We’d been hearing about this one for months. Back in November Scott Veneer (Music Director for HBO) said there was this track, “King Kunta,” that was going to melt our faces off. We waited. He said Pharrell called it “unapologetically black and amazing” and we waited. We all got a firm slap on the wrist from TDE’s Ret One like would you fools wait for it and not have me snatch you out of this computer screen? We waited some more. Then “The Blacker The Berry” came out and it was a strong-arming like 90s Knicks defense (not to be confused with the porous, matador “D” that reigns today) and we wondered if this was the one they were all talking about.
Then this surprise leaked out of nowhere yesterday and it was funky-as-hell and with a similar DNA to the general feel of the seemingly angry Kendrick of only a song ago. DJ Quik is rumored to be behind the boards though that hasn’t been confirmed, and we needed to talk about it because we’re only human. So, join us as we give our first impression of the very different sounding track from young K. Dot.
So does “King Kunta” Weigh In As Good As Advertised?
Andre: “King Kunta” is a simple baseline working double, no triple time in a shiny funkadelic hall-of-mirrors. I imagine K. Dot in that studio with Clinton first name George and Pharrell screaming “one more gunshot!” from the back of the room. I imagine he ran out into the street and asked some lucky undine if she wanted to make history by jolting onto the record “We want the funk!” I’m impressed, and this album is shaping up to be a kaleidoscope of how many ways Kendrick can show his anger. He calls out ghostwriters, drops references to Richard Pryor, say’s he was going to kill a couple rappers but they did it to themselves. Drops a fairly rudimentary double entendre when he starts comparing bars to prison bars but you forgive him because the imagery of a guy on the bottom bunk having to write your rhymes is legendary. And there’s all kinds of bars out there, and then you remember that album art — all the homies lined up and cheesing on the lawn of the White House, a judge cartoonishly laid out with X’s over his eyes — and you remember that you weren’t supposed to make it past 25 either.
This is cultural commentary in the best way possible. This is art. I’m not talking songs with a message because that’s cool and that’s amazing. There’ve been protest songs that lift you up into a spirit of the age. There’s Dead Prez, Talib Kweli, Yasiin Bey, Public Enemy and N.W.A and Brother Ali, and so many more. There are a ton of amazing albums flatly addressing a whole host of cultural maladies over the years and they’re art too. The voice is a powerful entity in the world. Speaking is powerful. But so is dishing out your rage in angry spoonful’s. Furious, carefully arranged pieces, moments decked out over synthesizers and lush strings. It’s the reason why somehow you dance to ‘Pac’s “Fuck The World.” I mean, of course. The song isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t have to be. This isn’t what Kanye was trying to do on MBDTF or anything. This ain’t supposed to be a perfect album of perfect songs, it’s supposed to be a perfect album of imperfect, Hulk-smash moments. What it looks to be shaping up to being is nuanced and raucous and two-and-a-half years well spent. Now if we can just get an interview I can die happy. The 23rd can’t come soon enough.
Ural: Kendrick Lamar is playing some fun mind games around notions of what people expect from him nearly two weeks away from To Pimp A Butterfly. First, the safe (and Grammy Award winning) “i,” hyper militant “The Blacker The Berry” and now “King Kunta”s two-step funk makes a holy trifecta of singles that insure K Dot’s Good Kid m.A.A.d City follow-up everything Hip Hop fans desire. When Pharrell called the track “unapologetically black and amazing,” many assumed just lyrically. However, it’s more. “King Kunta” harkens back to a time when black music was less concerned about commercial appeal and more occupied with making something for a people who weren’t accepted creatively or generally. The West Coast back yard boogie sounds like neo G-Funk, which makes total sense considering his current obsession with Miles Davis and Parliament. Then again, there was news last year that Lamar was in the studio with George Clinton himself.
There’s an unorthodox structure to “King Kunta” that looks back to Clinton’s signature call-and-response style with Lamar’s lazer sharp delivery. Hell, even the female chant of “We Want The Funk” is slick enough to add one hundred more head nods. This isn’t for the club, this isn’t for radio, it’s for To Pimp A Butterfly. Right now, there are probably some BBQs in Los Angeles County today that’ll have this in rotation all night. The reason? The reason is because “King Kunta” is the most West Coast sounding Lamar track in forever. Most importantly, from the three singles heard, it looks like he’s finally developed his own sound. Good Kid m.A.A.D. City received classic accolades due to the TDE flagship artist’s bars and thematic concepts alone. This time, Lamar is sonically differentiating himself from his other peers more concerned with DJ Mustard and Mike WiLL Made It production. This may make To Pimp A Butterfly a totally beast all together which is the smartest move he could make considering the album’s anticipation.
And yes, he should probably run for mayor of Compton. Wouldn’t be too far of a stretch considering Aja Brown is the city’s current youngest at 31-years-old.
Andre Grant is an NYC native turned L.A. transplant that has contributed to a few different properties on the web and is now the Features Editor for HipHopDX. He’s also trying to live it to the limit and love it a lot. Follow him on Twitter @drejones.
Ural Garrett is an Los Angeles-based journalist and HipHopDX’s Senior Features Writer. When not covering music, video games, films and the community at large, he’s in the kitchen baking like Anita. Follow him on Twitter @Uralg.
Where is the lyrical Kendrick at?
That was horrible for Kendrick
Ive always disliked Hip Hop fused with g funk.ever since Djquick did it with Toni Tone Tony, I knew ot wasn’t my thing. I prefer Blues, Jazz and soul samples in my cup of tea. Lets hope that this is the LAST g funk track on the album.
