#it feels like the fuckin universe is punishing me for not commiting to the attempt and backing out. like I should've just gone thru with it.

[mosspapi]

Trying so hard not to overthink this but it's very difficult when looking up anything abt it online is like 'if this happens u need to see a doctor Immediately bcuz ur gonna die'. Like. I'm taking pictures of it to compare so I can b sure it's healing properly, and it Looks better than it did on Monday at least to me- there's less red around the edges and the whitish/yellowish/bumpy scabs are looking way more normal now, but I just changed the cover bcuz I needed to b able to hide it better and there was a yellow spot on it which according to google means it's very infected and I need to see a doctor. And I really don't want to risk having to see a doctor bcuz that means either lying to my parents and the receptionist abt why I need an appointment, or telling the truth and getting sent to a psych ward or some shit. And I'm on antibiotics rn anyways so it's not like I would get more prescribed if I went. They'd prolly just fuckin wash it and put polysporin on and call it a day which is what I'm doing rn anyways, right? Eugh. Not having a good time.

[takethepresent]

(There’s a song by Chris Tyson on here at first, sorry lol)

Kendrick Lamar releases one of his best albums of all time. The messages, the layers, the content, the flow, the creativity. This is real hip-hop. I won’t be reviewing what I think Kendrick meant in his songs because they are pretty layered. If you want to look into that kind of thing, you can look on Rapgenius. Rapgenius is not 100% correct, but it will at least get you thinking.

Instead, I will leave a lot of this open for your own interpretation. I will be talking about what I believe should be taken from many of these songs.

Kendrick does attempt to penetrate the subconscious of his listeners. Each song targets a certain emotional pattern. The song that you like the most probably says something about you and your subconscious patterns.

Kendrick is becoming a master of his craft. The way he crafts the message, both subliminal and explicit, is perfect for influencing the masses. The production on this album was also great. There is a great variation of sounds while all of the songs could be universally enjoyed. It is a true work of art, something you can put on shuffle.

Here is my take on each song:

BLOOD.

This intro is very interesting. It plays with ideas of duality that are developed further in the album. I’ll let you decipher it for yourself.

DNA.

This song is probably one of the best songs to bump on the album.

Our DNA stores much more than we can possibly imagine. Scientists will say that more than 90% of your DNA is “junk DNA” because they can’t explain what it does. However, how can 90% of your DNA be useless? This song attempts to describe the kinds of energy patterns that may be stored in your DNA. Many things can be passed from generation to generation through DNA.

“ I got power, poison, pain and joy inside my DNA I got hustle though, ambition, flow, inside my DNA “

YAH.

New Kung Fu Kenny! This song has a very chill vibe. I am unsure of the actual purpose of this song in comparison to the others, but it does provide some meaningful commentary. Below are two I’ve picked out. I do believe that “Yah” is a reference to Yahweh.

“ I'm not a politician, I'm not 'bout a religion “

Politics and religion will enslave your mind and breed separation and conflict

“ I know he walks the Earth But it's money to get, bitches to hit, yah Zeroes to flip, temptation is, yah First on my list, I can't resist, yah Everyone together now, know that we forever— “

People choose worldly things over spirituality.

ELEMENT.

This song has a catchy hook that will probably stick for some time. I don’t really have much to say about it.

“ Last LP I tried to lift the black artists But it's a difference between black artists and wack artists “

FEEL.

This song is a collection of many different feelings. Many of these feelings are things other people in society feel. Hopefully, this song allows them to bring up those feelings from their subconscious. Many people feel alone, like “nobody prayin’ for me”.

I encourage you to really listen to the lyrics in this song. Some things may stick out to you. Those things say something about you and your subconscious patterns.

“ I feel like the whole world want me to pray for 'em But who the fuck prayin' for me? “

LOYALTY. (feat. Rihanna)

This song explores the idea of loyalty and trust. Many people have these commitments to money, fame, drugs, sex, power etc as if they were real people.

“ Tell me who you loyal to Is it money? Is it fame? Is it weed? Is it drink? Is it comin' down with the loud pipes and the rain? Big chillin', only for the power in your name Tell me who you loyal to Is it love for the streets when the lights get dark? Is it unconditional when the 'Rari don't start? Tell me when your loyalty is comin' from the heart “

“ Tell me who you loyal to Do it start with your woman or your man? (Mmm) Do it end with your family and friends? (Mmm) Or you're loyal to yourself in advance? I said, tell me who you loyal to Is it anybody that you would lie for? Anybody you would slide for? Anybody you would die for? That's what God for “

PRIDE.

"Love's gonna get you killed But pride’s gonna be the death of you and you and me And you and you and you and me And you and you and you and me And you and you and you and me and—”

“ Hell-raising, wheel-chasing, new worldy possessions Flesh-making, spirit-breaking, which one would you lessen? “

Again, Kendrick talks about problems felt collectively by our society. Pride is a big problem in our society. It breeds this false sense of confidence or superiority due to surface level things. It breeds conflict.

