"Like it is said, when the news brings up 9/11 every year it isnt seen as controversial, when kendrick speaks on a recurring issue that people thought went away in MLK Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" speech then it is seen as controversial. Listen to the full song yourself but just know how stupid you are."

**
10. Odu Oba Ara
"And Fela Kuti's spirit lives on! #Fela"

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11. DJ Sapien
"What the hell is so controversial about speaking the truth? Denying it is the real controversy"

**
12. Fabian brown
"Its controversial because it make some people uncomfortable but thats how change starts...Problem with any change you cant control the out come good or bad"

**
13. Kristian Rivera
"Can someone tell me why this performance was controversial? What was more controversial was the album of the year award, which should have been to Kendrick instead Taylor."

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14. Ninja Channel
"1)The song isn't new. 2) You're using the word controversial to grab attention, as it's not really so. 3) You must keep up with what's happening before reporting on it, or you'll lose credibility, as you have here."

**
15. Jonathon Rosas
"the blacker the berry is old"

**
16. Nashiem Groce
""Hiipower", isn't even new tho."

**
17. Ghemony Rygar
"no controversy, just truth!"

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Example #3: Kendrick Lamar Grammy Performance 2016



Malik Peay, Published on Feb 15, 2016

Kendrick Lamar Amazing Grammy Performance 2016 Amazing Talent
Grammy's First African American Who Keep it Real Un
Like Uncle Tom's Like Kanya West Only Keeping it Real When it BENEFITS him

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