Kendrick Lamar-John Boateng
Lyrics and Music video links:
“Alright”:https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics
“The Blacker the berry”:https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics
Alright Music Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY&list=RDZ-48u_uWMHY&start_radio=1
The Blacker the berry Music video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdPtVZDspIY
Analytical Question:
How is the use of the "first-person" perspective in "Alright" different from "The Blacker the Berry," and what does this say about Kendrick Lamar’s struggle with being a leader versus being a "hypocrite"?
Answer:
In "Alright," the use of "I" and "we" infers that a prophet or leader is leading his people through the fire, similar to Moses. When he says, "I can see the evil, I can tell it, I know it's illegal," he is saying that he is a guide who has seen and been in the darkness but has chosen to lead people to the light. The first-person narrative in this song is one of shared struggle; his own struggles with "Lucy" are used as a universal metaphor for the struggles that his people face. By the time the chorus comes, the "I" has seamlessly become a "we," indicating that his own struggle to survive is inextricably linked to the group's. This type of narrative is one that promotes a sense of unity and divine reassurance, which makes the artist feel like a supportive pillar in the life of the listener.
It is different in "The Blacker the Berry," the first-person narrative took a much more aggressive tone. "I" in this case is not the guide, but the man in the corner, snarling at the world around him, which hates him in return. He is struggling with the hypocrisy within himself. "I’m the biggest hypocrite of 2015," repeated throughout the song, removes the "leader" persona and replaces it with the imperfect human being. Kendrick Lamar, who struggles with the "self-hatred" created by the racial trauma put on him. "Alright" uses the first-person narrative to build a connection; "The Blacker the Berry" uses it to build a mirror, I think, to hold us accountable, to reflect the much more painful and complicated experience of Black communities.
Prompt 4: Cultural & Historical Context
The cultural and historical context in which this music was created is tied to the 2010s era, in which the Black Lives Matter movement started a little later, after the George Floyd incident. "Alright" was created during a time in which there was a lot of conversation in the United States regarding police accountability. The song itself references "40 ounces and a pit bull" in a way that challenges the stereotype in a song of hope. Understanding the historical context in which "ZULU" was created and the reference to the "Middle Passage" in "The Blacker the Berry" helps me understand that Kendrick is not just referring to 2015; he is referencing a 400-year-old timeline in which the "hypocrisy" he references is not necessarily a personal failing.
Prompt 7: The Afterlife of the Songs
The afterlife of "Alright" really came more to light during the Black Lives Matter movement. It has achieved being more than just a notable song; it became a chant for the Black Lives Matter movement. It has been used at protests across the globe and has achieved being played nonstop in the collective memory of the world as a protest anthem, similar to "We Shall Overcome." The afterlife of "The Blacker the Berry" is also significant as it continues to be at the center of academic and social discourse about the intricacies of "internalized" problems. The afterlife of these songs is significant due to the message of the songs still being applicable today. They have achieved this by acknowledging the problems and not letting those problems define the solution.
Works Cited:
Genius Media Group. "Kendrick Lamar – Alright." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics.
"Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker the Berry." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics.
Lamar, Kendrick. "Alright." YouTube, uploaded by Kendrick Lamar, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-48u_uWMHY.
"The Blacker the Berry." YouTube, uploaded by Kendrick Lamar, 2015, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdPtVZDspIY.
Hey, John, I like the formatting of your response and song choices. Kendrick Lamar has been politically profound for a great portion of his career. Your formatting is well but the phrasing is verging on the point of academic audience, instead of a casual audience of peers. Aside from that the post is sufficient in its substance. I like how you pointed out "40 ounces and a pit bull". I noted just as you did how it points to 40 acres and a mule for its false symbol of hope and its allusion to; well, an illusion. I want to ask, why do you think that he chose to phrase it as 40 ounces and a pit-bull, instead of the former?
ReplyDeleteHey john, I really liked how you pointed out the use of first person perspective in both of the songs. From what I saw the use of first person perspective shifts dramatically between "Alright, and "The Blacker the Berry," revealing his tension between embracing a leadership role and confronting his own flaws. In “Alright,” the “I” often evolves into a collective “we,” especially in the refrain, “We gon’ be alright” (Alright). This movement from individual to collective voice positions Kendrick as someone who suffers but also reassures. When he admits, “I’m fucked up, homie, you fucked up,” he collapses the distance between himself and his audience, suggesting shared struggle rather than moral superiority (Alright). By contrast, in “The Blacker the Berry,” the first-person voice is confrontational and isolating, culminating in the repeated confession, “I’m the biggest hypocrite of 2015” (The Blacker the Berry). Here, the “I” does not comfort but accuses, both society and himself. Instead of presenting himself as a prophetic figure, Kendrick exposes his anger and internal contradictions, forcing listeners to grapple with uncomfortable truths. This difference highlights his struggle, in one song, he rises as a unifying leader, in the other, he dismantles that image by admitting complicity and imperfection. Together, these perspectives suggest that Kendrick understands leadership not as moral purity, but as the courage to publicly wrestle with hypocrisy.
ReplyDeleteWorks cited:
Genius Media Group. "Kendrick Lamar – Alright." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics.
"Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker the Berry." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics.
