Kendrick Lamar’s “DUCKWORTH.” from the album DAMN. is a masterclass in storytelling, blending introspective lyrics, intricate flow, and haunting production to deliver one of his most compelling narratives. The song opens with a gospel-like vocal that immediately sets the tone for the inner conflict Kendrick addresses: it’s not him versus the world, but rather him versus himself. This theme of self-reflection is woven throughout the album, and here, it serves as the perfect introduction to a deeply personal and intense story.
Production and Flow
The song’s production, handled by 9th Wonder, is a vibrant tapestry of samples, including Ted Taylor’s "Be Ever Wonderful" and Hiatus Kaiyote’s "Atari." The beat is soulful yet gritty, providing the ideal backdrop for Kendrick’s raw storytelling. His flow on this track is impeccable, effortlessly switching between different tempos and cadences, maintaining the listener's attention while also heightening the intensity of the narrative. The inclusion of a sample from the hypeman heard throughout DAMN. adds a cohesive touch to the album’s overall structure, grounding “DUCKWORTH.” within the larger thematic context of DAMN.
Storyline: A Near-Fatal Encounter
The song tells a gripping street tale, recounting the near-fatal encounter between Kendrick’s father, Ducky, and Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith, the future founder of Top Dawg Entertainment. In the ‘90s, Top Dawg planned a second robbery at the KFC where Ducky worked, but a twist of fate—Ducky’s generosity—spared his life. This incident, which could have resulted in Kendrick growing up without a father, instead set the stage for the eventual signing of Kendrick to Top Dawg’s label. The layers of fate and chance in this story are profound, emphasizing the idea that one small decision can change the course of entire lives.
The Complex Relationship with Top Dawg
On previous tracks like “untitled 02 | 06.23.2014,” Kendrick has explored his relationship with Top Dawg, highlighting how dangerous he could be. The lyrics “Me and Top is like a Kobe and Phil / A father figure, fuck with him, you get killed” offer insight into the complexity of their bond, with Top Dawg functioning as both a mentor and a protector. “DUCKWORTH.” further complicates this relationship by revealing the near-miss that could have led to a much darker outcome for Kendrick’s life.
DUCKWORTH Review
Ultimately, “DUCKWORTH.” is a powerful reflection on destiny, survival, and the interconnectedness of life’s seemingly random events. The storytelling is not just a recounting of past events but a meditation on how the choices we make ripple through time. Kendrick’s ability to take such a personal story and elevate it into a universal meditation on fate solidifies his position as one of hip-hop’s greatest storytellers. “DUCKWORTH.” stands out as a fitting conclusion to DAMN., leaving listeners with the profound message that life’s outcomes often hinge on the smallest of decisions.
Listen to Kendrick Lamar Duckworth
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth Lyrics Meaning Explained
The meaning of DUCKWORTH. by Kendrick Lamar is a profound exploration of fate, choice, and the intricate connections that shape our lives. The track delves into an unexpected intersection of Kendrick’s family history and the rise of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), revealing how a single decision, an almost fatal encounter between his father and TDE’s CEO, altered the trajectory of both men’s lives and, ultimately, Kendrick’s own. The song highlights how small moments of chance can have monumental consequences, illustrating the fragility of destiny and the impact of personal choices on the paths we take. Through this narrative, Kendrick weaves a broader commentary on systemic violence, family, and the role of fate in the pursuit of success.
Introduction to Fate and Identity
In Kendrick Lamar’s DUCKWORTH., he delivers a compelling narrative centered around fate, family, and the unexpected connections that shape lives. The track opens with Kendrick detailing a series of events that seem random but, upon closer inspection, reflect a larger plan. He starts with, “It was always me versus the world / Until I found it's me versus me.” This sets the stage for the internal conflict that underpins much of the song, where Kendrick acknowledges that, in many ways, he is his own greatest adversary. This theme is a recurring motif throughout DAMN., as Kendrick grapples with the complexities of identity, success, and morality.
The Unlikely Meeting of Two Worlds
The heart of the song revolves around the chance meeting between Kendrick’s father, Ducky, and Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, the CEO of Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE), Kendrick’s label. At the time, Top Dawg was involved in gang activity and could have easily killed Ducky during a robbery at a local KFC where Ducky worked. The lyrics, “If Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin' life / While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight,” emphasize the fragile nature of fate and how a single decision can alter the course of lives. Kendrick reflects on how this twist of fate allowed him to grow up with a father and eventually become a successful rapper under the same man who once contemplated taking his father’s life.
Themes of Violence and Cycles of Crime
Lamar also weaves in larger themes of systemic violence and the cyclical nature of crime, particularly in inner-city communities. The line, “Pay attention, that one decision changed both of they lives,” underscores how small, seemingly inconsequential moments can have far-reaching implications. Throughout the song, Kendrick blends personal anecdotes with broader social commentary, illustrating how individual choices can be a microcosm of larger societal dynamics.
The Fragility of Destiny
The track concludes with Kendrick contemplating the idea of destiny, as he says, “Whoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence? / Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin' life.” This reflection on coincidence versus destiny ties back to the overarching theme of DAMN., where Kendrick explores the concepts of luck, faith, and divine intervention.
