Let Me Be Me
Everybody, just clap your hands
If you're real
Middle finger up, give a fuck how they feel
Be yourself, just show me you're real
Middle fingers up
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
That's the only way I know
How to hold it down
That's, that's the only way I know
How to hold it down
I just wanna be me
No disrespect, but motherfuck you
My education stopped at a high school degree
But I can outsmart any high IQ
Draped in some fly shit
Call me Jeff Goldblum
Cold, my style making my nose run
Oh, I stare at the mirror then realize
That real lies within me
Some say I'm crazy cause I think
Like I need a shrink
Ask too many questions about the
Stars and Earth shit rather be in the studio
Than out buying drinks
So if I'm not clubbing
Don't think I'm on some jerk shit
And California on that jerk shit
But I'd just rather 2-step
Like my first steps
Jill Scott on my iPod, as my head rests yes
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
That's the only way I know
How to hold it down
That's, that's the only way I know
How to hold it down
And yeah I know I'm from Compton, Cali
But I don't lace up Chucks or rock tan khakis
And skinny jeans ain't quite the lick
I probably would wear 'em but
My dick don't fit ha ha ha, I like to joke
Got a sense of humor? Still face
Play me short like an oompa loompa
You ain't gotta screw up your face
In front of the kids
Won't you lighten up like Michael did?
I grew up with killas man
People who killed men
But my character never could be like them
Man
And they respect that, say that I'm real man
Not a fake person, that's the Sims man
Live my life through some film, man
I ain't acting out shit
I be packing out shows
Cause they know that they don't
Know Kendrick fo' sho and oh
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
That's the only way I know
How to hold it down
That's, that's the only way I know
How to hold it down
Almost lost my life to the industry
Had to look through a
Photobook to remember me
These label heads ain't nothing but bullshit
Have you with professional killas
Chasing hit's
Lying to yourself, all over an image
Making records they want
That was wrecking my brilliance
My Mama said, "Boy
That don't sound like you"
I said, "This is the sound, though"
My only excuse quite frankly
Dusted off my shoes with my hankie
And kicked it like he skate
Make these motherfuckers hate me
The reason why they hate
Cause these motherfuckers ain't me
And you can underrate me
But I know what I'm worth
A diamond in God's dirt, a diamond in winter
Watch the Simpsons and eating
Some cereal for dinner
See I give you my life
To mix it up in a blender
To make sure that you feel me
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
Just let me be me that's the only way I know
That's the only way I know
How to hold it down
That's, that's the only way I know
How to hold it down
Kendrick Lamar, what are you trying to say?
What are you trying to
Accomplish Kendrick Lamar?
Kendrick Lamar what are you trying to say?
What are you trying to
Accomplish Kendrick Lamar?
Kendrick Lamar, is this really you?
Is this who you are? What
Are you trying to say?
What are you trying to
Accomplish Kendrick Lamar?
Kendrick Lamar, who are you?
What are you trying to
Accomplish Kendrick Lamar?
Kendrick Lamar, What are you trying to say?
What are you trying to
Accomplish Kendrick Lamar?
I think that I finally reached the pinnacle
Of finding myself as an individual
The world is so typical
I just wanna be higher than that
I used to want to be the messiah of Rap
Infatuated with becoming a relevant star
Trying to say goodbye to the
Glamorous chains and cars that I never had
But wrote it in my raps to make you mad
Vanity, they say that it can damage me
So do I really want it? If I didn't
I guess I'm a cool cocaine connect
That means I'll be frontin'
Cooking in a laboratory
Hoping I can tell a story
That the whole world can feel
Like the ones that came before me
Knowing that I'm misunderstood
So I gotta get my point
Across like a snitch would
And I would never walk in the
Shadow that never was really there
Or try to fill the shoes of an invisible pair
And Dave said he proud of my newfound honesty
And all I could say is
"Will the radio care?"
Yeah, or should I say no?
Or should I just stop and come
With a whole new approach?
You heard my hip-hop when I was 16 years old
Well that was me then, now I'm an adult
22, like the smallest of guns that you know
Most determined
But with the smallest of funds to show
But I'm not worried my talent should take me
Places I've never been
The world should turn as soon
As my records spin i wanna be the highest
On top of all the bullshit
The negative you bring, the stress
The violence the capital punishment
The loud police sirens
Too focused, one word, righteous
And this is Kendrick Lamar, and
Soon ya'll know Cloud 9, ya'll
That means I wanna be the highest
Too focused, one word, righteous
That means I wanna be the highest
Too focused, one word
Too focused, too focused, one word
Too focused, too focused, one word
Too focused, too focused, one word
Too focused, one word
Too focused, too focused, one word