HUMBLE.

On “HUMBLE.”, Kendrick Lamar challenges listeners and other rappers to pay attention and be humbled by his lyrics. The single was released with a music video directed by Dave Meyers and The Little Homies. It features religious imagery mixed with urban life, such as Kendrick in priest’s robes and a reenactment of The Last Supper—a juxtaposition with the concept of humility in the hook. The beat was provided by Mike WiLL Made-It and features a deep piano riff and a banging 808 bass line. This style of production is a huge departure from the sound of Kendrick’s previous jazz-influenced project, To Pimp a Butterfly. “HUMBLE.” was released a week after the first promotional single, “The Heart Part 4,” and a week before his upcoming album is rumored to be released.

[Intro] Nobody pray for me It been that day for me Way (Yeah, yeah) [Verse 1] Ayy, I remember syrup sandwiches and crime allowances Finesse a nigga with some counterfeits, but now I'm countin’ this Parmesan where my accountant lives, in fact, I'm downin' this D’USSÉ with my boo bae, tastes like Kool-Aid for the analysts Girl, I can buy your ass the world with my paystub Ooh, that pussy good, won't you sit it on my taste bloods? I get way too petty once you let me do the extras Pull up on your block, then break it down: we playin' Tetris AM to the PM, PM to the AM, funk Piss out your per diem, you just gotta hate 'em, funk If I quit your BM, I still ride Mercedes, funk If I quit this season, I still be the greatest, funk My left stroke just went viral Right stroke put lil' baby in a spiral Soprano C, we like to keep it on a high note It's levels to it, you and I know [Chorus] Bitch, be humble (Hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, lil’, hol’ up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol’ up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, sit down, lil', sit down, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol’ up, hol' up) Bitch, sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Lil' bitch, hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up) Be humble (Hol' up, hol' up) Sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, lil', hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, sit down, lil', sit down, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol' up, hol' up) Bitch, sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Lil' bitch, hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up) [Verse 2] Who that nigga thinkin' that he frontin' on Man-Man? (Man-Man) Get the fuck off my stage, I'm the Sandman (Sandman) Get the fuck off my dick, that ain't right I make a play fucking up your whole life 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 Still I take you down right on your mama couch in Polo socks Ayy, this shit way too crazy, ayy, you do not amaze me, ayy I blew cool from AC, ayy, Obama just paged me, ayy I don't fabricate it, ayy, most of y'all be fakin', ayy I stay modest 'bout it, ayy, she elaborate it, ayy This that Grey Poupon, that Evian, that TED Talk, ayy Watch my soul speak, you let the meds talk, ayy If I kill a nigga, it won't be the alcohol, ayy I'm the realest nigga after all [Chorus] Bitch, be humble (Hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, lil', hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, sit down, lil', sit down, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol' up, hol' up) Bitch, sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Lil' bitch, hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up) Be humble (Hol' up, hol' up) Sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, lil', hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, sit down, lil', sit down, lil' bitch) Be humble (Hol' up, hol' up) Bitch, sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, lil' bitch) Be humble (Lil' bitch, hol' up, bitch) Sit down (Hol' up, hol' up, hol' up, hol' up)