“i” by Kendrick Lamar Review

Known for his socially conscious lyrics and incredible story telling skills, Los Angeles rapper Kendrick Lamar finally released a single nearly two years after the commercial and critical success of his second album Good Kid, M.A.A.D city. Hailing from the city of Compton, he has become West Coast rap’s golden child and has gained the respect of old school and new school hip- hop artists alike. After having both underground and mainstream success, he left the music world anxious to see what his next move will be. When the cover art for the single (featuring two people dressed as rival gang members holding their hands in the shape of hearts) began floating around social media websites, it led many to believe that the song would be focused around the pressing issue of gang violence in inner- city areas. The track was not what anybody expected. Produced by one of T.D.E’s favorite producer, Rahki, the up-beat song samples the famous Isley Brothers’ song “That Lady” and gives listeners a peak into Kendrick’s perspective of the world around him. He promotes the idea of self-love and having hope for a brighter day in the midst of all of the negative things that are going on in the world today. Some have even compared the song to Pharrell’s mega-hit “Happy” and OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” due to its positive and lively sound. Although the beat to the song took a step to the left away from what his listeners are used to, the intense, preacher-like delivery and complexity of Kendrick’s rhymes remained the same. Hardly any details have been given about the Grammy nominated rapper’s second album, but the uniqueness of “i” has definitely given his fans a taste of what he has in store.