GOD. by Kendrick Lamar Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Divine and Earthly Pursuits in Hip Hop’s Pantheon

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Kendrick Lamar's GOD. at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

This what God feel like, yeah
Laughing to the bank like aha, yeah
Flex on swole like aha, yeah
You feel some type of way then, aha, yeah

Ever since a young man
All I want to be was a gunman
Shooting up the charts, better run man
Ya’ll gotta see that I won, man
Slick as El DeBarge with the finger waves, work it, JT
Handle bars like a fade, watch me work it, JT
I’m at large, running plays like a circuit, JT
I’m selling verses, Jay Z, watch me work it, JT
Look, look, hold up
Don’t judge me, my mama caught me with a strap
Don’t judge me, I was young, fucking all the rats
Don’t judge me, aiming at your head for a stack
Don’t judge me, don’t judge me
Now my home got a Valley peak
Don’t judge me, if I press your line, you a freak
Don’t judge me, won’t you tell a friend y’all gon’ see

This what God feel like, yeah
Laughing to the bank like aha, yeah
Flex on swole like aha, yeah
You feel some type of way then, aha, yeah

Fuck is you talking to?
Aye, do you know who you talking to?
Slide on you like fallen drapes
God toss full of carnivals
I kill ’em with kindness
Or I kill ’em with diamonds
Or I put up like fifteen hundred
Get your ass killed by the finest
Everything life is a gamble
Nothing in life I can’t handle
Seen it all, done it all, felt pain more
For the cars, I done put blood on sword
Everything I do is to embrace y’all
Everything I write is a damn eight ball
Everything I touch is a damn gold mine
Everything I say is from an angel

I don’t rush shit, fuck shit, always your shit, my shit
Cannonballs to ignite shit
Morning to the night shift, I’m on
I ain’t sorry for it, ask for a piece of mine
You charged me for it
I wanna see sometimes if you ignore it
I’m in the streets sometimes and can’t afford it
I got a bad habit, levitate, ducking haters
Oh my, my heart is rich, my heart is famous

This what God feel like, yeah (this what God feel like)
Laughing to the bank like aha (this what God feel like)
Yeah (this what God feel like)
Flex on swole like aha (this what God feel like)
Yeah (this what God feel like)
You feel some type of way then, aha
(This what God feel like)
This what God feel like
Yeah (This what God feel like)

Kendrick Lamar’s ‘GOD.’, a standout track from his critically acclaimed album ‘DAMN.’, dives into the complex relationship between earthly success and divine satisfaction. With a masterful blend of introspection and bravado, Lamar dissects the notion of God-like euphoria amidst human tribulations.

In an industry often seen chasing the material, Lamar turns the mirror on himself and his audience, challenging the ethos of hip-hop culture and what success truly entails. Through the track, Kendrick provides not just a window into his soul but also a commentary on the intoxicating effects of power and wealth.

Troubled Deity: Understanding Kendrick’s Conflation of Success with Godliness

The recurring chorus ‘This what God feel like’ is more than a boastful declaration; it’s a complex entanglement of what it means to feel almighty within a secular context. The juxtaposition of ‘laughing to the bank’ with the divine elation dilutes the religious experience to a monetary gain, posing a bold question about the pedestals we place money and fame on.

Each ‘aha’ resonates with the satisfaction of proving doubters wrong, an audacious smirk at those who never saw the potential in Kendrick’s rise. However, it also reflects a sense of detachment, cautioning that the laughter might be empty when the source of joy is rooted in wealth rather than spiritual fulfillment.

Behind the Velvet Curtain: The Emphasis on Appearances and Interpretations

Lamar’s lyric ‘Don’t judge me’ becomes a mantra, imploring listeners to look beyond the surface. He openly addresses his past transgressions, his moments of weakness, and his encounters with violence. It’s an invitation to understand the complexities of someone thrust into the limelight – affirming that judgment is reserved for a higher power.

By tackling his own narrative from the perspective of societal critique, Kendrick expertly avoids sanctimonious lectures, instead offering a raw slice of his life. The message is clear: our quickness to place judgment often masks our own vulnerabilities and inhibits the capacity to empathize with one another’s battles.

The Mighty Fall: Parsing the Lyrics’ Hidden Warnings

While ‘GOD.’ can be a triumphant nod to overcoming hurdles, it equally serves as a cautionary tale. Phrases like ‘Nothing in life I can’t handle’ and ‘Everything I touch is a damn gold mine’ ooze confidence; yet, they hint at an unsustainable persona that teeters on the brink of hubris.

Kendrick is no stranger to tales of downfall; his discography is rife with characters succumbing to their own ego. In ‘GOD.’, he seems to acknowledge this precipice, understanding that while he feels invincible, the very nature of God is to exist beyond the human flaws – a semblance of omnipotence that is attractive but unattainable.

Lamar’s Lyrical Alchemy: Turning Personal Struggle into Universal Truth

Crucial to the track’s poignancy is how Lamar’s personal narrative transcends into a commentary on the human condition. ‘Every move is a calculated step,’ he suggests, painting not only his path to stardom but the journey of any individual seeking significance in their actions.

‘GOD.’ doesn’t just reflect Kendrick’s own rise; it speaks to the aspirational nature in all of us. It’s this blending of the personal with the universal, the mundane with the celestial, that makes Lamar’s work resonate on a myriad of levels, and cements his role as a contemporary poet laureate.

Quotable Kendrick: Memorable Lines that Echo Beyond the Beats

‘I kill ’em with kindness, Or I kill ’em with diamonds’ encapsulates Lamar’s dual approach to dealing with critics and obstacles – through both positive actions and flaunting success. It’s lines like these that embed themselves in the psyche, becoming anthems for self-assertion.

Furthermore, ‘This what God feel like’ may be the most memorable because it so boldly claims divinity. It’s a declaration that challenges the listener, welcomes interpretation, and ultimately becomes a hook that is both celebratory and interrogative of what it means to attain godliness in a flawed world.