The album is gon be jazzy and soulful like section 80. Dont woryy bout it
just a lil shout to his westside upbringin
You probably hate West Coast hip-hop.
It’s strange how they hold hip-hop artists to such a higher authenticity standard than they do writers and directors. Whether Pac was “putting on” for the world or not his music sure felt real and in the end that’s all that matters.
Not feeling it. Im just dissappointed. I just dont feel its original, nor very good. This aint what Dr. Dre did. It aint atomic dog. P-Funk hiphop was done alot in the 90s but this isnt a very good attempt. I dont get the Kendrick Lamar hype with this album. Everything so far has been dissappointingly average and so predictably “avant-garde”. Im scared for this guy’s album
You claim it’s not original, then complain that it’s not enough like Dre’s style.
What do you have against avant-garde art? I love when artists of all types push boundaries creatively.
Heard way better stuff from Kendric, this was ok i bess
K. Dot can create anything and it would be great.
Hearing him spit freestyle over Biggie just confirmed that he is the best lyrically. However, Kendrick is more than lyrics. He is musicality and content.
We want the funk. This shit is infectious. I personally, LOVE the lyrics.
If your head is not boppin’ by the end of the song, you’re not listening to it correctly.
Something different and something great. Hopefully he runs for Mayor.
hiphopdx = dude on the bottom bunk.
dick riders
I wasn’t in love with it. But I understood it and that’s the point I believe. You don’t have to love it to get it.
fine review, love the song, really smooth. I do hope the first guy realized i was gonna kill a couple of rappers but they did it to themselves was borrowed/shout out/ from/to jay-z. I am so excied for the album. Shiiiit, Kendrick dropping soon, Kanye, Tech n9ne and yelawolf, coming months are going to be amazing for hiphop!
Love it. Has a nice groove and his cadence is sharp. The energy is crazy.
ima sayit’s not the song it’s what I was expecting it to be that threw me off. He said don’t expect anything, and that’s begging proven. But with this being in the beginning of the album and blacker the berry being in the ending, somewhere along the middle Kendrick is going to say done things that are going to rub ppl the wrong way. So I’m still excited, just cancelling all expectations.
This is just 1 song out of his 18 song album. Plus what I have heard from “The blacker the berry” i’m just glad this album sounds so versatile
What a good build up to an album. From “i” to “The blacker the berry” and now “King Kunta”. KING KENDRICK is tryin to give u haters a taste of how different sounds,lyrical flow and lyrics u go hear from “To pimp a butterfly”. This is waaaaaayyyy out ur league if u hating so u might as wekk go back to those lazy lyrics u used to. #endaudiorecession my Nigga
Mausberg – Get Nekkid shits all over Kendrick version. Embarrasing that the writer didnt mention it once in all that text. It would be sad if this is a Quik production considering how superior the get nekkid version is. To pimp a butterfly is truly hit or miss so far…
After a few listens, I gotta say I’m impressed with the concept. He took funk, mixed it with West Coast hip-hop, and also added in commentary on the state of hip-hop. This is going to go over a lot of people’s heads. Just like “i” did. People get way too upset when Kendrick brings other genres of music into his music which is especially stupid when those genres were a precursor to hip-hop. Kendrick is a student of the game.
Am also rapper
Sh*t’s DOPE!!!! He’s a songwriter, not as concerned with “bars” as he is with creating a body of work that showcases his ideas in a way reflective of his musical / ideological interests.
this is garbage….where is the kendrick that wrote higher power…this is a blatant rip from the funk era….why??? sorry i just dont get it, every release from his new cd has been gargbage…rip bro.
I loved this song. the beat was funky, the lyrics were dope. this song pulled out a lot of kendricks style and feelings during this period. song was raw. album is going to be revolutionary. Kendrick is about to change not only the game but the world.
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Let’s be real the singles that kendrick has put out from this album aren’t all that or nearly as good as the ones from the first album it’s like chorus like muffled bars and then,chorus again, I just hope he doesn’t fall for the sophomore cur
se
I think rap music listeners have got use to the dumbing down of rap and forgot how/why, and where hiphop roots came from. I heard someone say 2chains, and RichGang is better than J.cole, and Kendrick. They said they don’t have time to listen and figure out what they saying (it’s like math) smh. They want them trap beats. Thats the same thing soulja boy said about Lupe, then Lupe went and made SLR. If you listen to SLR by Lupe then you may see what Kendrick is doing with this album. He is taking issues and trying to bring them to light. But then again we as blacks think we made it, and there are no issues in our community. J. Cole, Lupe, and CyHi the Prynce, and now Kendrick are sending a message to the people. I don’t think they care about radio hits, or club bangers, but being artist that is going against the grain, and wanting you to listen to the message. You just have to want to hear it.
Black racist song.
Black racist song.
If u can’t feel it, obviously, it ain’t for you…
The writers of the piece were trying to be nice about it…without the
specific cultural and musical context, I understand why some of y’all ain’t feelin’ it…
It wasn’t designed for you…
It’s not your frequency…but trust…The Gods are smiling…
If you aint feeling it, it ain’t for you…
The writers of this piece were trying to be nice with the explanation,
but if you lack the specific cultural and musical context,
this music might be a surprise or off-putting to you…
But it makes all the sense in the world to him…
Bottom, line? Relax your egos, it wasn’t designed for you…
It’s not your frequency…and that’s ok…
If you ain’t feeling it, it ain’t for you…
If your not from LA you will never get it. This is the first rap album I have purchased in a looooong time! I appreciate you young brother for rescuing my ears from the utter garbage & tripe that’s posing as hip hop. You understand your roots…gfunk is always correct for Cali. Peace and Love