A Reflection on Fate and Choice
DUCKWORTH. serves as a deeply personal track that connects Kendrick’s family history to his present success. By revealing the unlikely connection between his father and the man who would eventually help launch his career, Kendrick emphasizes the delicate balance of fate and choice in shaping our lives. The song stands as a powerful meditation on the ripple effects of violence and the ways in which destiny can be forged in even the most unexpected circumstances.
Kendrick Lamar Duckworth Lyrics
[Intro: Bēkon & Kid Capri]
It was always me versus the world
Until I found it's me versus me
Why, why, why, why?
Why, why, why, why?
Just remember, what happens on Earth stays on Earth!
We gon' put it in reverse
[Bridge: Ted Taylor]
Darling, I told you many times
And I am telling you once again
Just to remind you, sweetheart
That my—
[Verse: Kendrick Lamar]
Oh, Lamar
Hail Mary and marijuana, times is hard
Pray with the hooligans, shadows all in the dark
Fellowship with demons and relatives, I'm a star
Life is one funny ma'fucker
A true comedian, you gotta love him, you gotta trust him
I might be buggin', infomercials and no sleep
Introverted by my thoughts; children, listen, it gets deep
See, once upon a time inside the Nickerson Garden projects
The object was to process and digest poverty's dialect
Adaptation inevitable: gun violence, crack spot
Federal policies raid buildings and drug professionals
Anthony was the oldest of seven
Well-respected, calm and collected
Laughin' and jokin' made life easier; hard times, mama on crack
A four-year-old tellin' his nanny he needed her
His family history: pimpin' and bangin'
He was meant to be dangerous, clocked him a grip and start slangin'
Fifteen, scrapin' up his jeans with quarter pieces
Even got some head from a smoker last weekend
Dodged a policeman, workin' for his big homie
Small-time hustler, graduated to a brick on him
Ten-thousand dollars out of a project housing, that's on the daily
Seen his first mill' twenty years old, had a couple of babies
Had a couple of shooters, caught a murder case
Fingerprints on the gun they assumin', but witnesses couldn't prove it
That was back when he turned his back and they killed his cousin
He beat the case and went back to hustlin'
Bird-shufflin', Anthony rang
The first in the projects with the two-tone Mustang, that 5.0 thing
They say 5-0 came, circlin' parking lots and parking spots
And hoppin' out while harrassin' the corner blocks
Crooked cops told Anthony he should kick it
He brushed 'em off and walked back to the Kentucky Fried Chicken
See, at this chicken spot, there was a light-skinned nigga that talked a lot
With a curly top and a gap in his teeth, he worked the window
His name was Ducky, he came from the streets, The Robert Taylor Homes
Southside Projects, Chiraq, the Terror Dome
Drove to California with a woman on him and five-hundred dollars
They had a son, hopin' that he'd see college
Hustlin' on the side with a nine-to-five to freak it
Cadillac Seville, he'd ride his son around on weekends
Three-piece special with his name on the shirt pocket
'Cross the street from the projects, Anthony planned to rob it
Stuck up the place before, back in '84
That's when affiliation was really at gears of war
So many relatives tellin' us, sellin' us devilish works, killin' us, crime
Intelligent, felonious prevalent proposition with 9's
Ducky was well-aware
They robbed the manager and shot a customer last year
He figured he'd get on these niggas' good sides
Free chicken every time Anthony posted in line, two extra biscuits
Anthony liked him and then let him slide, they didn't kill him
In fact, it look like they're the last to survive, pay attention
That one decision changed both of they lives, one curse at a time
Reverse the manifest and good karma, and I'll tell you why
You take two strangers and put 'em in random predicaments
Give 'em a soul, so they can make their own choices and live with it
Twenty years later, them same strangers, you make 'em meet again
Inside recording studios where they reapin' their benefits
Then you start remindin' them about that chicken incident
Whoever thought the greatest rapper would be from coincidence?
Because if Anthony killed Ducky, Top Dawg could be servin' life
While I grew up without a father and die in a gunfight
Gunshot
[Outro: Kendrick Lamar]
Thgifnug a ni eid dna rehtaf a tuohtiw pu werg I elihW
Efil 'nivres eb dluoc gwaD poT ,ykcuD dellik ynohtnA fi esuaceB
Ecnedicnioc morf eb dluow reppar tsetaerg eht thguoht reveohW?
Tnedicni nekcihc taht tuoba meht 'nidnimer trats uoy nehT
Stifeneb rieht 'nipaer yeht erehw soiduts gnidrocer edisnI
Niaga teem me' ekam uoy ,sregnarts emas meht ,retal sraey ytnewT
Ti htiw evil dna seciohc nwo rieht ekam nac yeht os luos a me' eviG
Stnemaciderp modnar ni me' tup dna sregnarts owt ekat uoY
Yhw uoy llet ll'I dna ,amrak doog dna tsefinam eht esreveR
Emit a ta esruc eno ,sevil yeht fo htob degnahc noisiced eno tahT
Noitnetta yaP—
Erac tuB
—Tpecnoc etalucammi ,siht ekil eno ecnis retrauq eniacoC
AND ym edisni ytlayor tog ,ytlayoL
—Tog I ,tog I ,tog I ,tog I
So, I was takin' a walk the other day…
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