He talks about the impact of these worldly things on your soul.

HUMBLE.

" I'm so fuckin' sick and tired of the Photoshop

Show me somethin' natural like afro on Richard Pryor Show me somethin' natural like ass with some stretch marks “

I was a little surprised to see people offended by this. The only women who would be offended by this are the ones who are dependent on unnatural beauty standards. Who would be opposed to us embracing the natural look more? Who would be opposed to the beauty industry not being able to exploit insecure women as much?

LUST.

Lust is not exclusive to sex. Many have a lust for life; this unnatural, unnecessary, destructive desire for surface level things. It shows how the person who obsessively seeks sex is no different than the person who obsessively seeks drugs or friends or social validation or money etc. Many people in society need to have a deep look within themselves. They will find that they use these lustful desires to satisfy this deep, emotional, subconscious “itch”.

“ 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 hidin' (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 “

Lust is used to runaway from fear. Fear of what?

LOVE. (feat. Zacari)

“ If I didn't ride blade on curb, would you still love me? If I minimized my net worth, would you still love me? Keep it a hundred, I'd rather you trust me than to love me Keep it a whole one hund': don't got you, I got nothin' “

You could think this is about a specific girl or about something else. However, I do think it’s important to mention these lines. These feelings are often deep within our subconscious. It is what we call conditional love. We think people only love us for ___ or ___ because we only love ourselves for that reason. If we can find a way to love ourselves unconditionally, we can alleviate the many problems that arise from conditional love. In reference to the last line, if you don’t have unconditional love for yourself, you don’t got nothin’. You will always be trying to fill that void caused by conditional love with surface level things.

XXX. (feat. U2)

“ Ain't no Black Power when your baby killed by a coward “

Kendrick talks about the hypocrisy present in America. We respond to violence with more violence, hatred with hatred. People want to talk about black empowerment but won’t fully acknowledge the destructive forces within their communities.

“ The great American flag Is wrapped and dragged with explosives “

This just reminds me of America meddling in other countries with our imperialist military operations. It is time for America to confront the fact that they have been the biggest source of military conflict in recent history. This could also refer to police brutality.

FEAR.

This is one of my favorite songs on the album. I love the chill beat on the background. This song especially captures the feeling of fear, and attempts to show how it manifests over time. Emotional conflicts from our childhood that are never dealt with create external conflicts later on down the line.

“ Why God, why God do I gotta suffer? Pain in my heart carry burdens full of struggle Why God, why God do I gotta bleed? Every stone thrown at you restin' at my feet Why God, why God do I gotta suffer? Earth is no more, won't you burn this muh'fucka? I don’t think I could find a way to make it on this earth “

Kendrick attempts to convey the feeling of fear in a different light. The first verse starts off with “I beat yo ass” repeatedly. It really shows the subconscious thought patterns that become implanted in children at a young age. These subconscious patterns create internal problems that manifest over time into distorted, complicated, external problems. It should be no surprise that those who are physically beaten as children develop violent/aggressive tendencies later in their life.

“ If I could smoke fear away, I'd roll that mothafucka up And then I'd take two puffs I'm high now, I'm high now I'm high now, I'm high now “

This shows how people will do anything to runaway from their fears, or their subconscious patterns. Many take to drugs as well as other surface level things like sex, friends, social media etc.

Verse 2 starts off “I’ll prolly die” repeatedly. It shows more subconscious patterns of fear.

Verse 3 gives us a summarizing explanation of how the fear accumulates over time.

The outro is especially important. It highlights the major implications of mainstream religion. It shows how we are taught to believe that God is judgmental. This plays into all of the subconscious patterns of fear mentioned above. It says that God judges us and punishes us because he loves us, which opens the door for many people to become abused by loved ones and remain complacent to it. It also allows for people who are abused to become the abuser themselves later in life, creating a destructive cycle of judgment and punishment.

GOD.

There are two ways Kendrick could have meant this song to be perceived. I believe the most beneficial perception is that he is describing the feeling that many people feel when they “win” in surface level things. People use many things for a subconscious desire for power. When they attain those things, they actually feel “Godly”. Our obsession for power holds us back from ever realizing what true empowerment feels like. Only those who can let go of worldly desires will find this empowerment.

DUCKWORTH.

This song tells a story that you’d be better off listening to yourself. However, there are two notable lines that I want to explain.

“ It was always me vs the world Until I found it's me vs me “

Many people want to victimize themselves and believe their life problems are because of their external circumstances and not because of them. Your life will start to improve when you learn to hold yourself accountable for the life you are manifesting.

“ You take two strangers, and put 'em in random predicaments; give 'em a soul So they can make their own choices and live with it “

A little insight for why we are here.