In the song "The Blacker the Berry," Kendrick Lamar uses the first person perspective to show a feeling of intense anger and personal conflict. He repeatedly calls himself a "hypocrite" to show that he feels guilty about his own actions while he also judges society (The Blacker the Berry). This perspective is very different from the one he uses in the song "Alright." In "Alright," the "I" and "we" sound much more hopeful and resilient despite the many struggles he describes. He says that "we gon' be alright" to act as a comforting voice for his community (Alright). This change shows that Kendrick Lamar struggles with two different sides of his public identity. On one hand, he feels like a flawed man who cannot lead because of his past mistakes. On the other hand, he feels a duty to be a leader who gives people strength during hard times. By using these different perspectives, he shows that being a leader is not simple or perfect. He proves that a person can be both a "hypocrite" and a powerful leader at the same time.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Genius Media Group. "Kendrick Lamar – Alright." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics.
"Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker the Berry." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics.
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ReplyDeleteHi John! I love your song and artist selections. You definitely went a different way than I was expecting with your question! I do think that the perspective in “Alright” is that of a shared experience, but not in the same way you do. I see “Alright” as a sort of black empowerment song. When referring to “Lucy,” I think it is a cover for drugs, specifically weed or LSD (Alright). In this song, he is definitely a leader, but in a negative light, “I can see the evil, I can tell it, I know it's illegal / I don't think about it, I deposit every other zero” is about how he recognizes the corruption and temptations around him and still participates in them because of fame and success (Alright). This shows that even though he is guiding people emotionally, he is still struggling with the pressure of being someone the “we” can look up to. Your take on “The Blacker the Berry” is very strong and I agree with you mostly. His tone shift between the two causes the listeners of “The Blacker the Berry” to confront his accountability head on with basically no sense of leadership. The difference in perspective shows Kendrick struggling between being a symbol people rely on and a human being who recognizes his own flaws. I think he is using the term "hypocrite" ironically, using it to set a perspective of people judging others without knowing the full story. The “I” becomes a tool for criticism rather than reassurance, forcing listeners to sit with violence, identity, and expectations placed on black people.
ReplyDeleteI think both songs reflect much more than what you are looking at. “The Blacker the Berry” is one of Kendrick’s most powerful songs about the experience of being black in America especially when looking at the chorus. These songs together can paint a powerful picture and while I do like the direction you are going, I do think there is something stronger in the picture.
Works Cited:
Genius Media Group. "Kendrick Lamar – Alright." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics.
"Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker the Berry." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics.
Hi John,
ReplyDeleteIn “Alright,” Kendrick Lamar uses first person in a more collective and hopeful way. Even when he says “I,” it feels like he’s speaking for a whole community, not just himself ("Alright"). The tone is uplifting, and he comes across like a leader who understands the struggles people are facing but still believes that things will get better. In “The Blacker the Berry,” though, the first-person perspective feels way more personal and intense. Instead of focusing on hope, he talks about anger, identity, and even calls out his own contradictions such as calling himself a hypocrite, "I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015" ("The Blacker the Berry"). It sounds like he’s questioning himself while also criticizing society. This difference shows how Kendrick struggles with being seen as a leader while also feeling flawed and worried about being a hypocrite. He wants to inspire people, but he’s also honest about his own internal conflicts.
Hi John, I really liked your post because you explained how the first-person perspective is different in “Alright” and “The Blacker the Berry.” I agree that in “Alright,” Kendrick uses first person to encourage his community and give people hope that things will get better. In “The Blacker the Berry,” though the first person feels more intense, like he is admitting his own flaws. This shows me that Kendrick struggles with being seen as a leader because he knows he is still human and isn't perfect. He wants to inspire people. That tension between confidence and self-criticism is what makes both songs so powerful.
ReplyDeleteKendrick Lamar's use of first person in "Alright" is to narrate his own account of his struggles and his plan to escape out of his circumstance with his belief in god he'll be alright. "I'm fucked up, homie, you fucked up. But if God got us, then we gon' be alright". Lamar's use of first person in "The Blacker the Berry" is to talk about what has happened to himself and what is happening to black people in America. "Everything black, I don't want black (They want us to bow), I want everything black, I ain't need black (Down to our knees), Some white, somethin' black, I ain't mean black (And pray to the God), I hate everything black (We don't believe), Black, I want all things black, I don't need black, I want everything black, I don't need black, our eyes ain't black, I own black, I own everything black"....."It's such a shame, they may call me crazy, They may say I suffer from schizophrenia or somethin'". In both songs he divulged is own hypocritical traits in "Alright" is "I remembered you was conflicted, Misusing your influence, sometimes I did the same, Abusing my power, full of resentment, Resentment that turned into a deep depression, Found myself screamin' in the hotel room, I didn't wanna self-destruct, The evils of Lucy was all around me, So I went runnin' for answers". However in "The Blacker the Berry" he directly calls himself a hypocrite "I'm the biggest hypocrite of 2015, When I finish this, if you listen, then sure you will agree". He shows himself as a leader because he shows his flaws and knows he's not perfect, also he believes deeply about fighting the system that puts down black people in America.
ReplyDeleteWorks Cited:
Genius Media Group. "Kendrick Lamar – Alright." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-alright-lyrics.
"Kendrick Lamar – The Blacker the Berry." Genius, 2015, https://genius.com/Kendrick-lamar-the-blacker-the-berry-lyrics.